Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1960)

VOL. 16: No. 26 3 AND NOW THE ACTORS: As WGA and the networks reached verbal agreement. Screen Actors Guild, whose negotiations with Hollywood TV-film producers have been generally overlooked because of attention to the just-ended writers' strike, was reported ready to call a membership meeting seeking strike authority against producers. This can be regarded as strategic move to strengthen hand of SAG negotiators, but there's no question SAG is perturbed over what it considers lack of progress. SAG's contract with producers expires this Wed. (Jvme 30). Major issues: Pension & welfare plan, minimums, reruns and foreign residuals. Unlike writers, actors do not want royalty plan embracing foreign market, but do want reruns to include foreign market. Consensus is that an actors' strike isn't likely in immediate future, but situation is subject to change depending on progress in negotiations (see p. 14). CATV STANDS FIRM ON 'NO GOVT. CONTROLS': Though federal regulation of CATV may come eventually, the industry certainly isn't going to help it along. In its Miami Beach convention last week, NCTA members voted unanimously to oppose regulatory legislation now and to "examine with care" every new bill as it is introduced. To emphasize its determination to oppose legislation, NCTA also voted unanimously to place a fulltime top-level "general executive" at its head. Committee will be named to find a man "of national stature" capable of acting as a true industry spokesman — at a salary in the $30,000 range — and several members suggested former FCC Chmn. John Doerfer as a possibility. This would leave unchanged present Washington hq personnel under exec. dir. Edward P. Whitney. It was decided also to appoint a full-time house coimsel in place of gen.counsel E. Stratford Smith, who will handle special assignments. Efforts will be made, too, to broaden public relations efforts — particularly in field of relationships with telecasters, notably those who stimulated Congressional opposition to CATV. To finance foregoing, association projected budget of $212,180 for next year, increasing dues to offset the increase of $50,780. Some operators from Northwestern states came to convention determined to seek mild federal legislation, considering it much the lesser evil as compared with state public-utility regulation which they've been barely staving off. But majority persuaded them to go along with "no legislation" policy for good of whole industry. There was no major split or fight. Though industry opposes federal legislation, vigorous men in Congress & FCC believe it is necessary, will press for it. NCTA members are philosophical about this, but will resist controls indefinitely. They acknowledge that regulation won't mean end of the world for them — but they believe it would be a costly & unnecessary nuisance. Even if they lose in Congress and in the courts (on the copyright issue) and end up paying stations & producers for use of their signals, they don't visualize signal sources pricing themselves out of market. NCTA's position on legislation was stated as follows: "Legislation governing the operation of a private industry is a function of govt, only where a vital public interest or necessity cannot be served by the force of free competition. "There is no compelling reason to legislate in the case of the CATV industry. The NCTA does not deem it necessary or desirable at this time to recommend or support any legislation concerning antenna systems. It will examine with care any recommended resolution or bill introduced in any legislative body and will take a position on behalf of its membership based on the merits of each case at the time it arises consistent with the best possible interest." There was rising tide of interest in pay TV via cable, evidenced by fact that TelePrompTer's Irving Kahn <S Telemeter's Paul MacNamara were principal speakers (see p. 4). However, members are by no means preponderantly eager to change their way of doing business to accommodate pay TV, many fearing it could bring more problems than revenue. But some substantial members are pushing hard for it. The issue will arise with increasing intensity in months to come. There were 430 registrants at the beautiful, luxurious, garish, expensive Fontainebleau Hotel. They voted to hold 1961 convention in San Francisco in late spring, elected officers & directors headed by Sandford Randolph, Clarksburg, W.Va. (see p. 5).