Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1962)

6 FEBRUARY 19, 1962 Lampoon of FCC network program hearing by critic Jack Gould in Feb. 11 N.Y. Times is one of most scathing and hilarious on record. Example: “Counsel: But there has been testimony that you cater only to the majority and neglect the minority. Witness: Our research does not show anything of the kind. In this country there is only a handful of automobile, soap and cigarette manufacturers; they are vastly outnumbered by educators. We constantly address ourselves to the needs of the minority.” Gould has FCC chairman winding up with: “In the last analysis, however, the only way to overcome the scarcity of channels is through an abundance of hearings. We will take a 2-year recess and then hear from Pete and Gladys.” Tail-tower jurisdictional fight between FCC & FAA is analyzed in Feb. issue of D.C. Bar Assn.’s Journal by Washington attorney Arthur Stambler. He concludes: “The basic jurisdictional difference between FCC & FAA is symptomatic of the absence of and need for a sound and unified national policy on this matter of the inter-relationship of tall broadcast towers and aviation safety. Without such a policy, achieved by the cooperative efforts of both agencies, this entire area of tower regulation is infected by a basic uncertainty and disorder.” President’s Committee on Employment of the Physically Handicappd presented distinguished service award to NAB and bi-oadcasting industry for support of “Hire the Handicapped” campaign. Award was given to NAB Pres. Collins at White House Feb. 14 by President Kennedy and committee chmn. Maj. Gen. Melvin J. Maas. TV & radio stations during last 10 years have donated more than $50 million in free time to promote campaign, Maas estimated. Network TV gross time billings in first 11 months of 1961 totaled $679,068,137, up 9.2% from $621,686,247 in same 1960 period, TvB reported. ABC showed 21% increase, $143,802,940 to $174,042,240; CBS rose .8%, $250,934,013 to $252,820,720; NBC picked up 11.1%, $226,949,294 to $252,205,177. Revised Nov. billings under new compilation system (Vol. 2:5 p5) were: CBS, $24,808,857; NBC, $23,346,239; ABC, $17,719,890. “Interleaved sound,” NBC-developed method of transmitting audio within video, is being tested by network and AT&T. System involves use of single circuit to carry audio & visual signals, with sound inserted as integral part of picture signal, undetectable by viewer. Use of interleaved sound eliminates audio interruptions caused by failure of normal sound circuits. NAB’s first conference on public affairs and editorializing March 1-2 (Vol. 2:4 p2) adds FCC Comr. Ford as participant in panel on “Editorializing on Behalf of Political Candidates”; he joins Ewald Kockritz, Storer Bcstg., and NAB Gen. Counsel Douglas Anello. Modified Zoomar lenses offering “100% optical improvement” over present models have been announced by Television Zoomar. Pres. Jack A. Pegler said all inservice “Super Universals” covered by company’s warranty & service agreement will be modified without charge, beginning about Apr. 1. Exclusive U.S. Govt, film distribution and sales contract was awarded to Norwood Studios Inc., Washington, D.C. Contract has been held by United World Films since 1947. “Govt, has no business telling broadcasters what to bi'oadcast,” N.Y. Herald Tribune declared in Feb. 11 editorial. Commenting on FCC programming hearings, paper said TV is in business to please the customers, not FCC Chmn. Minow. “Mr. Minow’s programming ideas may be perfectly sound,” Tribune added, “but he is only one of a good many million set owners.” Warning against “bureaucratic meddling,” paper opined: “The federal govt, has enough programs of its own to worry about without taking on those of television, too.” Proceedings to revoke license of radio WGRC Green Cove Springs, Fla., have been begun by FCC, which charged Frank Van Hobbs with operating station without FCC authority from Feb. 1 to Dec. 18, 1961, when it went off air. Station was transferred from Hobbs to Palms Bcstg. Corp. in June, 1960, but application filed in Feb. 1961 to transfer station back to Hobbs was dismissed for lack of prosecution. Commission says Palms then apparently abandoned station, Hobbs resuming control without FCC approval. Favoring uhf translator applicant over objections of CATV operator, FCC Examiner Elizabeth C. Smith recommended grant of 3 translators in Farmington, N.M. area to San Juan Non-Profit T-V Assn. (Vol. 1:7 p6). CATV operator in Farmington, Teleprompter Transmission, had argued that translators were intended solely to relay better signals from Albuquerque to Farmington, not to serve viewers directly — and therefore would violate Commission rules. Examiner Smith concluded that new viewers would be served and that relaying function would be merely incidental. New Brazilian TV decree represents considerable improvement over last year’s stringent rules imposed by Quadros govt. (Vol. 17:20 pl7), TV Program Export Assn. Pres. John G. McCarthy said last week. New ruling permits considerably more foreign film than old, relaxes stiff penalties for infractions set by former govt. Although new rules require Portuguese dubbing of all foreign film material, McCarthy stated that further clarification is needed, “as our discussions indicate that it was not intended to include feature-length motion pictures in this provision.” With a new vhf channel in Syracuse, FCC now asks whether a uhf should be assigned, as proposed year ago. Commission originally proposed addition of Ch. 37, but after entreaties by radio astronomers who want the channel, it is asking whether Ch. 33 — if any channel — should be added (Vol. 2:7 p6). Slow motion & “freeze frame” TV techniques developed by NBC will be used for first time in Glenn orbital shot. NBC reports system differs from other TV slow-motion techniques by presenting “extremely slow” movement without “jerky” transition, also permits total freeze. Bomb Soviet-bloc countries with miniature TV sets, so viewers can pick up free world broadcasts, Sen. Alexander Wiley (R-Wis.) suggests. He said he “understands” such sets could be built in quantity for $20 to $30, floated behind iron curtain with balloons. Referendum in Monterey, Cal. upheld grant of CATV franchise to Alarm Corp. after attempt by KSBW-TV Salinas to have grant reversed. Elsewhere in Cal., H & B American Corp. received contract to build system at Vandenburg Air Force Base to begin operations in 3 months.