Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1962)

NEW SERIES VOL. 2, No. 10 5 Voice of America celebrated 20th birthday Feb. 26, same day astronaut Glenn made triumphal return to Washington. President Kennedy told world over special 87-transmitter hookup that U.S. would continue 1 to seek "free flow of information" across national boundaries and "iron curtains." He said next 20 years will offer U.S. unprecedented opportunity through communications satellites and other techniques to spread message of "freedom of choice" throughout world. Kennedy speech was tied in with broadcast of tumultous Glenn reception, transmitted in more than 35 languages. VO A estimates its average total audience at 20 million, rising to 45 million for packaged programs it gives to other stations for their use. Personals Robert W. Breckner promoted to KTTV Los Angeles pres., succeeding Richard A. Moore, who resigns to head pay-TV firm . . . Lee G. Stevens, former TV-radio consultant, named managing dir., WWUP-TV (Ch. 10) Sault Ste. Marie, due on air Aug. 1. Harold J. Klein, ABC Films vp, promoted to worldwide sales mgr., functioning in both domestic & international sales . . . John Barry named AM Radio Sales Inc. Eastern sales mgr. Elliott Abrams, ex-Sterling TV syndicated sales vp, forms Scope TV Inc., new production & distribution firm, 161 W. 54th St., N.Y.; he’ll continue association with Sterling in special sales area . . . Joe Derby, ex-Young & Rubicam TV program publicity supervisor, named NBC press dept, news publicity dir.; Robert Brown appointed news and public affairs press supervisor. Film Producers’ Assn, of N.Y. elects: Robert Gross, American Film Producers, pres.; Irving Hecht, Cineffects, vp; Walter Lowendahl, Dynamic Films, secy.; Peter J. Mooney, Audio Productions, treas. Outgoing Pres. Wili liam Van Praag becomes executive board member. Fred Frank named Allied Artists TV Southern sales mgr., Atlanta. Obituary Walter L. Guzewicz, 51, pres, of tower manufacturer Stainless Inc., died of heart attack Feb. 11 aboard train traveling from White Sulphur Springs, W. Va. to home in Gwynedd, Pa. He was co-founder of Stainless with brother Henry J., who shifts from vp to president and chief executive officer. Born in Taunton, Mass., he was an MIT graduate, helped form Piasecki Helicopter Corp. in early 1930’s. Survivors are his widow, 2 daughters, 4 brothers including Henry J., parents, a sister. Lynne C. Smeby, 57, Washington consulting engineer, died of heart ailment in hospital Feb. 28. Native of Alden, Minn., he was chief engineer at radio stations in Detroit, Minneapolis & St. Paul until 1939. He joined ITT in 1939. Shortly thereafter, he became NAB engineering dir., leaving in 1942. His widow and 2 sons survive. TV mobile units covering Glenn parade in Washington elicited rash of complaints from curbside throngs whose view of astronaut was blocked by trucks. Letters to Washington papers complained bitterly about battery of TV units which virtually surrounded Glenn car along entire parade route. Korean HLCK (Ch. 9) Seoul, govt.-owned, began operations Dec. 31, joining Armed Forces’ AFKN-TV. Engineering & construction was handled by Electronics Corp. of Korea (K. W. Shin, pres.). Station uses U.S. standards, 2-kw transmitter, 12-kw ERP. U.S. foreign information program must be bolstered or country will lose out to steadily increasing Sino-Soviet propaganda and cultural efforts, according to U.S. Advisory Commission on Information. In 17th report to Congress, group said cold war will be protracted, and “USIA must be permanent part of our answer to the Communist challenge.’’ Commission recommended USIA be given authority to establish foreign service career system to attract people of top competence. Commission members: Mark A. May, prof, emeritus of psychology, Yale, chmn.; Jonathan Daniels, editor, Raleigh News & Observer; Lewis W. Douglas, former ambassador to Great Britain; Sigurd S. Larmon, chmn., Young & Rubicam; J. Leonard Reinsch, exec, dir., WSB-TV Atlanta. Report on allocations position of Meredith Bcstg. Co. (Vol. 2:9 p3) had it erroneously listed as favoring allchannel-set legislation. It’s vigorously opposed, telling FCC & Congress: “We know of no other instance where Congress has conditioned the basic right of transporting goods in interstate commerce on compliance with regulations as to manufacture where there is no element of public health or safety involved.” Its position on vhf & uhf: (1) Keep both bands. (2) Encourage uhf, but don’t grant CPs on first-come, first-served basis. (3) Encourage ETV on uhf. (4) Use short-spaced vhf drop-ins — “rigidly restricted to correcting critical situations.” (5) Employ “selective deintermixture to strengthen uhf.” Miffed with FCC, Los Angeles Federal District Court Judge Leon Yankwich reversed himself, ruled in favor of MCA’s Taft Schreiber, who has been contesting FCC’s hearing procedure in the film portion of its network program hearing. Judge Yankwich ordered hearing be confidential, Schreiber to have full rights of counsel, court to retain jurisdiction, Schreiber to be insulated from possibility of being held in contempt. FTC is wasting its time on trivia instead of delving into policy fields where it could do greatest work, Comr. Philip Elman charged. In sharply-worded dissent filed in misleading advertising case against Gimbel Bros., Philadelphia, he said attention given “the trivial and inconsequential cases leave little room for, and tend to drive out, the substantial and significant.” CBS White House tour will be made into book published by Doubleday & Co. this fall at $10. Author is Perry Wolff, CBS news producer-writer who handled telecast. Network also announced arrangements with McGrawHill Book Co. to distribute films of broadcast in nontheatrical 16mm market. TV time sales in 1962 are expected to rise 6% over 1961, according to TvB survey. National & regional spot and local sales should rise 6%, network sales 5%, Bureau reported. Billings in 1961 increased 5.7% over 1960 levels. A $1 million UNIVAC III computer has been chosen by FCC for its data-processing system to speed application processing— will ask Budget Bureau for funds.