Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1962)

NEW SERIES VOL. 2, No. 31 TELEVISION DIGEST— 5 CURRENT CAPSULES Reply comments on vhf short-spaced drop-ins and deintermixture arrived at FCC per schedule, per expectations. Virtually all comments — some regretfully — acknowledged that all-channel-set law killed deintermixture. Vhf drop-in comments followed conventional whose-ox-gored pattern. Prospective applicants were gung-ho for drop-ins to increase competitive service; existing operators warned of service loss through increased interference. As in past, heaviest filings were by ABC and AMST — former for drop-ins, latter against. FCC proposes new class of service to promote ETV. Use of channels in 1990-2110 me or 2500-2690 me band would enable central transmitter to serve scattered local schools or other reception points where transmissions would be converted for viewing on conventional TV screens, Commission said. "It is estimated," FCC noted, "that a single-channel system serving about 25 separate schools in a community would cost from 1/5 to 1/3 of the cost of a moderately powered TV broadcasting station doing the same job." Tests conducted for FCC by Adler Electronics indicate "feasibility" of system, Commission said. Comments are due by Sept. 17. Comrs. Bartley & Craven dissented. MCA has agreed to dissolve its talent agency & to refrain from influencing its clients in choice of new agents. Justice Dept, announced July 23 that MCA will "immediately" end its talent contracts, close its foreign talent agency operation "within 90 days." Attorney General Kennedy said agreement with MCA was contained in interlocutory order of U.S. District Court in Los Angeles and "achieves one of the principal objectives of the civil anti-trust suit filed against MCA July 13 without the necessity of extended litigation on this issue." Original suit is still pending. Among issues is allegation that MCA's acquisition of Decca Records & subsidiary Universal Pictures restricts competition. Third station in Grand Rapids is in the mill — "interim" CP granted to combination of competing applicants, pending FCC's final choice of winner after comparative hearing. Four applicants form grantee, Channel 13 Grand Rapids Inc.: Grand, West Mich., MKO, Peninsular. Major TV hasn't joined. Officers: William C. Dempsey, pres.; James R. Searer, John D. Locks & Mary Jane Morris, vp's; Joseph A. Renihan, secy.-treas. Presidency will rotate every 4 months. FCC denied petition for rule making that would deny license to TV station that permits distribution via wire of any of its network programs by a CATV system in the broadcast area of another station carrying same program (Vol. 2:30 p5). Petition was filed by WBOY-TV Clarksburg, W.Va. FCC noted its concern with "problem posed" and "the very real danger that operations of CATV systems may force the local TV station or stations off the air." Petition was denied, however, for various factors, including (1) pending H.R. 6840 & S.1044 would give FCC authority over CATV, and (2) belief that "rule placing responsibility on the licensee for the retransmission of its programs by such systems imposes a burdensome obligation ..." CBC has “loaned” Malaya one of its division engineers to assist in establishment of TV system. Malaya’s first station, at Kuala Lampur, is expected to begin telecasting by end of 1963. CBC’s engineer, George H. Jones, Toronto, is on loan to External Aid Office for about 2 months. Integrated Communication Systems Inc., 18 E. 49th St., N.Y. (Plaza 2-3434) is new firm which reports it’s “developing a specialty in communication endeavors with an emphasis on sales representation in creative media projects.” Sales vp is Len Sait, ex-WNTA-TV. WEAU-TV Eau Claire, Wis. renames Hollingbery rep. Miami-to-Bimini ETV experiment has demonstrated that TV-taught students on British island learn markedly faster than those taught conventionally. Lessons telecast to Miami schools by Dade County Board of Education also were received by Bimini, 60 miles off Florida coast. TV students showed 40% gain in elementary Spanish over non-TV students, 22% achievement gain in elementary science. Experiment sponsored by Dade County Board of Education was one of first ventures in international ETV. WSTV-TV Steubenville, O. appoints Peters, Griffin, Woodward rep.