Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1962)

4— TELEVISION DIGEST NOVEMBER 5, 1962 clean sweep of N.Y. -produced film series. Producers of "Car 54" signed in N.Y. last week. Problem has been sore point with both AFM and film producers for some time. With costs rising, many producers found that they could eke out first-run profit only if they cut corners. One of favorite corners was in realm of "mood music" and "bridges" in dramatic & comedy film shows, and more than 75% of producers have been using taped-in-Europe "stock" music or having final music dubbing done at relatively lower costs in London, Paris or Vienna. To AFM, this was "unfair foreign competition." Grass-roots campaign was launched by AFM, bombarding sponsors of film shows with hints that 260,000 AFM musicians might boycott TV-sold products, and arranging meetings with leading producers. Campaign has paid off, aided by larger film budgets and willingness of AFM to work out ground rules for film recording sessions which eased immediate financial blow to producers. Sizable amount has been added, however, to total TV film production tab. AFM sources in N.Y. last week told us that use of domestic music in TV film soundtracks "will increase earnings of musicians employed in this field about 50% this year, and amount to more than $1 million in wages." CURRENT CAPSULES NBC-TV defended itself in crossfire from Bureau of Public Roads and the American Road Builders Assn, over David Brinkley's Oct. 1 program, "The Great Highway Robbery" (Vol. 2:41 p4). ARBA Exec, vp Louis W. Prentiss called show, which charged graft & corruption in nation's highway construction program, "distorted news reporting," asked FCC investigation. Program also was criticized sharply by Federal Highway Administrator Rex M. Whitton. NBC News Exec, vp William R. McAndrew issued point-by-point defense. "Most of the information was developed from official records of the federal and state governments," he said, adding that because the information was brought to attention of public, network was being subjected to organized letter-writing campaign from highway contractors, suppliers & officials. FCC passed complaints to NBC, re ( questing comment, was expecting reply this week. CBS incentive-compensation plan is still violative of rules, FCC believes, "tentatively." It agreed that CBS had amended its plan to remove one violation, and that affiliates were no longer hindered from substituting another network's programs for any CBS offering they didn't want to take. However, Commission said that Sec. 3.658(e) of rules remains violated — that plan hinders affiliates from substituting nonnetwork programs for CBS feeds. Commission said its ruling on latter was "tentative," gave industry until Dec. 18 to comment. Kudos for broadcasters & FCC "for their remarkable teamwork" in connection with Cuban crisis came last week from Senate Communications Subcommittee Chmn. Pastore (D-R.I.). Citing radio stations which lent their facilities to VOA for beaming of messages to Cuba (Vol. 2:44 pi), he said: "The speed and efficiency with which the FCC moved in making the arrangements and the full cooperation of the broadcasters in this unprecedented operation with the Voice of America was a fine demonstration of how effectively government and private enterprise can cooperate during this period of national emergency and is deserving of high praise." Summary of last Congress' impact on advertising & marketing, in Oct. 29 Advertising Age, by astute Washington Editor Stanley E. Cohen, concludes businessmen in these fields got "better-than-even break" last session, warns they'll be back on firing line when 88th Congress convenes in January. Despite growing demand for bigger govt, role in consumer protection, he notes, last Congress trod softly in most areas except prescription drugs. Watered-down postal rate increases on publications & direct mail advertising voted in last session were "most notable compromise negotiated for advertising and marketing," Cohen states. FCC's three-pronged victory — all channel set law, federal-aid-to-ETV & private ownership of communications satellite corp., is described as "one of most remarkable legislative records of the session."