Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1963)

NEW SERIES VOL. 3, No. 2 TELEVISION DIGEST— 5 'FILM TWIN' FOR TAPEtAimed at removing “biggest barrier” to heavy use of tape by national advertisers in spot campaigns, MGM Telestudios last week announced new tape-film system which simultaneously makes video tape and 16-mm film. Called “Gemini,” system consists of 16-mm film camera mounted on standard TV camera, using same lens (by means of beam-splitter) and electronic viewfinder. Telestudios plans to equip all of its new 4% -in. TV cameras with Gemini attachments. MGM Telestudios Pres. George Gould explained last week at special press demonstration that about 15-18% of spot commercials are now made on tape. Biggest roadblock to more widespread use of tape for spot commercials, he said, was fact that all TV stations are not yet equipped with TV tape recorders. Thus, major advertisers who use tape for national spot campaigns “must cover about 20% of the stations with kinescope prints” or else shoot commercial separately on film & tape. Because of poorer quality of kinescope prints, “many advertisers with large spot campaigns have gone to film rather than tape,” he added. Gemini system, he said, avoids this problem by providing high-quality 16-mm film print, shot at same time as tape commercial. He said Telestudios will hereafter supply “Gemprints” to all customers at same price as previously charged for kines. Telestudios is installing film-processing equipment for quick service. He also pointed out that Gemini technique is applicable to programming — making 16-mm prints of tape shows for use on non-taped-equipped stations in U.S. & overseas. System was originally developed for use in educational programming by Telecam Corp. of Pittsburgh. MGM Telestudios has purchased exclusive 3-year rights to device and has retained co-inventor Warren R. Smith as director of technical development. Smith was pres, of Telecam and Warren R. Smith Co., Pittsburgh film producer. Other co-inventor is Robert Berber. Travails of becoming TV performer are revealed by N.Y. Times TV critic Jack Gould in Jan. 12 TV Guide N.Y. Metro edition. Drafted for TV duty because of long newspaper strike, Gould has some humorously acid comments about studio temperatures, makeup, tight time schedules. Medium has its rewards also, he noted. After 25 years as columnist in which he was never offered free drink at his favorite bar, he immediately got a brandy on the house after first 2-min. appearance on WNBC-TV. Network TV gross time billings in first 10 months of 1962 rose 12.7% to $654,098,990 from last year’s $580,370,320, TvB reports. Oct. billings totaled $73,961,226, up 10.6% from Oct. 1961’s $66,846,558. For 10-month period, ABC-TV rose 7.7% to $168,295,406; CBS-TV 17.1% to $254,851,499; NBC-TV 11.9% to $230,952,085. Daytime billings increased 19.7% to $206,172,909; nighttime rose 9.7% to $447,926,081. “Radio . . . the Mobile Medium” will be theme of NAB’s 1963 National Radio Month in May. Promotional kits, to be sent to member stations & networks to help publicize radio’s “mobility,” will include live spots, program & promotion ideas & suggestions, speech text, etc. FCG’s 28th annual report now available from Govt. Printing Office (50^). communications satellite (Vol. 3:1 p4) entered space TV More Space TV Firsts: RCA’s suddenly-revived Relay razzle-dazzle last week, successfully flashing pictures of President Kennedy’s unveiling of Mona Lisa to Europe Jan. 9. Relay almost penetrated Iron Curtain; signals received in Paris were cabled to Hungary & Czechoslovakia, but equipment broke down in Hungary, and broadcast failed to get to either country. France & London reported nearly perfect reception. Station at Fucino, Italy also picked up telecast, although its antenna is intended only for voice & data transmission. AT&T’s Telstar, whose repair was termed a “great space age feat,” also transmitted live 9-min. program to Europe Jan. 6. Company still plans to launch 2nd Telstar in Spring. New TV-carrying moon vehicle, “Surveyor,” will get “highest priority” to take TV pictures of moon’s surface in preparation for manned landings. NASA Lewis Research Center Dir. Dr. Abe Silverstein said govt, considers it “very urgent” to get Surveyor on its way by early 1965. Usual barrage of new bills was introduced in first session of House Jan. 9. New measures are not dropped in Senate hopper until after President’s State of the Union Message Jan. 14. Among new House bills affecting broadcasting: (1) HR-414, by Stratton (D-N.Y.), to prohibit advertising of articles made in E. Germany unless ad so states. (2) HR-457, Cederberg (R-Mich.), quality stabilization act. (3) HR-578, Multer (D-N.Y.), to prohibit boxing broadcasts. (4) HR-579 Multer (D-N.Y.), to forbid broadcasters to make unauthorized deletions from certain broadcast matter. (5) HR-594, Steed (D-Okla.), FTC temporary cease-&-desist authority. (6) HR-967, Younger (R-Cal.), to create Dept, of Transportation & Communications. Integrity of WLOF-TV Orlando principals in “influence” case was upheld by FCC last week as expected (Vol. 2:53 p5) — Chmn. Minow dissenting. Majority accepted WLOF-TV’s position that its principals had no knowledge of Orlando attorney William Dial’s contacts with former Comr. Mack. Minow disagreed, asserting he was skeptical. Though he wouldn’t completely disqualify WLOF-TV, he’d “significantly impair” its standing as an applicant. Case is still under Court of Appeal’s jurisdiction, and Commission asked that it be given back for final FCC action. First nationwide closed-circuit promotion of new movie will be telecast Jan. 16 by NBC-TV — Universal’s “Forty Pounds of Trouble,” starring Tony Curtis & Suzanne Pleshette. Stars, producer, director, will hold closed-circuit press conference 1-2 p.m., originating at Burbank, Cal. studios. Cities carrying show are N.Y., Chicago, Washington, Boston, Pittsburgh, Detroit, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Dallas, possibly others. NBC will apologize to Ala. Gov.-elect George Wallace for barring him from appearance at halftime of televised Blue-Grey football game Dec. 29 (Vol. 3:1 p5). Rep. Roberts (D-Ala.) wrote NBC asking for explanation, was notified letter was being sent to Wallace. Roberts stated he was waiting for copy of letter & detailed explanation of incident, said he’d go to FCC if explanation wasn’t satisfactory. TV of Iran names ABC International as TV sales rep.