Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1963)

4— TELEVISION DIGEST JANUAHY 21. 1963 Plctne now conies 2 transmitters, 2 video tope recorders. Under 6-channel system, tape recorders would be ground based, feeding signals to plane via STL link. In petition to Commission, MPATI stated that expanded airborne system will provide adequate coverage for more cheaply than similar system of groimd stations. Estimated capital cost of airborne facility is $6,318,000, compared with $20,195,000 for ground-based system. Estimated annual operating costs for technical facilities ore $2,650,000 for air vs. $3,615,000 for ground. CURRENT CAPSULES Public inspection of station applications a1 station offices, proposed by FCC, was vigorously opposed by NAB. Association said: "We doubt, and and we believe the Commission will concur, that the responsible individuals in a community will be at all interested in thumbing through the details of pending applications. Experience shows that if such persons or groups have a legitimate complaint to moke either to the station or to the Commission, the information relied upon to form the basis of the charge is not to be foimd in the application, amendments on file with the Commission, but in the performance & operation." NAB said station competitors, creditors and "others with only a private axe to grind" would be most interested in nosing documents. On behalf of his firm, attorney Harry Plotkin delivered blistering comments typical of industry reaction, including: "[I am] aware of no business or industry — even public utilities & other businesses which involve a public trust and which ore regulated as closely as the broadcasting industry, if not more so — which is required to turn a substantial portion of its files into a public library to the extent the Commission is proposing." He said stations can better spend time on programming than in maintaining & preserving files, answering questions about them, etc. He suggested either that such files be kept at FCC regional offices or that rules be changed to require stations to give more programming detail when broadcasting & publishing notice of filing of applications. Compromise on CATV legislation, being explored in some quarters (Vol. 3:2 p2), "is news to me," according to NCTA Pres. William Dalton. "Our policy," is that there is no need to regulate a situation which, in effect, no longer exists. NCTA is aware that there ore very few locations where problems between CATV & telecasters haven't been worked out. There are more & more broadcasters getting interested in CATV and there is growing understanding between the 2 groups." However, NAB last week reiterated its belief that federal regulation is necessary, adopting formal statement to that effect at board meeting in Phoenix. NAB said that TV Board Chmn. William Quorton, WMT-TV Cedar Rapids, will appoint a special committee "to study the future of TV, particularly in relationship to CATV systems." President Kennedy seems happy with report on regulatory agencies by Administrative Conference of U.S. (Vol. 3:1 p3). Last week, he wrote Chmn. Judge E. Barrett Prettymon (whose vice chmn. is FCC Gen. Counsel Max Paglin) : "The excellent report . . . contains many valuable suggestions for improving administrative procedure, and I have instructed the appropriate govt, departments to consider them and report to me upon the best method to assure their implementation. I am confident that actions on these recommendations will contribute materially to improved administration . . ." Color TV line may be cracked in Canada. Two TV networks & Canadian Bcstrs. Assn, have endorsed proposal to form industry-wide committee to study introduction of color TV into coimtry. Canadian Bcstg. Corp. Pres. J. Alphonse Ouimet told Color TV Committee of Board of Broadcast Governors that study group should include representatives from BBG, Dept, of Transport, color set monufactmrers, CBC & CTV TV networks, advertising firms & Bell Telephone Co. Both Ouimet & CTV Pres. Spence W. Caldwell urged Board to hold off decisions on color imtil more information is available. CBA Pres. Don Jamieson said committee possibly could make decision on whether to go ahead with color after a year's study.