Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1963)

4-TELEVISION DIGEST JULY 8, 1963 Sarnoff on Overseas Carriers: RCA Chmn. Brig. Gen. David Sarnoff faces uphill fight in his effort to see all international communications combined under Communications Satellite Corp. (Vol. 3:22 p5). He urged “pi'ompt” Congressional hearings on subject, but hearings this year aren’t considered likely. However, a study ordered by Pres. Kennedy is believed possible. Among powerful forces disagreeing with Sarnoff is -AT&T, which likes present setup — AT&T handling voice, other firms handling “record” services. In letters to Sen. Magnuson (D-Wash.) and Rep. Harris (D-Ark.), Sarnoff blasted ITT Pres. Harold Geneen’s suggestion that Congress allow merger of all record companies. He said it’s “an exercise in futility” to try to separate voice & record services, because technology has blurred the distinction. Said he: “The customer wishes to talk, transmit & record information at the same time. In other words, he wants complete service. Modern technology makes that possible, but the ITT proposal would make it impossible.” Sarnoff stated that a “unified organization” could start with “immediate revenue base” of traffic from existing carriers, which amounted to $160 million in 1962 and “could deal with equal strength, and on equal terms, with govt, monopolies in foreign countries.” As for Geneen’s assumption RCA would be willing to sell its communications subsidiary to a merged record carrier group, Sarnoff said it was “frivolous” — “truly . . . the tail wagging the dog.” National Educational TV & Radio Center has decided to concentrate solely on TV. Continuing separate ways, sometime before year’s end, will be center’s 2 radio arms: Broadcasting Foundation of America, which distributes foreign shows to U.S. commercial & educational stations, and Educational Radio Network, linking 8 stations, Boston to Washington. Reportedly, Ford Foundation expressed desire for TV emphasis. BFA board elected as chmn. George E. Probst, Thomas Alva Edison Foundation exec, dir. ERN Dir. Donald Quayle said group hopes to give public “alternative radio service.” Case of former CBS newsman, who served as first exec, secy of pro-Castro Fair Play for Cuba Committee, brought warning from Sen. Dodd (D-Conn.) that news media have obligation to check on loyalty of employees. In releasing April 10, 1962, testimony of Robert Taber, Dodd said it’s something to “ponder” that his “totally proCastro presentations [were] purveyed to the American public.” CBS spokesman said Taber left CBS in 1960, that he was one of many newswriters, that CBS had no reason to question his objectivity at the time. Machtronics’ 68-lb. video tape recorder will be distributed to industry via Storer Programs, Inc., under agreement announced by Storer’s Terry H. Lee. Recorder was first shown at IEEE & NAB conventions (Vol. 3:13 p6 et seq.). Storer’s Hank Davis will put full time on sales. Storer’s 5 stations will use units, designated MVR 15. Price is $12,150. Demand for more coloreasting in Cleveland, sent to FCC Chmn. Henry by Cleveland Councilman Anthony Pecyk, was answered by Henry with: (1) Color sets are moving now, and stations will have more incentive to colorcast. (2) Suggestion that FCC authorize an “allcolor” station in Cleveland isn’t practical because most programs aren’t available in color. ABCs Plea for Option Time: “FCC has placed ABC in double jeopardy,” network told Commission last week, by rejecting vhf drop-ins and abolishing option time. In petition for reconsideration, ABC said Commission “has done violence to its paramount policy of fostering competition among the networks.” ABC insisted that removal of option time works greater hardship on it than on CBS & NBC, because it has fewer primary affiliates — 127 vs. CBS’s 191, NBC’s 193. ABC said it must pay as much for programming as other 2 networks but must spread cost among fewer stations and get less for time charges. ABC also requested more time to adjust to abolition of option time than the Sept. 10 date — pointing out that affiliation contracts have up to 2 years to run. It said FCC decision was “unduly harsh & abrupt” and that more “turn around” time should be allowed. Competition, not regulation, is answer to overcommercialization, according to FCC Comr. Ford. If FCC puts NAB commercial limitations into rules, he said in recent speech, it would “undermine & destroy” incentive for selfregulation. He suggested that new Commission program form can do the job. He’d change form as follows — and Commission is considering it: “I would require an annual estimate of the total time the station involved is on the air in the ensuing year for a typical week; the percentage of that total time which would be devoted to advertising continuity and the percentage which would be devoted to program continuity in each segment of the broadcast day. I would retain the composite week for the purpose of obtaining the same information for the previous year. Although I do not consider either the tsTiical week or the composite week appropriate for program material on a percentage basis, I do consider them appropriate for program-nonprogram time purposes. I would then make these figures public and let the market place regulate the limitation on advertising and any abuses of over commercialization. It is my belief that the competitive factors involved would soon level off the percentage of advertising continuity, at a point which the listeners, the sponsors, and the broadcasters would find reasonable.” New starter is KAIT-TV (Ch. 8) Jonesboro, Ark. which received FCC program test authorization July 3. It’s an independent. Owner is George T. Hemreich, ex-50% owner of KNAC-TV (Ch. 5) Fort Smith. Equipment came from Visual Electronics. KAIT-TV is 5th new station this year — others being WTEV (Ch. 6) New Bedford, Mass, (serving Providence), which started Jan 1; WOOK-TV (Ch. 14) Washington, March 5; WGSF (Ch. 28 ETV) Newark, 0., March 18; KIIX (Ch. 22) Los Angeles, March 25. In addition, WQEX (Ch. 16 ETV) Pittsburgh resumed Jan. 18 after being off since Nov. 1961. Violation of First Amendment which prohibits censorship is a major argument of several comments filed against FCC’s proposed strictures on horse-race broadcasters. The position is taken by NAB, Thoroughbred Racing Assns., and Md.-D.C. Bestrs. Inc., among others. Conmients also assert that Congress hasn’t given FCC authority to promulgate such rules, may not be able to under Constitution. In addition, proposal is termed discriminatory — and, finally, will do very little to achieve FCC’s aim: Curbing illegal gambling.