Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1963)

WEEKLY Television Digest NAB imRARy • • • The authoritative service for executives in all branches of the television arts & industries OCTOBER 7, 1963 NEW SERIES VOL. 3, No. 40 SUMMARY-INDEX OF WEEK^S NEWS Broadcast CODES, COMMERCIALS, COMMENTS, CONFLICT -as industry attacks FCC plan to limit commercials, NAB's Collins calls for more powerful Code Dir. (p. 1). VHF DROP-INS STILL UP IN AIR after long oral argument. Hoped-for immediate decision fades as FCC decides it needs more discussion. Final vote now expected in month (p. 2). ETV MAKES BID as important program force with new $6-million grant for 1964 by Ford Foundation, which ends 1 support of school TV but implies continuing money for programs; NET reorganization eliminates instruction TV (p. 2). ARF WANTS HAND IN RATINGS REFORM; Conference heard ARF will get into methodology research. Compton's Cummings says ARF should become "watchdog." Howze urges admen to cooperate in clean-up efforts to ) head off legislation (p. 3). i RKO-CATV GIANT WITH 100,000 CUSTOMERS -after deal with H & B American. Good nucleus for cable payTV is provided (p. 4). STANTON & SALANT ON EDITORIALS & NEWS: CBS pres. , at radio affiliates meeting, urges more editorializing, cautions against abuse. Salant hits at 'check -book journalism' (p. 5). Consumer Electronics FCC NOT KIDDING on all-channel law, notifies industry it won't abandon uhf and plans no postponement of effective date, despite rumors to contrary; dislocations seen likely next spring, unless all-channel output accelerates soon— and that's not likely (p. 7). NO II -IN. TV DATA from EIA this year, as GE withholds statistics; dispute almost breaks up EIA data program, but compromise solution promises figures after year's end (p. 8). RCA'S WONDERFUL WORLD of color outlined by Saxon & Williams, predicting company's color set dollar volume will surpass total of all other home entertainment products combined next year; new color survey (p. 8). UNIQUE STEREO PRODUCTS— "Music Modules," halfway between components & packages, and phono with speakers built into headrest cushion, introduced by GE, along with its first tape recorder (p. 11). CODES, COMMERCIALS, COMMENTS, CONFLICT: It was another troubled week for industry in Washington, mostly involving freedom & money, following FCC Chmn. Henry's big anti-commercial blast (Vol. 3:39 pi). Industry filed comments on FCC's proposal to put ceiling on commercials— gave it heavy barrage. NAB Pres. Collins exhorted TV and Radio Code Review Boards, in separate meetings, to get tougher or expect govt, to squeeze harder— got about 50-50 results. Comments filed in FCC's proceeding came from every source— networks, group owners, attorneys, individual operators. There was much carefully considered argument, surprisingly little vituperation. But Henry got mighty few suggestions on how to impose commercial strictures, of type he called for in IRTS speech. Similar themes ran through most comments. Violation of First Amendment. . . Censorship. . . Non-workable. . . Unwise. . . What is over -commercialization? . . . Usurpation of Congressional power . . . Impossible to police. . . Rigid mold. . . Complaints minuscule. . . Would get FCC into details of daily operation. . . Rate-making, etc. Several comments suggested that FCC stick to its July 1960 policy statement: Require stations to state their policies— then to rationalize any departures therefrom. For the life of us, we can't see where FCC is going to come out on this— and we don't think Commission knows, either. There should be some clue when Rep. Rogers (D-Tex. ) conducts his hearings on bill to block FCC proposal this month or next (Vol. 3:39 p2). We understand, incidentally, that