Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1963)

NEW SERIES VOL. 3, No. 41 TELEVISION DIGEST-3 available in most commimities where Ch. 37 is now assigned— including Paterson, N. J. & Melbourne, Fla. where applications are pending. (4) Atlantic Research Corp. is making computer study to see if more efficient allocation may be made. (5) No channel changes are proposed for any uhf licensee or CP -holder. (6) Most existing uhf assignments to communities remain unchanged. (7) While this rule -making is pending: (a) Petitions for Lihf channel changes will be treated as comments in the proceeding, (b) Applications for channels in present & proposed tables will be processed as usual, (c) Applications for the few channels which have been deleted from existing table will be frozen until proceeding ends. (8) All basic technical standards— separations, power, height, "taboos,” etc. , are retained. (9) No vhf changes are involved. (10) Number of assignments per city was determined by using as a general but not rigid guide this formula; 1-2 non-ETV channels (vhf & uhf combined) for cities imder 50,000; 2-5 for 50,000-250,000, 5-7 for 250,000-1 million; 7-9 for over 1 million. ♦ * * ♦ Midwest Program for Airborne TV Instruction (MPATI), now feeding schools experimentally, had asked for regular use of Ch. 72, 74, 76, 78, 80 & 82. Recommendations before FCC are quite dubious about such permanent service, Iselieving that 2, 500 -me band can do the trick. However, it's proposed that rule -making be started, comments be solicited. Because of interference problems, FCC staff says, between 750 & 1, 110 uhf groimd assignments would be wiped out if MPATI' s proposal were adopted nation-wide. Furthermore, it's noted, this would raise hob with Canadian & Mexican assignments. REPORT ON DROPOUTS VIS-A-VIS RATINGS: There's not much surprising, regarding influence of ratings, in reports collected by FCC from networks, at request of House Commerce Committee ratings investigators. Commission forwarded mass of data to Cor^ress last week, without analysis— which will come later from FCC. Examination of data shows: (1) Programs dropped before end of season are almost certain to be in last place. (2) Programs carried whole season but not rescheduled followii^ year are never first. Reports covered last 3 seasons. Each network supplied list of programs dropped before end of I season, with indication how each fared in ratings against competition. Reports showed that, of 45 . shows dropped before end of season during the 3 years, 37 were in 3rd place in both rating services, I 3 were 2nd, remaining 5 fluctuated over the months. Second part of report— covering all programs & ratings for full season (but not competitors' ratings), will be analyzed by FCC Broadcast Bureau Asst. Chief Hy Goldin, given to House committee. We've : examined reports in light of ARB national pocketpieces for 1962-63 season, found: Of 23 programs • carried full season but not rescheduled, none was in first place; 2 started season in first. About ! half ended up in last place. Nielsen official took quick look at his figures, estimated that 60% of nonreturning programs were 3rd place in their audience shares. Exceptions to foregoing are some news shows and a limited number of entertainment programs iwith strong appeal to special audiences. NAB-RAB ONLY STEP AWAY ON RADIO STUDY: It's apparently only matter of time, and not much time at that, before NAB & RAB get together on radio methodology study proposed by RAB. To be conducted by Audits & Surveys Co., study will cost some $200, 000, NAB to provide up to $75,000. I After months of discussion, groups moved close together at special liaison committee meeting in Washington last week. Purportedly called for discussion of other matters, meeting went into man