Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1963)

NEW SERIES VOL. 3, No. 45 TELEVISION DIGEST-5 NIELSEN TRIES TO STOP RATING LEAKS: Nielsen has taken action to block release of network TV ratings— such as those triggering "sweepstakes" stories in print 2 weeks ago (Vol. 3 :44 p2) . It has huddled with network officials, will include prominent warnings in 30-market & national TV reports. Only top 10 ratings are released to public. Other ratings developments: (1) RAB officials, following Nov. 12 board meeting in Washington, will confer with NAB on next step to implement their agreement for partnering radio methodology study, now that NAB board has approved (Vol. 3:44 p2). Date will be set for first meeting of 10-man steering committee including: One member each from RAB & NAB staffs; 2 each from station management representing both associations; 2 each, representing professional researchers. Committee will select 11th man to serve as chmn. (2) Rating Council subcommittees, by Nov. 15, are to recommend man to head Council and supply names of audit companies competing to handle validation of rating service performance. It's pretty definite now that AAAA & ANA won't become members of Rating Council board, will retain present "observer" status. (3) Response to ARB's cost increase in local TV reports has been better than expected. It went into effect Sept. 1, following average 59% increase in all samples. Spokesman said many stations are encouraging rater to improve service, stated only about dozen subscribers aren't renewing. (4) Pulse announced it's new Qualitative Personal Diary technique is now ready for syndication. Though tested in TV, it will be used in radio. This is departure for Pulse, which up to now has used personal interview method. Diaries will be placed personally, collected by mail. FCC was castigated by columnist David Lawrence last week for ruling in Ky. Breathitt -Nunn race for governor (Vol. 3:44 p5). Campaigners for GOP candidate Nunn had quoted from President's news conference in spots sent to stations. FCC concluded quote was a distortion, advised stations that "fairness doctrine" applied. Lawrence asserted that FCC has no business judging whether "distortion" was present, that it was up to President to clarify, that FCC's job was merely to tell stations they weren't required to carry the spots because "there is no personal use of station facilities by a candidate involved." (Breathitt won by narrow margin; Nunn is questioning count. ) "Look" article "What TV Violence Can Do to Your Child" was disputed by TIO which says that researchers, commenting on study featured in article, question conclusions in at least 2 of 4 experiments. "All that is demonstrated is that the children remembered what they had seen and imitated some aspects of it in the labor^ory immediately following exposure," TIO states. "Experiments reported hardly provide support for the assertion that techniques of aggression are stored for future use." Vhf drop-ins & CATV regulation, among major matters pending, weren't, discussed by FCC last week. New sessions were scheduled in couple weeks. NBC donates $250, 000 to Community TV of Southern Cal. for ETV uhf in Los Angeles. Pay-TV committee, similar to other specialized committees, has been formed by FCC: Loevinger, chmn. ; Lee & Cox. Purpose, according to Chmn. Henry: "To stay abreast of developments. We need to watch the onair developments, the pay-TV aspects of CATV, the California developments in Los Angeles & San Francisco, etc. We're nearing the time when we'll have to consider 'regularization' of the Hartford experiment, for example." Fifth Local Public Service Programming Conference, sponsored by Group W, runs Nov. 10-13 in Cleveland. Secy, of State Dean Rusk is to brief delegates on world affairs, FCC Chmn. Henry to be a principal speaker, HEW Comr. Francis Keppel also will attend. Theme is "Communications and Communities." Panels: "Perspective on News;" expanded TV news formats; how broadcasters communicate with community; "Needs and Taste: Meeting the Challenge"; art of TV & radio documentary; problems & potentials of live programming. FCC is Intimidating radio stations with fairness doctrine, according to Sen. Thurmond (D-S.C.). He said conservative "Manion Forum" program has felt adverse effects. Many stations hesitate to carry program because they would have to provide time to the opposition, he charged. "It would be well to begin applying the doctrine with the broadcasts of the networks because of [their monopoly] on national broadcasting," Thurmond said. He called these broadcasts "left wing." New king of tall towers is 2, 063 -ft. structure of KEND-TV (Ch. 11) Fargo, which completed fixing GE antenna to Kline steelwork in 25 min. on Nov. 8— accompanied by click of "Life" magazine cameras. Station aims for Dec. 31 start. Tower will also support Ch. 2 antenna of ETV station to be built by U. of N. D. & N. D. State U. Installation will put principal-city signal into Fargo, Grand Forks & Valley City. Smithsonian Institution plans to place model of facilities in exhibit on broadcasting. "Big brother move on the part of the federal administration" is reaction of Sen. Curtis (R-Neb.) to FCC Chmn. Henry's report on Omaha local-live hearing (Vol. 3:43 pi). "I long have subscribed," he said, "to the basic principle upon which the nation's communications policy was established: That the govt, should confine its power & jurisdiction to controlling the traffic and regulating the technical aspects." Request that FCC suspend license fees, due to start Jan. 1, "until further action by Congress" was made last week by Rep. Rogers (D-Tex.). He noted that his hearings questioning FCC's authority aren't scheduled until early part of 1964. Commission plans reply shortly. New CATV system for Ocean City, N. J. is being built for H & B American by Jerrold. Costing more than $250, 000, system will distribute 4 channels from Philadelphia, 4 from N. Y. Partial service will be available by March, full service by May. Bill allowing appeals from FCC decisions to be tried in U. S. court of appeals where appellant resides, rather than in Washington, introduced by Rep. Ashmore (D-S. C. ) (HR-9031). "Heart Beat," TvB's new half-hour film examining successful TV commercial production techniques, will be shown Nov. 20, as part of 9th annual membership meeting in Chicago Nov. 19-21.