Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1963)

4-TELEVISION DIGEST NOVEMBER 18, 1963 CATV & TV-RADIO VETERANS PUT HEADS TOGETHER; A turning point in CATV history may have been reached last week. CATV pioneers and TV-radio pros put their know-how together— in Wash A ington, where it’s needed. P Two sessions were involved: Informal luncheon of CATV interests and top FCC staff members; meeting of NAB's & NCTA's liaison committees. Both were marked with cordiality— welcomed by all hands. FCCCATV luncheon was hosted by Ward Quaal, WGN-TV Chicago. FCC guests were Henry Geller, James Sheridan, John Bass. They expected only couple telecasters, were surprised to find, ■ from TV-radio field: J. Leonard Reinsch, G. Richard Shafto, Marcus Bartlett, Harry Butcher. ■ From CATV, mostly with broadcast experience too: A1 Malin, Fred Stevenson, Jack Crosby, Archer J Tayler. I Net effect of session was that CATV group elaborated on services rendered— multiple signals, r distribution of ETV signals, extension of uhf coverage, weather, news, etc. FCC staff listened carefully, prompting Geller & Sheridan to chide them for not giving Commission more data in various official FCC proceedings. Said Sheridan: "The Commission can act only on facts, on the record. Too much of the time we're told, 'You have no power to do that.' The FCC welcomes positive presentations of what you do— not negative presentations of what we can't do." Said NCTA Chmn. Stevenson: "Any time you sit down with a group of people with open minds it's worthwhile. I think we clarified a few points with the FCC staff." Said Reinsch: "It was very beneficial. CATV can serve itself more effectively by advising FCC and the Congress how we expand service. CATV is helping to achieve the purpose of the Communications Act, bringing more service to more people. Little isolated storms in the past have been blown up out of proportion." Some time ago, Reinsch hosted confab with commissioners— Henry, Ford & Cox present. For NAB-NCTA session, NAB fielded Dwight Martin, William Grove, Shafto & staffers Wasilewski, Anello, Carlisle & Hulbert. NCTA had most of those at FCC session, plus Martin Malarkey, Bruce Merrill, Frank Thompson and staffers L'Heureux & Nowaczek. Said Stevenson: "Good meeting. Good will. Both sides went away after finding the other side didn't have horns & forked tails. Nothing definite was decided. We should show respect for each other's points of view." NCTA board meets in Chicago Nov. 18. It's expected committee will be named to find replacement for former Pres. William Dalton, resigned. Only name we've heard so far is that of John Erickson, former admin, asst, to Sen. Fulbright (D-Ark.). NBC 'TW' TICKLES MANY, IRKS FEW: NBC got lot of attention, mostly favorable, with its experiment in moderate -to -sharp satire— "That Was the Week That Was"— patterned after big British success of same name. Ironically, BBC announced coincidentally that it's kicking show off air at year's end, chickening out for fear it might influence general elections, expected next Spring. NBC carefully labeled its Nov. 10 show experimental, saying it's considering making it a series next Fall. Most critics were delighted with show, hailing it for novelty, humor, bite. Network said it received 2, 330 favorable comments, 440 unfavorable. Produced by Leland Hayward, show starred Henry Fonda, Henry Morgan. It lampooned without partiality — Kennedy, Goldwater, Rockefeller, Dewey, Gen. Walker, DeGaulle, billionaire J. Paul Getty, debutante Fernanda Wetherill, Bobby Baker, authors of salacious books, clergy, politicians— and the embattled funeral directors who must feel that TV has a conspiracy against them. Now, if someone spoofs British "TW" for quitting, satire will have gone full circle. NBC was interested, naturally, in reaction of pressure groups, govt., etc. It reports no official complaints from organized groups. Of communications powers in Washington who saw it and could be reached for comment: Rep. Rogers (D-Tex.)— "Excellent. Good for a series. The political things were fine. That’s what it should be. Some of it was close to obscenity and being su^estive; I wish they'd cut that out." Rep. Moss (D-Cal.)— "I was honestly & thoroughly amused. Fd have to watctt it 2 or 3 times before saying whether it would make a good series. There's always need for political i satire." Sens. Magnuson (D-Wash.) & Pastore (D-R. L) and Rep. Harris (D-Ark.) couldn't be reached or hadn't seen show. Few FCC members had watched; those who did said they enjoyed most of it.