Ofgadeasti G the BUSINESS WEEKLY of TELEVISION and RADIO
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JUNE 24, 1968 50 CENTS 37TH YEAR OfgadeaSti g THE BUSINESS WEEKLY OF TELEVISION AND RADIO Is CATV's future in the hands of the FCC? p19 Candidates digging deep for political buys. p24 Optimistic NCTA ready for convention this week. p33 What the exhibitors will be showing in Boston. p36 COMPLETE INDEX PAGE 7 =-4 ,r,-4 N %- $a WBAPTVEÑflL© 4.a. Represented Nationally by ers. Griffin. Woodward, Inc. 0*\4O ;MR IENCE _- Beginning this September, a minimum* of 62 half -hours of programming from Screen Gems is scheduled to be shown on New York's television stations each week. SCREEN GEMS Bewitched WABC -TV Thursdays and Weekdays. I Dream of Jeannie WNBC -TV Mondays. The Flying Nun WABC -TV Thurs- days. Here Come the Brides WABC -TV Wednesdays. The Outcasts WABC -TV Mondays. The Ugliest Girl in Town WABC -TV Thursdays. Days of Our Lives WNBC -TV Weekdays. The Farmer's Daughter WCBS -TV Weekdays. Hazel WNEW.TV Weekdays. The Flintstones WNEW -TV Weekdays and Sunday; and WNBC -TV Saturdays. Dennis the Menace WCBS -TV Weekdays. Burns and Allen WPIX Weekdays. The 3 Stooges WPIX Weekdays. The Perfect Match WPIX Saturdays. Jungle Jim Features WNBC -TV Saturdays. Johnny Quest WCBS -TV Saturdays. Top Cat WNBC -TV Saturdays. Route 66 WNBC -TV Saturdays. Donna Reed Show WCBS -TV Weekdays. *Does not include network originated feature films on WABC.TV and WCBS -TV, and locally originated feature films (from a library of more than 1,400 titles) on WABC -TV, WCBS -TV, WNBC -TV and WOR -TV, and specials, both network and locally originated. On May IZ 1968 we got the signal to go ahead. That was the day we received authority to proceed with applications to use "short haul" microwave for distributing TV signal to CATV subscribers. This commercial authorization would al- low for tests in New York City and two rural areas. For the present, application of this new system will be limited, but its promise for the future can be far -reaching. CATV sys- tems can become economically practical in sparsely populated rural communities. Many rural viewers can enjoy the full range of television programming, for the first time. The delivery of CATV signal to city dwellers can be accomplished without major street construction, public inconvenience, or delay. Natural barriers can cease to be barriers. We, at Theta -Com, who developed "short haul "microwave, are proud to see it move ahead. Through the combined skills of a leading communications systems company and a leading CATV operating company, it has proved something about electronic communications: There are no impossible dreams. THETA-CO/V1 50 West 44th Street, New York 10036 ThetaCom is a jointly-owned subsidiary of TelePrompTer Corporation and Hughes Aircraft Company. BROADCASTING, June 24, 1968 3 Will soaring to new heiìJf in the Rear Provldcncc ti) ` The new channel G WTEV tower, reaching 1,049 feet above sea level, has vastly increased /*t the effectiveness of this station throughout the greater Providence area. Increased efficiency in key areas, plus more powerful coverage of its entire market, is proved by a 53 %* increase in overall average audience. WTEV is on the move -soaring to new heights in service, programming, audience reach. This new WTEV is important in your sales picture. 13nan1 on feb...Varde 1908 Nielsen estimates as conparell with feb.; llnrcb 1967 cslinmtes; snbjeet lo inherent limitations of sampling techniques and other qualifications issucd by Nielsen, uruilablc upon request. rtcpnwtivd bp Television, Inc. ,.. L..01 Reading ' i. ....):n.i"....e.a... .._...... ux IMe Cwb./Kn. a.xw.n..w .Jn :BOSTON "'^B;ImO , >. ..... pM Ju «..5.xa.y..iwen.. _ o .e... N... YAS.S - /.. NV TEAT GRADE A Providence -New Bedford -Fall River Rhode Island- Massachusetts Vance L. Eckersley, Sta. Mgr. e.hVtng the gheateh cAtooidenee ..A ea STEINMAN TELEVISION STATIONS Clair McCollough, Pres. WTEV Providence, R.I. /New Bedford -Fall River, Mass. WGAL -TV Lancaster - Harrisburg - York - Lebanon, Pa. KOAT -TV Albuquerque, N.M. KVOA -TV Tucson, Ariz. 4 BROADCASTING, June 24, 1968 Pearson's ploy CLOSED CIRCUIT There may be more than coinci- dence in candidacy of Joseph Borkin. Washington "consultant," for upcom- thority in behalf of A -C's FDS deo- Stretching the wire dorant Although letter ing FCC vacancy and recent syndi- spray. did not openly threaten suit, it dealt at length cated columns by Drew Pearson ad- Major cable TV system owner, Tele- with antitrust implications and said vising President Johnson to name vision Communications Corp., New that group action to put or keep FDS commissioner who will align York, in exchange of stock is acquir- himself off TV would be discriminatory and ing Universal Cable Vision Inc., sub- with hard -line regulators Nick John- raise serious restraint -of -trade ques- sidiary of son and Ken Cox. Messrs. Borkin tions. Cowles Communications and and Pearson are old friends and - operator of CATV in Winter Haven. more to current point -participants Tentative decision to retain person- Fla. Winter Haven system has 1.500 in application for TV and AM sta- al- products ban apparently ends easy subscribers, and with this addition. tions in Washington. truce that reportedly has been in ef- Television Communications. of which fect between code authority and FDS. Alfred R. Stern is chairman and pres- Owning 4.824% of stock each. When review of ban was agreed upon ident, can now claim more than Messrs. Sorkin and Pearson are in 22- last winter. FDS commercials were on 65,000 subscribers with about 15 member group that has applied for half -dozen code stations, and code and CATV's in U.S. Multiple- station own- channel 14. now occupied by WFAN- Alberto -Culver people reached under- er Cowles retains CATV holding TV, and 1340 kc, now occupied by standing that while review was in grog_ (Total TV) in Memphis through its WOOK, both owned by Richard Eaton. ress. stations would not be asked to WREC -TV there. Mr. Borkin would have to drop his drop them and A -C would not seek interest if appointed to FCC-which to expand station list. Now code au- insiders think is unlikely (BROADCAST- thority must tell stations to cease and Thing to do ING, June 17). desist -and it's good bet some may refuse. At earlier stage, at least one TV stations in Madison. Wis.. may Tighter control broadcaster is known to have told be next broadcasters to feel pressure code authority that the thought FDS from anti-smoking groups. Sources commercials were in excellent taste close to anti -cigarette interests say ad FCC is expected to bite off large and he had no intention of dropping hoc citizens group in Madison is pre- new piece of regulatory responsibility them. paring petition to FCC calling for over this week, CATV in case that revocation of station or stations' li- has bearing on question of who is to censes on grounds that outlets have control wired communications net- Long summer not presented enough anti -smoking work of future. On commission messages to counter cigarette com- agenda is issue as to whether tele- There'll be no summer 'hiatus" at mercials. Petition apparently would be phone companies should be required FCC this year as far as Chairman similar to that recently filed against to seek commission authority before Rosei H. Hyde is concerned. Until last WNBC -TV New York by John Banzhaf building facilities to provide channel year, FCC traditionally had recessed III and his Action on Smoking and service to CATV systems. Commission for month of August. Chairman Health (BROADCASTING, June 17). is expected to say that they should. Hyde expects quorum of commission Anti -smoking forces are said to feel will be available each Wednesday dur- Banzhaf petition will set off chain re- CATV systems have long urged ing summer although there will be action and that action in Madison is commission to take that position, argu- automatic slow -down with many em- first of many to come. ing that regulatory void now exists as ployes taking their vacations and with result of failure of local and state au- Congress and courts in recess. thorities to assert jurisdiction over Numbers game such facilities. Because of this void, Hot house cablemen say, telephone companies Disagreement between broadcasters are able maintain fisted to "iron- con- and American Research Bureau over trol" over all forms of wire commu- George Schlatter -Ed Friendly Pro- methodological changes instituted by nications. as is ductions, riding high now with Rowan If commission rules it ARB in its local- market TV reports expected to. it will put itself in posi- and Martin's Laugh -In series, has re- apparently is still there. ARB officials tion of regulating growth of telephone ceived firm commitment from major and Television Bureau of Advertis- companies in CATV. advertiser to produce 16 half -hour pro- grams for new comedy series tenta- ing's research advisory committee met tively called Kockamantie. Project is last week in effort to resolve differ- Vulnerable? aimed at January 1969 start. Produc- ence, but TVB group came away don team also has commitment from feeling nothing had really changed - Antitrust suit against National As- NBC-TV to produce hour special pilot or was likely to. ARB officials ap- sociation of Broadcasters is regarded called Soul. Scheduled to go before peared somewhat more optimistic, at as distinct possibility as result of NAB cameras first week in July, show will least on long-range basis, but ac- TV board's tabling of code board pro- be heavily Negro- oriented both in per- knowledged "we're still searching for posal to lift ban on advertising of cer- forming and technical personnel and answers to some of these questions." tain personal products on TV (see in theme.