REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE OF BROADCASTING AND TELEVISION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-01634R000300030040-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 14, 2000
• Sequence Number: 40
• Publication Date: March 5, 1958
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-01634R000300030040-2
WORKING DRAFT SECRET
March 5, 1958
TO MEMBERS OF COBATs
As agreed at the COBAT meeting held March 3rd, this working draft of a
report to the OCB3 attaching agency positions on television and pointing up
the problem of financing Committee projects,, is distributed for your considera-
tion and revision at the next meeting,
REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE ON BROADCASTING AND TELEVISION
Background
The President's Committee on International Information Activities recommended
in its report to the President, dated June 30, 1953 that the U.S. should be pre-
pared to provide assistance to television industries in other countries while
those industries are in their formative stages0 The Schramm reports each year
(1954, 1955, 1956 and 1957) have pointed out the increasing importance of tele-
vision overseas as a medium of communicationso
Purpose of COBAT
The OCB Committee on Broadcasting and Television (COBAT) was therefore
established in December 1955 to assure inter-agency coordination on projects
involving assistance to foreign governments in developing their television
services, COBATts terms of reference state that the Committee will, among
other things, "undertake the development of specific projects., including planning
and arranging for financing, to counter Soviet TV efforts into Free World areas."
COBAT's Report and Recommendations Concerning Television in Europe (4/23/56)
which was adopted as a general guide for planning purposes, stated "Specific
projects requiring additional authority or new funds will be submitted to thee
OCB for appropriate action." Such projects have not been submitted(in the(
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absence of any possibility of financing them. And it is the view of the Committee
that the Board's wishes cannot be carried out in the field of television overseas
unless some new source of funds is made available, COBAT alone can not solve
the crucial problem of how to finance projects*
Agency Positions on Television
-None of the represented agencies or departments has allocated funds available
for assisting television industries in foreign countries. Statements of policy
on television under which the State Department., USA., ICA and Defense now
operate are provided as attachments to this report. ICA under its present policy
limits its offers of assistance and training to educational TV only. IC,Ais
considering a change in its operating policy to allow for participation in
projects going beyond the strictly educational field. But until such review
takes place, ICA contributions must needs be limited,,
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Examoles of Increased Russian Activity
In the meantime more and more countries have been receiving assistance and
training from the Russians in the field of television prograirming. Russian
offe s have been accepted in Egypt?'' a o iav ))one or two M=iddle Eastern and
Lat"La American countries. But this"is--mrily-one part of the overseas television
picture. In the field of exchanges in television films and personnel., the
Communist countries have become very active in the last few months. And over-the-
television operations by the Soviets, which have been a matter of concern
to COBAT since its inceptions have been stepped up.
Boriin Situation
The Berlin situation is one of the most acute at the moment. East German
standards have been converted to those of West Germany, so that the West
Berliners can receive telecasts from East Berlin without having their receiving
sets adjusted. The East Zone station has been producing programs espec ia`Lly
designed for West Berlin audiences, These programs are good programs, containing
a special style of television propaganda, which are put on at the time of any
weak spots in the ?Jest Berlin programming. The competition for the West Berlin
audience has become keen. But the free Perlin television station does not have
sufficient financial means to counter the Eastern television offensive effectively
with attractive programs. COBAT is studying the Berlin situation, but none of
its members (operating under present policy - see attachments) has been able to
solve this problem to date.
Conclusion
The Committee feels that the OCB should be apprised of the lack of progress
in the field of overseas television., and the reason therefor. Opportunities for
effecet ~yprograms along the line recommended four years ago do exist and could
fairly be exploited. Much information has been collected which could serve as
an immediate guide in the choice and execution of such programs. But planning
for them is meaningless until some source of funds is discovered.;
Recommendation
COBAT recommends an immediate study of means for obtaining a ;i25Q,?000
emergency fund to meet rapidly and effectively occasions as they arise in
critical areas involving television overseas,
Attachments:
1, State Department Position on TV (extracted from paper prepared for COBAT
meeting 12/3/57)
2. USIA Policy on TV (extracted from CA-836, Oct. 3, 1957)
3. ICA Policy (extracted from "background" in ICA draft 11/29/57)
44. Defense Policy (ex-tracted fran Department of Defense paper distribut,ad to
COBAT 11/4-/57 - but not dated)
Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-01634R000300030040-2
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