COMMITTEE ON BROADCASTING AND TELEVISION (COBAT)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-01634R000300030032-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 11, 2000
• Sequence Number: 32
• Publication Date: March 4, 1958
• Content Type: MIN

Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-01634) 032-1
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OPERATIONS COORDINATING BOARD
Washington 25, D.C.
March 4, 1958
MEN-NORANDUM OF MEETING; Committee on Broadcasting and Television (COBAT)
34th Meeting held 2:00 P.M. March 3
Room 2039 HEW Building
l forking Group Members Present:
USIA - Robert A. Bauer, Acting Chairman
State - Florence T. Dowling, alternate
Richard T. Black (representing TPIB)
CIA - Representative present
ICA - Gale C. Griswold, alternate
Defense - John C. Broger
Col. Harry W. McClellan, alternate
OCB Staff - Ralph R. Busick
Marjorie M. Denny
Others Present:
Defense - Major Stanley Rodby
1. The minutes of the February 6 meeting were adopted with the follow-
ing correction in paragraph No. 5: The Defense member informed that the
Armed Forces would not be building a television station in Teheran.
2. possible avenues of assistance to 1jest Berlin television were dis-
cussed (reference Despatch No. 148 from USIS Bonn, 1/29/58). The Defense
representative outlined categories of TV film which could possibly be made
available to the West Berlin Station, if COBAT should decide it were feasible,
after informally exploring the German reaction to use of such programs. It
was agreed that full information on the problems of obtaining TV films would
be furnished the Acting Chairman, who will discuss the problem informally
with German television officials on a forthcoming visit to Europe, and
determine whether they believe American films would be helpful in countering
East Berlin programming. The preliminary study made by Defense was limited
to what might be made available, and not how this might be done.
3. A similar agreement was reached in connection with the possible
supplying of film to Baghdad Television, which is in need of more program
material. The Chairman of COBAT is to visit Baghdad in the near future,
at which time he will explore informally Iraqui reaction to the use of
TV film which might be made available by Defenses via MATS from Saudi Arabia.
4. The Acting Chairman reported on reactions received from Bangkok
and Baghdad as to the feasibility of distributing privately financed and
donated TV community receiver sets, with a view to furthering country
objectives. Although neither post was over-enthusiastic about the idea
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USIA declassification & release instructions on file
 Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-01634E t)[@200Q 1832-1
at the present time, both agreed that the plan had merit. Baghdad believed
that the project was feasible, but would be of limited effectiveness because
of the limited programing now put on by Baghdad Television. It was
generally agreed that this project should be taken up with I.
5. The Acting Chairman called attention to a recent despatch from the
New Delhi country team urging aid to Indian television (No. 903 of 2/14/58).
The despatch recommends U.S. initiative to provide funds to set up an experi-
mental television operation. It appears that the GOI already may have
decided against requesting aid through USC'l. The country team is making a
strong recommendation that the President's Special Economic Fund be utilized.
The recommendation is being considered by the State Department, together with
other interested agencies?
6 The Acting Chairman informed COBAT of the guidance which has been
given to him by the State Department prior to his attendance of the European
Broadcasting Union (EBU) meeting in Brussels later this month.
7. The members of COBAT agreed that a working draft of a report to
the COB, attaching agency positions on television and pointing up the problem
of financing Committee projects, should be distributed before the next
meeting for consideration and revision,
8. In the event that the members of the Committee feel it necessary
to have a meeting during the brief period that the Chairman and his alternate
may both be out of the country, it was agreed that the State Department member
'would act as Chairman.
Ralph R. Busick
Staff Representative
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-01634R000300030032-1