VCR RECORDING OF NEWS BROADCASTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-00733R000100160030-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 18, 2012
• Sequence Number: 30
• Publication Date: January 23, 1985
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100160030-4
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23 January 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR: Chief, Operations Group
FROM: 25X1
Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Service
SUBJECT: VCR Recording of News Broadcasts
REFERENCE: Memo from DDI to DDCI
Jerry:
1. Please prepare a brief memo outlining our plan for tackling this
problem, for COB Wednesday, 30 January. I would like to send something
to the DDS&T before my departure. MOD was previously designated the
action office. The plan should include a simple breakdown of major costs:
contractors, shipping, VCR procurement, conversion equipment, additional
Headquarters personnel. We should not spare the horses; it may be
necessary to hire part-time contractors here to meet the planes, etc.
2. Inasmuch as has been in contact with the office
directors on the live television project, perhaps he can clarify some of
the requirements: i.e., how many newscasts a day. I suggest we try to
start with simply the main evening newscasts and special events. Also,
suggest we do the Tokyo recording in Tokyo, the Beijing recording in
Beijing, etc. Shipping time may not be any faster from a bur*au than
from a major city.
3. My suspicion is that this will go on for many years, so let's
set it up right.
All Portions are
Classified SECRET.
SECRET
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100160030-4 ,, , ,
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100160030-4
SUBJECT: VCR Recording of News Broadcasts
DDS$T/FBISI
Distribution:
Orig - Addressee (w/att)
(23 Jan 85)
1
- DD/FBIS (w att
1
- C/AG for
I
(w/a
tt)
1
- C/Prod (w att
1
- C/MOD (w/att)
1
- C/ED (w/att)
1
- C/DRD (w/att)
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- C/AS (w/att)
1
- AC/EF,PS (w/att)
1
- C/LRB (w/att)
1
- C/B$F (w/att)
1
- D/FBIS Chrono (w/att)
1
- JDC Corres file (w/at
t)
1
- FBIS Registry (w/att)
RJR! ~yw ....sw:_'Y!
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100160030-4 , ,,i,,
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100160030-4
DDI#00197-85
11 January 1985
NOTE TO: Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
FROM : Deputy Director for Intelligence
SUBJECT: Candidate Cities for VCR Recording of News Broadcasts
In response to our discussion) last Monday night and your
tasking, I list below the twelve cities the offices would regard as their
top priorities for getting video cassette recordings of news programs.
They are listed in priority order.
Obviously, the sooner we could get the recordings after the
broadcast the more useful they would be. There is considerable diversity
of opinion in the Directorate about the value of such recordings, but all
agree that an experiment such as this would help us move beyond specula-
tion and opinion stage to having some actual experience. My guess is
there will be considerable variation in utility, with some being of
considerable value and others not worth the effort.
/3/
Robert M. Gates
All Portions are
Classified SECRET
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100160030-4