Mar. 8, 1965 - More than 95% of NBC’s regularly scheduled evening programs — all but two shows — will be televised in color next season, the network announced today. This season, 70% of the shows are in color.
Of a total of 29 programs, the only two that will have the distinction of being in black and white are “Convoy” and “I Dream of Jeannie,” which will star Barbara Eden (pictured) and Larry Hagman.
“Convoy,” a drama series about North Atlantic crossings in World War II, could not be done in color because it will incorporate stock film footage of naval activities. “Jeannie,” a comic fantasy, will employ visual effects that either are too costly or impractical in color.
ABC expects to offer about 6½ of programming each week in color next season, an increase over that offered this season. Color shows on ABC include “Sunday Night at the Movies,” “Big Valley,” “Gidget,” “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea,” “The Flintstones,” and a new drama series about the FBI.
So far, CBS has not indicated any change in its policy of offering color TV only in a few special presentations.
NBC believes its color programming represents a substantial advantage in network competition. Walter Scott, executive director in charge of NBC-TV, said that 2.8 million color receivers were in use at the end of 1964 and that 5 million were expected to be in use by the end of 1965.
He said a recent study by the American Research Bureau indicated that there was 80% more television viewing in homes with color sets than in homes having only black-and-white receivers. NBC’s parent, the Radio Corporation of America, manufactures color sets.
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