WORKING GROUP - COMMITTEE ON BROADCASTING AND TELEVISION (COBAT)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-01634R000300030085-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 14, 2000
• Sequence Number: 85
• Publication Date: June 15, 1956
• Content Type: MIN

Approved For jIe se 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78 634R000300030085-3
SECRET
OPERATIONS COORDINATING BOARD
Washington 25, D.C.
CORREC TED June 15., 1956
MEMORANDUM OF MEETING: Working Group - Committee on Broadcasting and
Television COBAT)
17th Meeting held 2 p.m. June 13, 1956
OCB Conference Room
Working Group Members Presents
USIA - Robert E. Button, Chairman
ICA - Gerald Winfield
Defense - Col. M. E. Williamson
state - Florence T. Dowling (alternate)
T. H. E. Nesbitt (Chairman, TPIB)
CIA - Member and alternate present
OCB - Ralph Busick
Marjorie Denny
Others Present:
USIA - Frederic 0. Bundy
Robert Bauer
Daniel Lawler
State - Charles C. Finch
Francis Boardman
1. The minutes of the May 21st meeting were approved.
2. A telegram from Beirut on the subject of the Lebanese TV project
was considered. A roundtable discussion brought out agreement on the
following: the suggestion of presenting the educational TV station as
an outright gift could not be considered at this time; the Ford Foundation
con:tribution might be withdrawn if the project were commercial; in view
of the fact that Turkey, E t and Ir had adopted the 625-2i4q_European
TV system, it mi ht be mare a_vantageou* Ao the Lebanese__o-do. kewise;
rrM er than introduce the American 525 line system; it was most important
.for the U.S. to attain maximum influence on Beirut TV and the most probable
way was to provide electronic training, guidance and assistance in presenting
programs, and if possible, arrange for an American adviser; the mission
should be requested to clarify apparent confusion between commercial and
educational TV projects; the reply to the mission should stress the fact
that U.S. interest could best be served by educational TV, but at the
same time make clear that it does not want to hinder the commercial
project; and the field should be requested to furnish the reaction of
U.S. commercial representatives in the area.
A draft reply to Beirut will be considered at the next meeting.
Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-01634R00034~80O85-3
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3. The Defense member distributed copies of a memorandum on the
subject of "Broadcast Activity in Libya" and informed the Committee that
the Department of Defense had approved utilization of technical services
of military personnel based at Tripoli for purposes of a preliminary
on-the-spot survey. USIA furnishes. the members with a technical study
entitled "Proposed Radio Broadcasting Facilities for Libya", which con-
tained technical details presented orally at a previous COBAT meeting..
Discussion of this project was postponed until the next meeting when
the members will have had an opportunity to study these papers.
4. 11r. Bauer, who had just returned from MU meetings in Europe,
reported on the present Eurovision set-up. His debriefing included
historical background of EBU, personality of top officials, European
sensitivities involved, general philosophy underlying all Eurovision
programs, and delineation of problems. The principal difficulties were
(1) technical ones involving interconnection equipment and (2) artists'
rights and union problems.
The desirability of a technical survey of E,urovision facilities
will be considered at the next meeting. The fact was brought out that
this could be accomplished by a.USIA technical official now scheduled
to go to Munich on another mission in August. In view of this the
Committee agreed that the COBAT paper dated April 26 requesting the
OCB to approve a survey of IJuropean TV should now be withdrawn. (This
paper, with a covering memorandum dated Hay 3rd was scheduled for the
Board Assistants meeting June 22nd.)
5. The TPIB Chairman informed, that the Technical Panel had recom-
mended to the OCB that one of the shortwave megawatt transmitters now
held in the custody of the GSA be released for purchase by RLN. With
reference to the State Department paper for USIA on the adequacy of
international broadcasting facilities, he reported this paper was
being prepared and would be forthcoming within three to six weeks.
6. The Committee agreed to a discussion of the broadcasting
situation in Saigon at the next meeting.
7. The next meeting of COBAT will be held Monday, June.15, 1956
at 2:00 P.M. at OCB. (Items 2, 3, 4 and 6 above will be on the agenda.)
Ralph R. Busick
Staff Representative
SECRET
Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-01634R000300030085-3