Regulation of Television

Archive Report

Inquries into Network Programming

Public Shock At Disclosures of Deception

Shocked by revelation of abuses in the television industry, America's 150 million TV viewers have been voicing strong opinions about the medium which occupies a large number of their waking hours.1 Earlier disclosures of deceptive practices were capped, Nov. 2, by Charles Van Doren's admission before a committee of Congress that he had been furnished questions and answers in advance on the quiz show which netted him winnings of $129,000 in 1957.

President Eisenhower declared two days later that “Nobody will be satisfied until the whole mess is cleaned up.” Members of Congress threatened restrictive legislation, and network officials, alarmed by a spreading scandal, promised immediate housecleaning. Numerous proposals for reform, through public or private action, were ...

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