ITC Network News ITC Network NewsIn early 1976, ITC sent a series of fact sheets called "Network News" to prospective stations to promote Space: 1999 Year Two.
Scanned by Paulo Jorge Morgado
Flash! Catherine Schell and Brian Johnson due In U.S. August 20.... Quick facts.... More stations staging special previews of second season.... See attached ad slicks and other material for special previews.... Also to be added to your promo kits, the SPACE:1999 Handbook (31 pages)... See enclosed set of black and white contact sheets, accompanied by identifications.
More quick facts... Exclusive colour art mailing already sent to TV editors throughout the country... Nick Tate, who portrays Captain Alan Carter, #1 Eagle pilot, Invited and attends major key Baltimore-Washington, D.C. area "Star Trek" convention, held at University of Maryland... Personalised promos for SPACE: 1999 affiliates being processed.
More quick facts... Flying rocket Eagle model kit in limited numbers available to SPACE:1999 affiliates promotional purposes... RCA launches campaign for its SPACE:1999 soundtrack album.
Growing roster of special previews includes stations in cities of Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Cleveland, San Francisco, Portland, Denver, Phoenix. Sacramento, St. Louis, Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Dayton, Charleston, Norfolk, Portmouth, Newport, New Southampton, Richmond, among many others.
Independent station WVTV led off special preview parade on July 14, (Wednesday) 7-8 p.m. with a telecast of "Metamorph", first episode of year two. WVTV, Channel 18, chose that time and date to offer viewers counter programming to the Democratic National Convention telecasts. In support of its special preview, WVTV ran a 600 line ad on the TV listings page of the Milwaukee Journal on the evening of the special preview, a full page TV guide ad and heavily promoted the special premiere with a saturation campaign on six radio stations as well as a saturation spot campaign on WVTV, starting one week prior to the preview. Special preview sparked enthusiasm among Milwaukee ad agency executives. WVTV management most happy with results.
Extensive similar ad and promo campaign in support of special previews now being mapped by other stations. For the preview campaign, attached you will find ad slicks, a special preview news story and black and white contact sheets plus identification... Transatlantic phone interviews have been held, with resultant press breaks In many markets. Phone interviews embraced Catherine Schell, Brian Johnson, designer and director of special effects, producer Fred Freiberger, executive producer Gerry Anderson, as well as Martin Landau and Barbara Bain. Mel Smith promo director of WUAB, Cleveland, reports novel screening for press, in conjunction with WUAB's special preview. Mel, confronted by a busy schedule of TV reviewers, brought a portable video cassette player to the conference rooms of Cleveland and area newspapers so that TV editors could see "Metamorph". Mel reports enthusiastic reaction to screening. In his words Year Two is "a sure-fire sell to newspapers winning colour TV covers and feature stories."
Most important... Now is the time to contact your local TV editors for front covers of TV Sunday supplement Editors already have received exclusive colour art from ITC. This mailing must be followed up on a local level to win covers. You have colour contact shoots at your disposal, allowing editors to select other styles If desired. Exclusive colour mailing, for your Information, was accompanied by overall Year Two feature story, which you have in your promotion kit.
Catherine Schell and Brian Johnson due In the U.S. August 20 for personal appearances on talk-variety and press interviews. Due to their limited week's stay in this country, cities visited must be confined to New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and perhaps one or two other convenient stop-overs. We will make every effort to respond to requests for phone interviews while the two SPACE:1999 artists are In the U.S. We have in Catherine Schell and Brian Johnson the perfect matching of special effects. Catherine Schell as Maya has, through special effects, powers that make her "the wonder woman of sci-fi", and Brian Johnson is the "magic man" responsible for making her TV's most fantastic wonder woman. He is also designer and director of all the other fabulous special effects found In Year Two.*
Nick Tate (Alan Carter) was Invited by the "Star Trek" convention, held at the University of Maryland. According to the convention committee, Invitation was extended because more and more sci-fi fans are turning SPACE:1999 as the only new sci-fi series being telecast. Nick Tate was selected because of his popularity among sci-fi fans.
More on Nick Tate.... While in New York, Baltimore and Washington, round of television, radio and newspaper Interviews held, aimed at winning national, as well as local exposure. Nick Tate activities included: radio interview with "Campus Radio Voice." syndicated to 468 radio stations throughout U.S.; radio interview on "Update" NBC Radio Network, serviced to 247 stations. Also newspaper interviews with Ruth Thompson of Dickinson Syndicate servicing 55 newspapers with a circulation of nearly five million readers. Also print interviews for In the Known Magazine, National Star, Teen Beat Magazine, TV Star Parade, John Goudas of TV Key of King Features Syndicate. Goudas column goes to 200 newspapers with circulation of nearly ten million readers. Also TV and Movie Screen Magazine, Columbia Features Syndicate, which goes to 100 newspapers, Photo Screen Magazine, NEA Syndicate to 600 newspapers, as well as other publications, and other news syndicate services. New York appearance highlighted by a screening of "Metamorph" for sci-fi magazine editors, followed by a Nick luncheon. Sci-fi editors of the following publications attended: Marvel Publications, Cine Fantastique, Starlog, Monster Times, Amazing Stories, Saga, Fantasy & Science-Fiction, as well as the syndicated sci-fi radio show "Alien Vibrations," among others.
Affiliate newsflash!... Jim Young, promo executive for KVAL, Eugene, KPIC, Roseburg, KCBY, Coos Bay, Washington, reports stations will be previewing "Metamorph," at the Eugene fair, to be held August 10-14. SPACE:1999 preview at the fair to be a key part of promo campaign spotlighting the station's new programming line-up.
Kits of flying model rockets of Eagles, produced by Centuri Engineering Co., are available to SPACE:1999 affiliates in a limited number for promotional purposes. Grant Boyd, of Centuri Engineering Co., advises stations requesting the special promotional rocket kits to form local tie-ups with local rocket and hobby clubs, If at all possible. For further information on this mutual promotionaI effort contact Grant Boyd or Dave Nelson at Centuri Engineering Co.
For the first time you have in your possession for promotion purposes the SPACE:1999 Handbook. This 31 page Handbook contains fascinating material for sci-fi fans of SPACE:1999. It can easily be duplicated. There is a wealth of information in the Handbook for feature stories. It also lends Itself as a source of material for promotional booklets, etc....
See reprint in Record World reflecting extensive promotion activities by RCA for the SPACE: 1999 album. An example is the large space New York Times ad. Similar campaigns will be conducted by RCA in other cities, encompassing TV spots, TV Guide, newspaper and radio commercials.
We are most Interested in hearing from you. Tell us what your station is doing. Inform us about your local advertising, publicity and promotion campaigns. We can all benefit from a mutual. exchange of Information.
Mail your material to: Independent Television Corporation / 555 Madison Ave. / New York, NY 10022