Basic HTML Version
PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, December 4, 1979
Page 2
PASTOR GENERAL'S HOT LINE TAPES
Because of the desire to get "up-to-the-last-minute" information from
Pasadena, an increasing number of ministers are calling to listen to the
Pastor General's Hot Line tapes late Friday afternoon--many after 4:00 PM.
We are very happy to see the enthusiastic response to this service. How
ever, employees must leave the WATS lines about 4:00 PM on Fridays since
sunset in Pasadena is now about 4:30 PM.
May we please ask that you avoid calling late Friday unless absolutely
necessary. We will be able to play tapes until 4:00 PM, but we are just
trying to reduce the growing number of calls coming in Friday afternoon.
Thanks for your understanding.
--Richard Rice, Mail Processing Center
TV TAPES & AUDIOVISUAL AIDS TO BE MADE AVAILABLE
All of Mr. Herbert Armstrong's television programs are presently being
transferred to 3/4", Betamax, and VHS copies for distribution to church
areas where the television program cannot be seen by the local membership.
We are also transferring a number of slide presentations and other audio
visual presentations that would be useful for Bible studies. A complete
list of all programs and other tapes that are available will be sent to
you in a separate letter from Media Services, with instructions on how to
request your copies.
Please do not assume that we are endorsing any particular format as a
permanent means of distribution to the ministers and membership. The TV
Studio is not equipped to duplicate helical scan (Betamax, VHS or 3/4"
cassette) tapes in the quantity needed for church distribution, nor would
it be wise to invest in the equipment needed to do so at this time. The
industry is changing so fast we should wait on the development of a format
that will answer the greatest need of the church--that of low-cost dupli
cation and distribution.
Some of you may be aware that next year a new standard of recorder, the
LVR, will be introduced. This new standard is projected to be sold at
30% less than the popular Betamax and VHS format. However, even more
importantly, the distribution will be faster and far less costly, due to
the unique recording method. It is my judgment at this time that we will
use this newer format for our future distribution needs.
--John Lundberg
PUBLISHING SERVICES UPDATE
We have some preliminary results from The PLAIN TRUTH readers survey. We
mentioned before that this simple questionnaire was sent to 19,000 brand
new subscribers. The results are still being tabulated, but one interest
ing fact that has come out is that the average age of our new readers has
dropped. We feel this is because of the impact of our newsstand program
which is attracting a much younger readership than we've had in the past
from other sources. The new subscriber readership age is spread across
the population in a good, balanced way.
--Roger Lippross