Television: The Spread of Color

Once a status symbol, the color-television set is becoming as commonplace as the second automobile. The Nielsen-ratings service reported last week that 8,784,000 of the nation’s 54.9 million TV households had color receivers. That represents 16% of the homes, nearly double the 9% of last year. According to the National Broadcasting Co., an estimated 6,500,000 more homes will acquire color in 1967, bringing the coverage to 28%.

The highest color penetration, says Nielsen, is in Lubbock, Texas, where 35% of the homes are color-equipped. Akron, Las Vegas, the Sacramento-Stockton area and Muncie-Marion, Ind., follow with 30% to 33%. Los Angeles rates 29%, Chicago and New York City 17%, Washington 16% and Memphis 14%.