NAB reports (Mar-Dec 1933)

The National Association of Broadcasters NATIONAL PRESS BUILDING * * * * * WASHINGTON, D. C. PHILIP G. LOUCKS, Managing Director NAB REPORTS * * * * Copyright. 1933, The National Association of Broadcasters ★ Vol. 1 No. 26 AUG. 19, 1933 MAKE YOUR PLANS NOW TO ATTEND THE NAB CONVENTION TO BE HELD AT WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. VA., OCTOBER 8, 9, 10 AND 11. PROGRAM CLEARING HOUSE The following programs are offered through the NAB Program Clearing House: (D 1:4) “OVER THE BACK FENCE.” Fifteen minutes. Ten minutes dialogue with allowance for two minutes of announcing and three minutes of theme song. Three female voices, capable of doing negro dialect, required regularly. One male actor and an additional woman required occasionally. Program deals with the adventures of three colored women living in the average small town. Scripts contain considerable action as well as homely humor. Program has run seven months over station and has achieved con¬ siderable popularity. Thirty-nine episodes available, at $4.00 per episode, six copies of the script being furnished. Special rate of $130.00 for the entire series. (D 1:5) “THE PICK OF THE TOWN,” with Jack and Jill. Comedy program consisting mainly of wise cracking dialogue. Central theme is concerned with Jack’s attempts to avoid work and Jill’s attempts to get him to work, the situation being further complicated by misunderstandings concerning their engagement. Program can be used for three half-hour or six quarter programs per week. Program has been on station for two years and has been presented both as a commercial and sustaining program. Program can be made available in 13, 26 or 52 week series. Two characters required. Price per episode — which includes sufficient material for three half-hour or six quarter-hour programs, $5.00. (D 8:1) “THE SUNFLOWER SHOWBOAT.” Forty-five min¬ utes in length. Characters required are a captain, two darky comedians, a rural comedian and wife, both of whom can act character parts, a pianist with comedy possibilities; a mixed quartet, all of whom can act in a small way; two character actors, one of whom can play either the banjo or harmonica. The theme of the program is that of a variety program centering about an old river showboat. Dialogue includes old-fashioned minstrelsy, short comedy drama, rural type humor and occasional melodrama. Price is $10.00 per episode, thirteen episodes being available. The entire series is available at $100.00. (CH 2 :5) “JIMMY BAXTER— DETECTIVE.” Fifteen min¬ utes. Two boys and a girl, average age 12 to 14 years. Program deals with the adventures of Jimmy Baxter, his sister and another boy. Because of their knack of uncovering facts they are nick¬ named detectives. One adventure leads to another. Program has been sponsored two years by a baking company. Through proper merchandising a children’s club of over 85,000 members has been built up. In 1932 a children’s picnic sponsored by the advertiser drew an attendance of 35,000 and in 1933 of 40,000 persons. Sales of product are reported to have increased several hundred per cent. Price for single station is $5.00 per episode. DELEGATES RETURN FROM MEXICO Members of the United States Delegation to the North American Radio Conference which adjourned last week returned to Wash¬ ington on Tuesday. The conference, which convened on July 10, broke up without arriving at an agreement with respect to the allocation of broadcast frequencies between this country and Mexico. However, a spirit of friendliness prevailed at adjournment and the way has been opened for future discussions which may lead to a solution to the interference problem. The conference did agree upon an allocation of channels between 1600 and 4000 kc. and also agreed upon definition of terms. With respect to broadcasting the nations attending the con¬ ference agreed as follows: 1. The participating governments shall make observations and measurements necessary to determine the conditions under which each of them receives the signals of the broadcasting stations of other countries as well as its own with the object that at a later time the specifications and characteristics of the stations to operate on different frequencies can be duly considered. 2. The present width of 10 kc. for broadcast channels shall be maintained. 3. The frequencies of the carrier wave for broadcasting shall be assigned in multiple numbers of 10. 4. In the participating countries the broadcasting stations shall control the frequency of operation in such a way that the frequency of the emitted wave shall not differ more than 50 cycles per second, plus or minus, from the nominal frequency assigned. 5. The participating countries shall exchange information re¬ specting the assignment of frequency to end the alteration of power of broadcasting stations in their respective countries. 6. Directional antennae, the synchronization of stations and other technical means shall be employed where possible in order to re¬ duce the number of frequencies required for a certain number of stations. 7. The assignment of frequencies for broadcasting to the various participating countries shall be left pending for the time being. The demands from Mexico and Central American countries were greater than the needs of these countries and the United States Delegation early in the conference foresaw the failure of agreement unless these demands were reduced. Mexico demanded 12 exclu¬ sive channels and this demand was vigorously opposed by the U. S. Delegates. Judge Eugene O. Sykes, chairman of the Federal Radio Com¬ mission and chairman of the U. S. Delegation, feels that, despite the disagreement on the allocation of channels, that definite prog¬ ress has been made toward a solution of the problem. He considers the way open to future discussions which, he hopes, will lead to adjustment of the allocation differences between the countries. The failure of the Mexican conference to agree upon an alloca¬ tion of broadcast frequencies will put at rest widely circulated rumors that a reallocation of broadcast, facilities will be made next fall. As long as the problem is unsolved and the way left open for further discussions it would follow that any general realignment of broadcast stations would be unnecessary. Experiments with directional antennae and synchronization of stations are virtually compulsory under Paragraph 6 of the agree¬ ment entered into. Much new information on the subject of antennae construction has been collected and there have been •Page 117*