Radio daily (Oct-Dec 1949)

Monday. December 5, 1949 RADIO DAILY 3 * THE WEEK IN RADIO * 16th Dist. Members Optimistic — — By BILL SILAG ■ SIXTEENTH DIST. NAB (southwest), meeting in convention at Phoenix, found business good and 1950 prospects even better, espe1 cially in the national spot field. The group approved NAB decision to keep the BAB within the fold, and , heard Maurice B. Mitchell, BAB director, give his famous "Mitch's Pitch" on "Increasing Radio's Share of Advertising Dollars," "National J Spot Business," and "How to Turn People into Customers." Justin Miller, NAB prexy, told the more than 100 broadcasters in attendance ] that radio, and video, were on the verge of prosperous years. He pointed out that "more radios are being sold than ever before" dis' counting the theory that "video will put radio out of business." Commissioner Hyde told the FCC / that NARBA proceedings are at "the critical stage" and took the NAB to task for the 4th Dist. resolution calling for economic sanctions against Cuban broadcasters. Hyde I is chief U.S. delegate to NARBA. Five stations, WNYC, WOI, WKAR, WNAD, and WHCU, rapped | the FCC for failing to take action on a petition, filed a year ago, requesting a ruling to permit greater flexibility of time on the air. . . . i CBS led the Neilsen Nov. 1-7 ratings with first seven spots in evening | programming, eight of first ten dayi time positions and a clean 1-2-3 sweep on Saturday. . . . NBC's "NBC Theater" won the sole award of National Council of Teachers of English. . . . R. W. Fordyce was named general sales manager of Bendix Radio Division . . . and radio was lauded for its promotion i of Xmas Seals. Roy Battles, WLW farm director, was elected president of the National Association of Radio Farm Directors at the group's sixth annual convention held at the Stevens in Chicago. Also elected were Phil Alampi, WJZ, vice-president; and Chris Mack, WNAX, secretarytreasurer. Panel discussions occupied a major portion of the 175 member group meeting and citations were awarded to 17 farm directors who had served with that title for more than 10 years. Announcement that the Association 'Handbook' would soon be available, was made. Twenty-one New England stations formed the New England Broadcasting System, a regional web, and planned to sell the stations as a unit or in part. Kettle-Carter, Boston radio reps made the announce-* 1 1 ment. . . . Columbia University's I "J" School was awarded a facsimile transmission and receiving system to enable students to study in the field of electronic communications. Bill Murphy, GOP publicity chief died on Sunday; NBC vee-pee Wm. Hedges was named radio and TV chairman of the 1950 New York March of Dimes drive; and Henry J. Taylor, ABC news commentator, denied FTC charges of "monopoly" in his Package Advertising Company operations. The transmitting tower of KHQ, Spokane, Washington, was reported to have been crumpled in two by severe winds in the northwest area over the week-end. Prodded by the entry into the market of the anti-histimine drugs, cold remedy advertisers stepped up their radio advertising, mostly in the national spot field. The antihistimines are also using considerable amounts of spot advertising. Week-end listening increased during November in the New York area according to a Pulse survey and program activity was heavy at most of the major webs and leading independents. . . . Capehart-Farnsworth took its first dip into network advertising when it signed to sponsor the one-shot "A Christmas Carol" over Mutual. Mutual also announced plans to broadcast the All-Star football game and WMGM completed arrangements to present New York metropolitan area college basketball games with a variety of sponsors lined up. . . . "Town Meeting of The Air" will be streamlined to a half-hour and "Quick As A Flash" moved over to ABC from MBS. Morgan Beatty scored a newsbeat for NBC when he broadcast the first on-the-scene description of the Dallas DC-6 airliner tragedy which, incidently, was survived by Dr. Luis de la Rosa, Mexican Association of Broadcasters prexy . . . and announcement that Gertrude Berg would receive a B'nai B'rith award for her ceaseless efforts in promoting interfaith understanding, was made. • The FCC approved a second standard broadcasting station for the Virgin Islands and sanctioned the sales of WCHS, Charleston, W. Va., and WD AD, Indiana, Pa. The commission also granted construction permits to Watertown Radio, Inc., Watertown, Wise, and Pemiscot Broadcasters, Inc., Caruthersville, Mo. A Radio Daily survey revealed that, while record sales are not up to last year's, record buying trends are up over recent weeks. LPs are leading the field in sales and 45 rpm buyers are growing, the survey showed. The UN Information Division announced plans to honor David Sarnoff, RCA chairman of the board, for his advocacy of "concepts of freedom to listen and freedom to look." . . . Johns-Manville renewed "Bill Henry and the News" over Mutual and that web offered Lanny Ross as a special Xmas season co-op for local sponsors. . . . TransWorld Airlines contracted for radio advertising in eight cities. He Doesn't Let It Grow Under His Feet Manicuring the lawn with a mechanized mower or trimming the ears off a "shilly-shallying fuzzy-duzz\ ." he is a tireless worker who cuts through grass and the complexities of big government with equal facility. As a widely listened-to network news commentator, he brings his intense energy to bear nightly on "the top of the news as it looks from Washington." His aggressive reporting has built a weekly audience estimated at 13,500,000, great numbers of whom regard him with esteem akin to religious fervor. Currently sponsored on more than 300 stations, his broadcast — the Fulton Lewis, Jr. program — is the original "news co-op." It offers local advertisers network prestige at local time cost, with pro-rated talent cost. Since there are more than 500 MBS stations, there may be an opening in your city. If you want a ready-made audience for a client (or yourself), investigate now. Check your local Mutual outlet — or the Co-operative Program Department. Mutual Broadcasting System, 1440 Broadway, NYC 18 ( or Tribune Tower, Chicago, 11) . I.