Broadcasting (Oct 1931-Dec 1932)

Broad Inequalities Still Found In Zone and State Allocations New Quota Figures Indicate Davis Amendment Is Inoperative Despite Some Readjustments LITTLE HEADWAY is being made by the Radio Commission in its efforts to equalize the distribution of radio facilities among the five radio zones and the states as required by the Davis equalization amendment, which became a law more than four years ago. Latest quota figures compiled by the Commission show that wide disparities still exist, although there have been changes in the quota status of individual states. Three of the five zones are still over-quota, having more than the 80 units to which they are entitled under the Commission's own standards. The country as a whole is nearly 36 units overquota, or the approximate equivalent of that number of stations of 1 kw. each operating full time on a regional channel. The first and second zones are underquota. One State at Par THE STATUS of several states has been changed through the effect of the new rules and regulations, which became operative last Feb. 1 and which modified the rigid terms of General Order 102. Under these rules the entire provisions of that general order may be disregarded by the Commission in the authorization of increased facilities if no interference will be caused. The tendency, however, has been to increase facilities in states already enjoying more than their quota. Actually, the figures show — as have previous tabulations — that the Davis amendment is inoperative and cannot be enforced without drastic readjustments which inevitably would lead to litigation. Exactly one-half of the states are shown to be overquota in varying deerrees, while 23 are underquota with one — Georgia — exactly at par. The Commission established the arbitrary figure of 400 units as that to which the country is entitled, and uses it as a yardstick. Three States Gain IN THE last year three states have moved from underquota to overquota positions because of increases in facilities. These are Maine, which was lacking .22 of a unit as of March, 1931, and which now is overquota to that extent; New Mexico, which lacked .4 of a unit and which now is 1.28 units overquota, and Idaho, which lacked .29 of a unit and is now .11 of a unit overquota. California did just the opposite, due to deletions, dropping from 1.68 units overquota to .42 of a unit underquota. With 101.12 units, or 21.12 excess units, the fourth zone is the most overquota of the five. The fifth zone has 93.78 units against the 80 to which it is entitled, arid the third zone has 93.78 units. Lacking 7.16 units, the second zone is the most underquota. The first zone is minus 5.20 units. Illinois is the most overquota state. Whereas last year it was 11.15 units in excess of its quota of 22.50 units, it now is 12.24 units plus. Pennsylvania is the most underquota state, lacking 7.34 of the 27.63 units to which it is entitled. A number of states, however, in percentage rating, are more delinquent in facilities than Pennsylvania, and, on the same basis a number of states are more overquota than Illinois. It has been repeatedly said by engineers that the Davis amendment is inoperative because it is impossible to assign all of the facility factors equally among the five zones when the latter are so disproportionate in size though they are approximately equal in population. Hearing on KPO FORMAL HEARING on the application for voluntary assignment of the license of KPO, San Francisco, from Hale Bros. Stores and the Chronicle Publishing Co., to NBC, was ordered by the Radio Commission April 22. Decision to designate the application for hearing was reached on the theory that it involved "policy" as to network ownership of stations. The Commission probably will sit en banc, rather than have the hearing held before an examiner. The date likely will be early in June. KPO now broadcasts with 5 kw. on the 680 kc. clear channel, but holds a construction permit for 50 kw., which also would be voluntarily assigned to NBC. AN INCREASE in day power from 250 to 500 watts and authority to install a new 500 watt transmitter was granted KARK, Little Rock, Ark., by the Radio Commission April 26. The station's night power remains at 250 watts. Latest Quota Distribution FIRST ZONE Pet. of Zone Quota Present Over or Facilities Units Quota Under Quota Population Due Due Assigned Units Per cent New York 12,588,066 43.83 35.07 38.17 + 3.10 + 9 Massachusetts 4,249,614 14.80 11.84 10.06 — 1.78 — 15 New Jersey 4,041,334 14.07 11.26 11.53 + 0.27 + 2 Maryland 1,631,526 5.68 4.55 4.10 — 0.45 — 10 Connecticut 1,606,903 5.60 4.48 3.55 — 0.93 — 21 Porto Rico 1,543,913 5.38 4.30 0.20 — 4.10 — 95 Maine 797,423 2.78 2.22 2.45 + 0.23 4 10 Rhode Island 687,497 2.39 1.91 1.40 — 0.51 — 27 District of Columbia. 486.869 1.69 1.35 1.30 — 0.05 — 4 New Hampshire 465,293 1.62 1.29 0.92 — 0.37 — 29 Vermont 359,611 1.25 1.00 0.42 — 0.58 — 58 Delaware 238,380 .83 0.67 0.70 + 0.03 + 4 Virgin Islands 22,012 .08 0.06 0.00 — 0.06 —100 Total 28,718,441 100.00 80.00 74.80 — 5.20 — 7 SECOND ZONE Pennsylvania 9,631.350 34.54 27.63 20.29 — 7.34 — 27 Ohio 6,646.697 23.84 19.07 18.76 — 0.31 — 2 Michigan 4,842.325 17.36 13.89 10.84 — 3.05 — 22 Kentucky 2,B14,589 9.38 7.50 8.50 + 1.00 + 13 Virginia 2,421,851 8.68 6.95 9.50 + 2.55 + 37 West Virginia 1,729,205 6.20 4.96 4.95 — 0.01 Total 27,886,017 100.00 80.00 72.84 — 7.16 — 9 THIRD ZONE Texas 5.824,715 20.27 16.22 22.67 + 6.45 + 40 North Carolina 3,170,276 11.03 8.82 7.95 — 0.87 — 10 Georgia 2.908.506 10.12 8.10 8.10 — 0.00 Alabama 2,646,248 9.21 7.37 6.22 — 1.15 — 16 Tennessee 2,616,556 9.11 7.29 12.83 + 5.54 + 76 Oklahoma 2,396.040 8.34 6.67 8.44 + 1.77 + 27 Louisiana 2,101,593 7.31 5.85 8.40 + 2.55 + 44 Mississippi 2.009,821 7.00 5.60 3.40 — 2.20 — 39 Arkansas 1,854,482 6.54 5.16 4.60 — 0.56 — 11 South Carolina 1.738.765 6.05 4.83 1.70 — 3.13 — 65 Florida 1,468,211 5.11 4.09 8.45 + 4.36 +107 Total 28,735,213 100.00 80.00 92.76 +12.76 + 16 FOURTH ZONE Illinois 7,630,654 28.15 22.52 34.76 +12.24 + 54 Missouri 3,629,367 13.39 10.71 11.79 + 1.08 + 10 ' Indiana 3,238,503 11.05 9.56 7.53 — 2.03 — 21 Wisconsin 2,939.006 10.84 8.67 7.86 — 0.81 — 9 Minnesota 2,563,953 9.46 7.57 9.08 + 1.51 + 20 Iowa 2.470,939 9.12 7.30 11.50 + 4.20 + 58 Kansas 1,880,999 6.94 5.55 5.37 — 0.18 — 3 Nebraska 1,377.963 5.08 4.06 7.30 + 3.24 + 80 South Dakota 692.849 2.56 2.05 2.94 + 0.89 + 43 North Dakota 680,845 2.51 2.01 2.99 + 0.98 + 49 Total 27,105,078 100.00 80.00 101.12 +21.12 + 26 FIFTH ZONE California 5.677.251 46.07 36.86 36.44 — 0.42 — 1 Washington 1,563.396 12.69 10.15 15.66 + 5.51 + 54 Colorado 1,035.791 8.40 6.72 9.32 + 2.60 + 39 Oregon 953,786 7.74 6.19 9.22 + 3.03 + 49 Montana 537.606 4.36 3.49 3.30 — 0.19 — 5 Utah 507.847 4.12 3.30 6.60 + 3.30 +100 Idaho 445.032 3.61 2.89 3.00 + 0.11 + 4 Arizona 435.573 3.53 2.83 2.50 — 0.33 — 12 New Mexico 423.317 3.44 2.75 4.03 + 1.28 + 47 Hawaii 368.336 2.99 2.39 1.84 — 0.55 — 23 Wyoming 225.565 1.83 1.46 0.60 — 0.86 — 59 Nevada 91,058 .74 0.59 0.80 + 0.21 + 36 Alaska 59,278 .48 0.38 0.47 + 0.09 + 24 Total 12,323,836 100.00 80.00 93.78 +13.78 + 24 Roy Witmer Selective Audience Best, Says Witmer NBC Official Tells Students Sales Talks Must Interest STUDENTS of the advertising class of the New York Advertising Club recently toured the studios of NBC. They were introduced to Roy C. Witmer, vice president in charge of sales, who discussed the essentials of good radio programs, which secure public good will and do not antagonize listeners. He condemned bombastic, egotistical advertising announcements and said that the sales talk must be as interesting as the program itself, else it will fail in its purpose. "Listeners should pick their programs carefully, just as if they were paying for tickets to hear the show," said Mr. Witmer, who deprecated the type of listening which allows the radio set to be turned on all day long, indiscriminate of what is being broadcast. "It should be the aim of every advertiser to secure for himself an audience which will listen attentively and appreciatively, rather than to broadcast for the casual dial-twister. "If NBC can please half the people half the time, we know we are doing a good job," was his comment on the query as to what type of program appealed to most people. He pointed out that tastes differ and that a network must endeavor to please various types of people. No one program can possibly do this, he said, and it is therefore the aim of the broadcasters so to balance their entertainment that excellent variety is provided and every degree of taste catered to. Questioned as to the success of advertisers who have used broadcasting alone, Mr. Witmer stated that there had been several outstanding examples of such success, but that the NBC at all times advocated the use of radio as part of a well planned advertising campaign rather than as an exclusive medium. Newspaper tie-ups are recommended wherever possible, he added, as the NBC is a firm believer in a well-rounded advertising campaign both in print and on the air. KOB Move Approved PERMISSION to discontinue broadcasting beginning April 24 in order to move its transmitter from State College to Albuquerque, N. M., was granted KOB April 22 by the Radio Commission. The station, licensed to the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts, must resume broadcasting August 1 or sooner. KFPW, Fort Smith, Ark., was authorized by the Radio Commission April 26 to change frequency from 1340 to 1210 kc, increase its power from 50 to 100 watts and increase its hours of operation from daytime to unlimited. The Commission also authorized changes in equipment. Page 14 BROADCASTING • May 1, 1932