Broadcasting (Oct 1931-Dec 1932)

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Father Coughlin Will Add More Stations TorrGoldenHour" Network at Card Rates Popular Catholic Priest Praises Effectiveness of Radio, Cleanliness of Programs and Lack of Politics ANNOUNCING the addition of two stations to the roster of 24 previously listed to carry the "Golden Hour" program beginning Oct. 16 over an independent network, the Rev. Charles E. Coughlin, Catholic priest of Detroit, whose addresses feature the program, declared in Washington Aug. 8 that other stations will be added to assure coverage of all territory east of the Rockies. Full card rates for the one-hour program are being paid, together with line charges. Latest to join the special Sunday network, to operate for 27 weeks, are WHO-WOC, Des Moines-Davenport, and WFEA, Manchester, Vt. The 24 stations on the original roster were listed in the July 15 issue of Broadcasting. Father Coughlin said that the selection of additional stations is in the hands of Grace & Holliday, Detroit rgency. The Pacific coast has 1 oen omitted, he said, because of the time differences. Secret of Success IN AN INTERVIEW with Broadcasting, Father Coughlin discussed radio as to its economic, cultural, social and political aspects. The placing of "religion in modern dress," he said, is responsible for the phenomenal success of the Golden Hour of the Little Flower program. He believes that religion must be taught in an understandable way and must appeal to all creeds and beliefs if it is effective. That his theory meets popular response, is reflected in requests he received after 27 weeks of broadcasting last year for 2,500,000 copies of his talks and for 613,000 books comprising h's complete sermons. The story of Father Coughlin's radio success reads almost like fiction. His church, the Shrine of the Little Flower, is located 12 miles from Detroit and has a seating capacity of only 520. So heavy was his fan mail last year, resulting from his CBS broadcasts, that 118 stenographers were required to keep up with it. Now, even though his speeches have been off the air since last spring, 63 stenographers are kept busy. Requests for copies of sermons and other literature became so great that the church had to purchase an interest in a large printing plant to meet the demand. None of the material was for sale. Paper is purchased by the carload and envelopes by the millions. On Sundays, Father Coughlin preaches six or seven sermons, with hundreds of people turned away because of lack of seating space. One 30-second radio announcement last year brought 50,000 children to the church. Lauds Radio Results THESE are but a few of the reasons that make Father Coughlin a strong booster for radio. He said that in these days of economy radio advertising unquestionably is the most productive of results for the advertising dollar spent of all media. "Radio advertising, to my mind," he declared, "is the only means of mass communication that produces effective results. Comparing radio advertising to the printed page method is like comparing the automobile to the one-horse shay." Discussing religious broadcasts, Father Coughlin said he has adopted the practice of refusing station donations of time, on the theory that the church should not be hampered by obligations that necessarily would result from such donations. Full card rates should be paid by churches, he declared. Father Coughlin commended broadcasters, by and large, for the cleanliness of programs and their disregard of factional politics. Broadcasting, he declared, is one of the few utilities that "has not prostituted itself." He said that nationalization of broadcasting in this country would be a "disaster," and predicted that the Canadian scheme for nationalization is doomed to failure, because most Canadians now prefer to listen to the typically American commercial programs broadcast from American stations or over Dominion stations that subscribe to the United States networks. PREDICTION that international broadcasting would become a regular commercial service shortly was made by RCA Communications, Inc., with the announcement that it had completed provision of facilities for handling programs between the United States and countries on the four corners of the globe. These include England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Vatican City, Spain, Japan, Philippine Islands, Hawaii, Siam, Dutch East Indies, China, Venezuela, Argentine and Brazil. Through these countries many neighboring countries are also accessible. According to W. A. Winterbottom, vice president and general manager of RCA Communications, Inc., the recent addition of a special switchboard at the company's central office at 66 Broad Street, New York, now enables the coordination of foreign programs with the split second schedules of this country's networks and individual stations. "For several years we have worked very closely with the NBC in the development of this system," said Mr. Winterbottom, "and more recently we are also serving the CBS in their international program work. It is a highly specialized activity, presenting problems that are altogether different from those ordinarily encountered in the operation of regular broadcast stations. "By the employment of these ex A Friend of Radio "IF AND WHEN I get into the Senate, broadcasters may rest assured that they will have a friend in court." This statement was made to BROADCASTING by Henry Field, owner of KFNF, Shenandoah, la., and Iowa's Republican nominee for the Senate, while in Washington Aug. 11 for President Hoover's notification ceremonies. The day before Mr. Field conferred with the President on Iowa politics, and was optimistic on Republican prospects. He advocated retention of the status quo in broadcasting, and, of course, decried propaganda against radio advertising. WAIU Changes Hands WAIU, Columbus, O., has been acquired by the Cleveland PlainDealer and the Howlett brothers, who jointly operate WHK, Cleveland. The Columbus station, operating limited time on the 640 kc. clear channel with 500 watts, is licensed to the Associated Radiocasting Corporation, a subsidiary of the American Insurance Union of that city. It is understood that the operators of WHK have purchased the stock of the insurance company. The figure was not divulged. tensive facilities, American broadcasting companies have accomplished their ends in the most economical manner and have avoided the expense of installing and maintaining a great amount of apparatus for only occasional program use. "They have, in addition, saved themselves a vast amount of research and experimental work, for the entire technique of long range radio transmission and reception is considerably different from that of broadcasting. The latter aims to serve all points within a reasonable radius of the transmitter, whereas the former focuses the energy transmitted at a 'target' thousands of miles away, with as little diffusion as possible in other directions of the compass." Attempts at re-broadcasting programs of British origin in this country were made by the RCA as early as 1923, but the first rebroadcasting did not take place until March 12, 1925. This was accomplished by the British station at Chelmsford, England, on 1,600 meters via Belfast, Maine, and a relay to New York on 110 meters. There it was received and again rebroadcast by WJZ. It was not until 1928, however, that short wave facilities became available in England for this purpose. This resulted in much more successful efforts, and international programs have since been given with increasing frequency. Republican Radio Fund is $300,000 I Free Air Time is Concluded With Hoover Notification A TENTATIVE budget of $300,000 — two-thirds of it to be allocated to network broadcasting and one j third to the purchase of spot time j over independent stations — has been set aside by the Republicans I for the radio phases of the 1932 j campaign, Broadcasting learned A Aug. 10 from authentic sources. | Democrats have not yet fixed their radio budget, but preliminary to I laying radio plans they have ap I pointed H. L. Pettey, a native of I Kansas City, who has been with I the RCA Victor Co. in its photophone division for the last three years and who is on leave of ab j sence from that company for the I campaign. That the Democrats will allot a } substantial sum to radio is defi I nitely established by the fact that [ plans are already being made for 1 carrying Governor Roosevelt's I speeches over networks from Co I lumbus, Aug. 20; Sea Girt, N. J., j Aug. 27, and Bridgeport, Conn., I Sept. 3. These will be handled as sponsored features. Free Periods End FOLLOWING the Hoover notification address, carried by several hundred NBC and CBS and added stations on a sustaining basis Aug. 11, the networks are charging regular card rates for time allotted for purely political speeches whether to Candidates Hoover and Roosevelt or their spokesmen. Until then, the networks gave time to the parties free of cost. A feature of the Hoover notification address of interest to broadcasters is the fact that a complete transcription of it has been made by World Broadcasting System, which may be made available to stations desiring to repeat it. Transcription companies expect to get some of the national political business this year, especially for j spotting transcriptions of the priri I cipal addresses in areas not cov | ered by the networks or on stations whose territories demand more in-' tensive campaign efforts. Bureaus List Speakers RADIO HEADQUARTERS of the Republicans will probably be in Washington, with speakers arranged through the speakers bureaus in New York, m charge of Rep. John Q. Tilson, of Connecticut, with headquarters at the Wal; dorf-Astoria and in Chicago, in charge of Rep. C. William Ramseyer, of Iowa, with headquarters ;: in the Palmer House. Democrats will center their radio activities in New York, Mr. Pettey having offices in national headquar [ ters at 331 Madison Ave. Robert ^ Jackson, of New Hampshire, has j : been appointed chairman of the • Democratic speakers bureau, which V." will have headquarters at the Ho i tel Biltmore. Former Rep. George ■■ Combs, of Missouri, is vice chair j j man of the bureau. Not only Hoover and Roosevelt but many noted speakers in their R behalf will be heard from the R stump and on the radio during they' campaign. WORLD HOOKUPS ARE FORESEEN RCA Predicts International Commercial Broadcasting As New Service Is Made Available Page 8 BROADCASTING • August 15, 1932[^