Broadcasting (Oct 1931-Dec 1932)

Lafount Urges Broadcasters to Adopt Liberal Policy for Political Candidates Slim Party Chests Cause Cut in Radio Expenditures; Considerable Business for Local Stations Seen THE POLITI ^CAL broadcasting predicament into which many stations have been thrown as a result of the Nebraska Supreme Court's decision in the KFAB libel case, holdMr. Lafount ing stations equally liable with speakers for libel committed over their facilities, was cleared up somewhat by Acting Chairman Lafount of the Radio Commission in a statement Sept. 1 in which he urged broadcasters to "be liberal" with their facilities during the campaign. Responding to numerous requests from stations for an opinion as to whether they should permit legally qualified candidates to use their facilities, he said: "The Radio Act permits the broadcaster to refuse the use of his station to any and all candidates, but to adopt such a policy would be short-sighted, in my opinion. The law also provides that if a broadcaster permits one candidate to use his facilities, equal opportunity must be offered to all other candidates for that office. The broadcaster, under the law, has no right of censorship over the material broadcast by political candidates other than to see that no obscene, indecent, profane 'or defamatory language is used. Opportunity for Service "BROADCASTERS have a wonderful oppoi'tunity in the present campaigns for public offices to render a distinct and outstanding public service. They have a rare chance to develop goodwill and to popularize their stations by providing a forum whereby candidates can freely and fully discuss pai'amount issues. "Of course, all of our people are vitally interested in the election of a President, members of Congress, governors of many states and other leading officials. Radio stations should prove a big factor in transmitting speeches calculated to inform voters and to qualify them to vote intelligently. I know of no greater public service to which broadcasting stations could devote themselves at this time than to permit a liberal use of their facilities to candidates. Personally, I hope broadcasters will be as liberal with their facilities as their government has been with them. "Dispassionate discussion of public questions by candidates, in my judgment, will have a wholesome effect on listeners, arousing their interest in governmental affairs and public questions. The transmission of such intelligence to our people should prove most stimulating and add to the cultural progress of the nation by keeping the electorate fully informed on public matters." On the financial side, disheartening news emanated from the national headquarters of both poli tical parties, which are seriously hampered by small campaign chests. Whereas the 1928 campaign involved expenditures of some §1,000,000 for the purchase of radio time, mainly over the networks, it was indicated that this year the maximum expenditure probably wll not exceed half that amount. From Republican headquarters came word that about $250,000 would be spent for radio facilities. Democrats, it was said, are not expected to spend more than that sum. It was indicated that NBC would get about $175,000 from the Republican campaign, and CBS about $80,000, the difference being in the fact that NBC operates two networks while CBS has but one coast-to-coast chain. The national committees, according to present plans, do not contemplate using local stations extensively, except in a few localities in the middle west. State committees and local candidates for office, however, are expected to wage vigorous radio campaigns, which will be financed wholly apart from the national committees. Roosevelt's Radio Speeches While President Hoover's campaign speech plans are still to be announced, the Democratic National Committee has arranged for four coast-to-coast broadcasts for Governor Roosevelt during September. On Sept. 14 the Democratic presidential candidate was to speak from Topeka over CBS. On Sept. 17, he will broadcast over the coastto-coast facilities of both NBC and CBS from the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. The CBS will be utilized to convey the Governor's address from the Municipal Auditorium, Portland, Ore., Sept. 21. On his return east, the Democratic candidate will broadcast from Sioux City, Iowa, at a date yet to be selected. The network for the latter broadcast has not been decided on. On Sept. 12, the Democratic National Committee contracted for time on both the NBC and the CBS for the address of Mrs. Ruth Bryan Owen. Dramatizes His Talk LINUS TRAVERS, commercial production director for the Yankee Network presented a realistic demonstration of program building at the first fall meeting of the Boston Advertising Club, Sept. 6 at the Hotel Statler. The talk was broadcast over WNAC and associated stations for nearly two hours. Travers took for his subject "Making Sales on the Air." By the use of two staff orchestras and a number of staff ai-tists, he illustrated each step in the building of a program, and how talent and material are selected with a view to the class of person to be reached, and the type of article to be sold. Eskimos Listen In ESKIMOS are listening to radio. So says R. Harris, secretary of the San Jacinto (Cal.) chamber of commerce, who recently returned from an expedition down the Mackenzie River to the Arctic Ocean. He reports that the natives of the region, 1,000 miles from the North Pole, are not only regular listeners, but excellent mechanics with their receiving sets as well. Of 200 radio owners with whom Harris talked at Hudsons' Bay trading posts, all said that they heard many United States stations clearly. One of the customary locations of Eskimo receiving sets is aboard the boats in which they gather furs. Television Distant, Says Don Gilman ANY RADIO dealer who is holding sales ideas in abeyance while awaiting the arrival of television is pursuing a short-sighted policy, Don E. Gilman, vice president in charge of the Pacific division of NBC, declared at the radio day luncheon of the Western Retailers Conference Aug. 14-20 in San Francisco. "The best radio sets now on the market will be obsolete before television is ready for general use," he said. "My business obliges me to follow the progress of television closely, but I am personally so little impressed with it except for laboratory experiment that I would not be bothered having a television set in my home." Mr. Gilman called attention to a potential market for office radio sets, particularly during the Presidential campaigns. So far, he said, the field appears to have been neglected by dealers. "In a few years such sets will be looked upon as regular office furniture," he added. "The last election brought about one of the largest sales of sets on record, and the coming one offers a still greater opportunity. Kresge Tests Radio USING transcriptions recorded by RCA Victor Co. in the NBC studios, S. S. Kresge Co. Stores, with headquarters in Detroit, on Sept. 16 will start a series of Friday, 9-9:30 a. m. programs, on WGY, Schenectady, titled "Friday Varieties." N. W. Ayer & Son, New York, handles the account, which is believed to be a test campaign before the Kresge Stores decide on wider use of radio. Don Lee Buys KDB DON LEE has purchased the remaining 49 per cent of KDB, Santa Barbara, thus acquiring full control of that station along with KFRC, San Francisco, KHJ, Los Angeles and KGB, San Diego, all units of the Don Lee-CBS chain. American Bankers Ass'n Head Urges Advertising By Banking Institution VIGOROUS and intelligent advertising by bankers and financial institutions, in order to acquaint the public with their functions and to convince them of the essential stability of the banking business, was urged by Francis H. Sisson, vice president of the Guarantee Trust Co., New York, and incoming president of the American Bankers Association, speaking Sept. 8 before the New York Financial Advertisers. No field of business needs intelligent publicity more than finance at the present time, Mr. Sisson said. He predicted a definite upturn in business conditions, and decried the fact that advertising was allowed to decline during the depression when it was more essential than ever to sell goods. "There are two fields in which publicity can be most profitably employed by the bankers at the present time," he said. "First, to sell banking service in its various ramifications on the basis of its merit and value to the business community. "Second, to spread a better understanding of banking and its functions to the general public. In a period of depression in which financial problems become peculiarly pressing, it is inevitable that the banks should be the target of a great amount of misunderstanding: and criticism. Some of this only time can cure, but it is highly important that the bankers themselves should use every proper means at hand to make known the facts and nullify the false impressions and loose criticisms. Baseball Sponsors Send Announcers With Teams THREE SPONSORS of the Chicago Cubs baseball game broadcasts sent their announcers on the road with the National League team during the current eastern trip to present the games direct from the various ball parks. Hal Totten is handling the broadcasts for General Foods Corporation through WM AQ ; Bob Elson for Thompson Restaurants, Chicago, and WGN, and Ted Husing for the Prima Brewing Co., Chicago, and WBBM. Pat Flanagan, regular WBBM sports announcer, who was scheduled to go on the road with the team, was taken ill with an infection on the eve of the club's departure, and Husing was substituted. Flanagan, it was indicated, may have to remain in the hospital until the Cubs return to Chicago. Popularity Winners HAL O'HALLORAN, announcer of WLS, Chicago, won the popularity poll conducted by the Chicago Daily Times for the most popular radio announcer. Phil Stewart, NBC-KYW announcer, placed second. Myrt and Marge (Myrtle Vail and Donna Damerel) were acclaimed the most popular radio entertainers in the same poll. Page 12 BROADCASTING • September 15, 1932