Broadcasting (July - Dec 1938)

Monopoly Over News Is Cited by Examiner in Opposing WJBL's Sale ALTHOUGH holding that the proposed sale price is not excessive, Examiner P. W. Seward has recommended in a report to the FCC that it deny the application of Charles R. Cook as transferor and Decatur Newspapers Inc. as transferee for authority to acquire control of WJBL, Decatur, 111. The newspaper firm, publishing the Decatur Herald and Review, now owns 49% of the stock of the licensee company, which it purchased last year for $7,350, and proposed to acquire the remaining 51% for $7,650. "If this application is granted," Examiner Seward held, "it (the newspaper corporation) will be the sole owner of such corporation and be in full control of Radio Station WJBL, which will give to it all the means of disseminating news or other information in the area and complete control of all advertising media available in the area. ... In view of these facts it appears that this would tend to restrict competition in the dissemination of news WORLD'S GREATEST TOBACCO MA.R.KET! "Cobb Moss, Manaser of Moss & Co., Wilson's Largest Department Store, will tell you that WGTM is their most effective advertising medium" HEPS: Bryant , Griffith Brun son. Inc. Knew Charlie ORDINARY citizen of Chicago named Charlie McCarthy phoned for a cab the other day to rush his wife to a maternity hospital. Cab stand attendant must follow the Chase & Sanborn program for he answered, "I'll mow you down". Charlie phoned another cab company and the dispatcher yelled, "Give my regards to Dotty Lamour and Don Ameche." Using the name of Joe Doakes, Charlie finally got his wife to the hospital where Charlie McCarthy III is doing fine. and information, and in advertising." Although no second station is involved in the case, Examiner Seward pointed out the Commission "has repeatedly held that it is not in the public interest to grant to the same person or interest license to operate more than one broadcast station in a particular area, as to do so would tend to restrict competition. . . ." Group Headed by Dumm Buys KROW, Oakland SALE of KROW, Oakland, to a California group headed by Wesley I. Dumm, president of KSFO, San Francisco, subject to FCC approval, was revealed Nov. 11 in authoratative quarters. It was reported also that Philip G. Lasky, general manager of KSFO, is Mr. Dumm's chief associate. While the price was not disclosed, it was understood to be around $150,000. KROW operates on 930 kc. as an independent, with 1,000 watts full time. The licensee is Educational Broadcasting Corp. H. P. Drey, president and general manager, is listed as principal stockholder, with about 40%. Members of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society are understood to hold most of the balance of the stock. "Which one is CKAC? That's the one mom and pop are listening to!" CKAC, Montreal (Canada's Busiest Station) CARVING EXPERT Morton Blender, WCOP, Gets Wide Acclaim for Art 3 MORTON BLENDER, 25-year-old announcer of WCOP, Boston, has achieved a wide reputation for his wood carving and modeling of plastics. With a wood and plastic model of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra already on display in Massey Hall, Toronto, Mr. Blender has started the most ambitious project of his career — a scale model of the Boston Symphony Orchestra as it appears during a concert in Symphony Hall. Combining his close association with members of the organization in his work with WCOP and accurate photographs and drawings of the musicians, Mr. Blender plans "a faithful reproduction of the symphony in action, with each instrument and a lifelike reproduction of each musician's face". After completing the Boston Symphony model, Mr. Blender has been requested to do the new Edward Hatch memorial shell, in which Arthur Fiedler and his musicians will present future Summer Esplanade concerts. The shell model, as planned, also will show a concert in progress, with each musician "done" in detail. FCC Holds Reargument In the Brooklyn Cases RADIO'S most litigated cases — the so-called "Brooklyn cases" — were reargued before the FCC en banc Nov. 10 after having been remanded to the Commission by the U. S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on the FCC's motion. As counsel for WBBC, August Gerber, of New York, argued in support of the deletion of WARD and WLTH, Brooklyn stations, and award of their facilities to WBBC. He recited in detail the history of the litigation which began in 1932, taking the position that all applicants were on equal footing and that WLTH and WARD were required to justify their right for renewal of licenses. Failure of proof and a showing by WBBC that it could fill this void justify the latter in obtaining their facilities, he contended. Paul M. Segal, counsel for WLTH and WARD, took an opposite position. He contended that as a matter of law WBBC was required to make an affirmative showing of superior fitness and superior rendition of public service. He argued that WBBC has failed to show its superiority in respect to technical ability, finances, program service and in other phases. 'HELLO. MISS BLACK" (Ruthrauff & Ryan, Inc.) pMVo* juui MARKET ? Yes, there are 680,000 people in North Dakota. BUT . . . did you know PEORI AREA has 605,000 people? And it can be covered by one station — V/MBD. Advertisers in PEORIAREA show more sales per dollar spent. Get ALL the reasons why. Ask Free & Peters, **»",<,/"</t Inc., r— h, " Nat. Reps. WpAlB\IJ TWO MAJOR ISSUES FACING TELEVISION TELEVISION, although ready for the public from a technical point of view, still faces two major questions— fixing satisfactory television standards and finding a method of paying for programs — I. J. Kaar, design engineer of the radio division of General Electric Co., declared in a paper read at the fall convention of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers Nov. 1. The situation in television is "quite different" from sound broadcasting, Mr. Kaar commented. "Because of the use of scanning and the necessity of synchronization between receiver and transmitter, if transmission standards are changed, receivers designed for the old standards become useless. Because of this no responsible manufacturer would sell receivers to the public until standards were fixed by the industry and sponsored by the FCC." He added that the matter of standards has practically been settled now. The question of who shall pay for television programs remains unanswered, he continued, pointing out that the present broadcasting system, with commercial sponsors paying the bill, requires the existence of millions of receivers, with listeners who may be induced to buy the advertised products. "Such an audience does not exist in television," he said, "and cannot be expected for several years. The public has been educated to expect a high degree of excellence in program material. When television is born, it must be born full-fledged as far as program material is concerned. This means great expense, which undoubtedly will have to be borne by the pioneers." "The standard high quality television system which possibly will be commercialized shortly will have a 12-inch tube with a picture 7% by 10 inches," Mr. Kaar predicted. "Three, five, seven, and nine-inch tubes probably also will be standard commercial sizes. It is reasonable to expect larger pictures in the best systems of the future." Unions Join in Show COOPERATIVE show, sponsored by seven different labor unions, on Nov. 15 was begun on WEVD, New York, Tuesdays through Fridays, 8-9 p. m. The program, known as The Labor Hoar, consists of dramatic sketches, interviews with guest speakers, musical selections, and Bryce Oliver. WEVD news commentator. Unions sponsoring the show are the Butchers Union, Transport Workers. Retail Clerks, Bakers Union, and three local chapters (numbers 22, 62, and 91) of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union. wmnn PEORIA MEMBER C BS NETWORK Guild Elects RADIO Writer's Guild, New York, on Nov. 7 held its annual meeting at the Midston House, New York. Five members were elected to the council, which consists of 15 members, five of whom are elected annually to serve three years. Elected were: Erik Barnouw, Henry Fisk Carlton, Elaine Sterne Carrington, Theodore Ferro and John Martin. The decision was made to appoint a committee to set up a code of "fair practices", which would outline the principles and objectives of the Guild for the guidance of members. Page 68 • November 15, 1938 BROADCASTING • Broadcast Advertising [j