Broadcasting (July - Dec 1940)

Johnson Wax to Start Change in KBST Control JIM YERIAN, promotion manager of WENS, Columbus, holds a check for $10 awarded the station by Campbell Mithun, Minneapolis, agency for Taystee bread, for the best merchandising stunt during June. Grabbing for the check and claiming a share are Bob Thomas (left), merchandising manager of the station, and Jerome Reeves (right), publicity director. Final decision was Solomon-style with the three lads cashing it and splitting the proceeds. the organization" of the new committee to function under auspices of RMA. Membership of the committee, it is understood, was passed upon by the FCC. The Commission added it recently paved the way for an increased number of television stations "with a view to crystallizing their experimentation with different systems into a uniform standard upon which commercialized visual broadcasting may be safely launched." It stated that previous television hearings had revealed "a serious conflict of engineering opinion" on standards. FCC Statement "Because of the inadequacy of the various suggested standards," the FCC announced, "the new group will explore existing television systems with a view to developing and formulating standards that will be acceptable to the industry as a whole in expediting establishment of a single wellfounded national system — one which has promise of ultimately giving this country more television stations and receivers than all other nations combined, with resultant benefits to manufacturers, dealers, and broadcasters, as well as the public. "This project, though sponsored by the Radio Manufacturers Assn. will operate independently and represent the majority opinion of the industry. Members will be appointed by James S. Knowles newly-elected president of the association, subject to the approval of that association's executive committee. However, membership will not be limited to the association; it will embrace representatives of companies broadly interested and experienced in the television field, also representatives of national technical organizations desirous of seeing television launched on a firm footing, as well as individual experts." FCC Chairman James Lawrence Fly welcomed organization of the committee as affording "a splendid opportunity for the cooperation of industry and government in the solution of a problem which is of such timely concern to the public and to business." Disc Spots in September S. C. JOHNSON & Co., Racine, Wis. ( Wax-O-Namel, household paint), starting Sept. 3 will use 30 stations for five-weekly one-minute live announcements for an undetermined length of time. In addition, six-weekly quarter-hours featuring Standard Radio Library Service with Alexander McQueen as m.c. will start on WBBM, Chicago, Sept. 2, 8:30-8:45 a. m. Stations selected for announcement schedule include WBRC KARK WJAX WIOD WFLA WSB WJBO KWKH WWJ KSTP WDAF KSD KOWH KTSA WIRE WHO KFH WBEN WBT WKRC WKY KVOO WJAS WTMA WDOD WNOX WSM WFAA KPRC. Sponsor is currently using Meredith Willson's Musical Revue on NBCRed, Tues., 8:30-9 p. m. (CDST) in behalf of its Glo-Coat (floor polish) as a summer replacement for Fibber McGee & Molly who return in September. Needham, Louis & Brorby, Chicago, handles +he account. THE Houston Harte Bernard Hanks radio-newspaper interests on July 25 were authorized by the FCC to acquire control of KBST, Big Spring, Tex., where they publish the Big Spring Herald. Joe Galbraith, publisher of the newspaper, was authorized to sell 250 shares for $3,750, so that the stock setup now is Mr. Harte, 31.7%; Mr. Hanks, 31.7%; Mr. Galbraith, 16.8% Howard Barrett, station manager, 10%; Mrs. Bonnie Davis, Abilene, 10% (Broadcasting, June 15). Sweetheart's Spots MANHATTAN SOAP Co., New York, is starting its spot campaign for Sweetheart soap during August and September on about six stations in different parts of the country, probably on a basis of eight times weekly. The company concludes its NBC-Red series with Mrs. Franklin Roosevelt July 25. Franklin Bruck Adv. Corp., New York, is in charge. 5 kw. ON FULLTIME IS GRANTED WIS AC WNAC, Boston, key station of the Yankee Network, on July 25 was given an increase in power from 1,000 watts night, and 5,000 watts day to 5,000 watts fulltime on 1230 kc, in an action taken by less than a quorum of the FCC under its recently-adopted administrative order. The action therefore is subject to later ratification. Simultaneously, the FCC board approved transfer of control of the Winter St. Corp., parent company of the Yankee Network, from John Shepard Jr. to John Shepard 3d and George R. Blodgett, trustees of the John Shepard 3d and Robert F. Shepard trusts. Licenses of WAAB, WEAN, WICC, WNAC and six high-frequency stations are involved. The Commission's action in granting the transfer, it was stated, shall not be construed as an approval of any future transfer of control which may result from any change in the parties. E adio $tciti(Dn rfisij Mutfi it logically follows that similar results will be obtained by the national advertiser. // 250 Watts • 800 Kc. Clear • Member NAB WTBO CUMBERLAND, MARYLAND BROADCASTING • Broadcast Advertising August 1, 1940 • Page 125