Broadcasting (July - Dec 1940)

Allocation Snags Menace Havana Pact Cuban Delay in Revising Assignments Threat To Effectuation POSSIBILITY of postponement of the standard broadcast reallocation from March 29 until later in 1941, is foreseen in Washington radio circles. Unexpected delays, which have plagued the North American Broadcasting Agreement since its drafting three years ago, are causing no little concern at the FCC, at the State Department and among broadcasters. Unless steps are taken forthwith throxigh diplomatic channels to adjust conflicts in allocations proposed by Canada and Mexico, and unless Cuba expedites its proposed allocations, little hope is seen for the March 29 reallocation. If a postponement is necessary it can only be authorized by consent of all four principal signatories (Canada, Mexico, Cuba and the United States), but it would immediately endanger the whole allocation structure. Should any one of the nations renounce the Treaty, the entire reallocation plan would collapse. Cuba's List Awaited Aside from the delay in holiday conferences with delegations representing Canada and Mexico on allocation conflicts, Cuba has not yet submitted its revised list covering its proposed allocations, in compliance with the engineering standards projected in the Treaty itself. It was learned that steps are planned at once to invite delegations of Canadian and Mexican engineers to Washington for separate conferences. Originally, it had been planned to hold these conferences in latter October or early November. Thus far, so far as could be ascertained, the letters have not yet been dispatched. Though FCC and State Department officials are not inclined to discuss the current situation, they nevertheless do not deny that there is extreme danger of missing the March 29 deadline. The treaty itself provides that it must become fully effective one year from the date of final ratification by the last of the four major signatories. Mexico, after nearly a two-year delay, ratified March 29, 1940. The FCC promulgated the standard broadcast allocations for the United States on Sept. 10, to become effective March 29. As proposed, this allocation would affect 777 of the more than 860 stations operating or authorized at that time. Whether the lethargy in pursuing the continental reallocation reposes at the FCC, at the State Department, or with the other signatories, is open to question. Prior to the Sept. 10 promulgation of domestic allocations, it had become evident that certain members of the FCC were inclined to oppose the Treaty primarily because it retained a basic clear-channel structure. There is known opposition in the FCC to SPONSOR'S approval of the weekly half-hour NBC Riuly Vullee Shoiv brought grins to this quartet which recently met in Hollywood to discuss program ideas. They are (1 to r) James A. McFadden, newly-appointed vice-president in charge of radio, for McKee & Albright, agency servicing the account; Ed Gardner, agency producer of the series; Rudy Vallee, and Armand Deutsch, Hollywood manager of the agency. Heechiiiil Packing Plans $90(),()()() NBC Series BEECHNUT PACKING Co., Canojoharie, N. Y., new to radio this year when it started test spot announcements in selected markets for its gum products, is planning thfico-weekly sponsorship of the NBC-Red Newaroom of the Air program with John W. Vandercook. Although the contract has not yet been signed, it is understood the campaign will cost $900,000 when full details of stations are decided. , . The program, presented six times weekly 7:15-7:30 p.m., is now sponsored Wednesdays by Remmgton-Rand, New York, for its portable typewriters. The Beechnut campaign is scheduled to start about Jan. 1. Agency is Newell-Emmett Co., New York. Army Title AT REQUEST of Capt. Dorsey Owings, of the Army Information Service, Maj. John A. Holman, general manager of KDKA, Pittsburgh, has released the title, This Man's Army, for other broadcasts in the Army's interests. The highly successful program idea goes back to 1937, when Maj. Holman started the weekly round table discussion by prominent Army officers, designed to stir up interest in Army recruiting, on WBZWBZA, Boston Springfield. When he transferred to Pittsburgh last spring, Maj. Holman started a similar weekly program, explaining the advantages of Army life, on KDKA. retention of clear channels, as reflected in the Network Monopoly Report of a Commission minority (Walker and Thompson), which, in substance, recommended a reclassification of clear channels. The Border Stations The proposed Canadian allocations already have been published [Broadcasting, Oct. 15] as have those of the United States [Broadcasting, Oct. 1]. The Mexican allocation table, while received by tho FCC, has not been made public. The original Cuban list, it is reported, disregarded the engineering requirements under the North American agreement and as a consequence was returned for revision. Last word received by the State Department was that the revised allocations, conforming with the Treaty, would be submitted within a fortnight. Despite the lack of information on the proposed Mexican allocations, concern is being evinced in informed quarters. Apparently there is no clear-cut provision for elimination of the notorious border stations operated for the most part by renegade American broadcasters— coincident with the effective date of the Treaty. The exclusive channels assigned to Mexico, it is hinted, are earmarked for location in the interior of the country, as specified in the Treaty allocations, but apparently no ii'on-clad commitment was made that they will be moved as of March 29. Perhaps the most important aspect of the agreement was the understanding that the high-powered Brinkley and Baker stations, plus a half-dozen others, would be deleted because of serious interference with operations in this country. To Confer on Conflicts It is presumed that at the forthcoming conference to iron out allocation confiicts with Mexico the matter of removal of the border stations will be the principal topic. The Treaty itself specifies the precise location of the class 1-A and 1-B stations in the signatory countries and provides that they shall be used to serve the nationals of those countries. Thus, continued operation of the border stations in their present locations would constitute an infraction of the Treaty, it is observed here. Whether there is a loophole on the time of removal is questionable, though the understanding has been that once the Treaty becomes effective, the highpowered border stations would terminate operation. Otherwise, the carefully worked out allocation aspects of the Treaty would prove useless. Axton Fisher Acquires NBC Birthday Program WHEN Axton-Fisher Tobacco Co., Louisville, starts Twenty Grand Salutes Your Happy Birthday, Jan. 3, 1941, on NBC-Blue, the program will have run five weeks on the network as a sustainer under the title NBC Salutes Your Birthday, Fridays, 9:35-10 p.m. Chief feature of the broadcasts is the distribution of $500 each week to persons having birthdays on the specified date, as found in a large birthday cake. A guest of honor picks one section of the cake in which the date has been inserted and pulls one of many ribbons leading to Congressional districts throughout the country. All who live in the district chosen with birthdays on that date share in the prize. Claimants are given two weeks to present proof that the date selected is their birthday. Format of the program will be similar when Axton-Fisher takes it over in the interests of 20-Grand cigarettes. Agency is Weiss & Geller, New York. New Wine Series ATLAS IMPORT & EXPORT Co,, Philadelphia, (wine) has started a special holiday campaign for its line of Bon Ton and Fruit Bowl vidnes. A live spot announcement series is being used on eight stations in Pennsylvania, a total of 250 announcements to be heard during the campaign extending from Nov. 25 to Dec. 31. Stations used are WIP WFIL WGBI WERE WBAX KQV WWSW and WJAS. An extensive campaign, using additional stations in Pennsylvania, will be started shortly after the first of the year. Agency is Philip Klein, Philadelphia. G-M Plans Nebulous GENERAL MOTORS Corp., Detroit, is considering an institutional half-hour program, but the project is officially declared not to have passed the discussion stage. Some work toward a program along the lines of the Wheeling Steel series on MBS was done by General Motors and its agency, CampbellEwald Co., but it is stated that networks had not yet been queried regarding time clearance. The matter is said still to be nebulous. Under the plans discussed the talent would be drawn from company personnel. AGFA Films to Test AGFA ANSCO Film Co., New York, is planning a four-week campaign of spot announcements for its films, using stations in major markets. Full details had not been released by Young & Rubicam, New York, agency in charge, as Broadcasting went to press. MILES LABORATORIES, Elkhart, Iiul., on Dee. 9 will start a campaign for Alka-Seltzer and One-A-Day Vitamin tablets on WABC, New York, using the 11-11 :05 a.m. news Saturdays, and the 3 :55-4 p.m. news period Monday through Friday. Agency is Wade Adv. Agency, Chicago. BROADCASTING • Broadcast Advertising December J, 1940 • Page 11