Broadcasting (July - Dec 1942)

f Keystone Net Head Would Help Locals Sillerman Says Disc Methods Spread National Accounts CITING the growth of the Keystone transcription network in its two years of operation, Michael M. Sillerman, president of KBS, said in his year-end statement that his organization will deliver an increasing volume of national advertising to small stations now suffering a serious decline in local billings. "As 1942 closes," Mr. Sillerman wrote, "it rounds out the second full year of the operation of the Keystone transcription network. More national advertisers have made their debut in the secondary markets through Keystone, and thus a new type of important national business has been made available to small stations." Speaks for Locals Eeferring to statements by FCC Chairman James Lawrence Fly, and the NAB on the shrinkage of local billings, Mr. Sillerman declared "There are 204 radio stations affiliated with Keystone. We are in a position to speak for the country's small stations about whom justifiable concern has been expressed." "Through our efforts, as a national transcription system, we intend to deliver an increasing volume of national advertising billing to our affiliates — the country's ■ small stations — and thus help alleviate the problem brcught about by the shrinkage in local billings." The statement also described the efforts the transcription network is making to "spread the 'gospel' of the secondary market" and to "feed vital government messages and war effort material to areas that arr otherwise devoid of this information." RCA Agency Status ALTHOUGH it had been reported as definite that Lord & Thomas, New York, was resigning as agency for RCA and its subsidiary companies, an executive of the agency told Broadcasting last week that the matter was still under discussion between the interested parties and that no positive decision had been made one way or the other. W.TZ, New York, cooperated with the Brooklyn Junior Chamber of Commerce, in a War Bond project which resulted in the sale of over $5,000,000 in War Bonds, at the Chamber's annual Christmas luncheon, Dec. 21. PAY, JURISDICTION CAUSE WTTM STRIKE DISPUTE between the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (AFL) and WTTM, Trenton, over compensation and union jurisdiction resulted in a strike against the station Dec. 18, both parties reported last week. William Maregolis, Government mediator, had intervened in the case Dec. 11, the U. S. Conciliation Service said, and reportedly has arranged for the New Jersey State Mediation Board to consider the compensation issue. Meanwhile, A. Harry Zoog, general manager of WTTM, told Broadcasting by long distance telephone that the controversy was purelv one of jurisdiction between IBEW and ACA (CIO). He said it affected only three announcers, two salesmen, two office employes and a newswriter. IBEW spokesmen in Washington insisted that the entire staff, except for three ACA members, was out. IBEW said it had informed the station in October that employes were affiliated with the union, but had been unable, "after repeated efforts" to meet with responsible officials. IBEW insisted that the compensation issue was responsible for the walkout. Quaker Soup QUAKER OATS Co., Chicago, extensive user of both network and spot advertising for its cereals and flours, is introducing a new line of dehydrated soaps, to be marketed under the name "Aunt Jemima". Sherman K. Ellis & Co., New York, agency handling the firm's Aunt Jemima pancake flours and Pettijohn's cereal, is appointed to handle advertising for the new product. No media plans have been set. Morse Heads WSBA APPOINTMENT of Otis Morse IV as manager of WSBA, York, Pa., has been announced. Mr. Morse has been serving as program director since the station opened last Sept. 1. Succeeding him in the program post is Max Robinson, former announced of WHO, Des Moines. NED BURMAN. formerly newscaster and announcer of KQW, KSFO, KJBS and other San Francisco stations, now a sergeant in the Marines, is a combat correspondent in the South Pacifie. His account of one of the air battles over Guadalcanal recently appeared in the American press. MBS Celebrates MBS celebrates its sixth year of coast-to-coast operations Dec. 29. Organized in 1934, the network did not expand to transcontinental proportions until 19.36, when the Don Lee Broadcasting System of California, and the Northwest, joined it. TESTING? Reach a big chunk of ILLINOIS ... do your testing thru the DECATUR station 250 W. 1340. Full Time. Sears & Ayer, Reps. How can we help you? SOY Educators Seeking School Equipment Urge Public to Donate Sets For Classroom Courses MAJOR OBJECTIVES of the Federal Radio Education Committee for 1943, outlined at a recent executive board meeting in Washington [Broadcasting, Dec. 21] include a campaign to encourage the public to give extra radio sets to schools and a study to determine how schools can make better use of available education programs. With the fate of colleges in the balance the FREC will undertake a study of subjects which might be taught by radio. At a dinner Dec. 18 in Washington, given by the D. C. Chapter, Assn. for Education by Radio, for FREC executive board members, Neville Miller, NAB president, declared that the use of radio in schools must be considered as a most important project by the industry. Loss of education today as a result of the war will not become apparent, he said, for 10 or 15 years. Just how the problem will be solved remains to be worked out. Studies Completed Outlining the background of the FREC, Mr. Miller explained that field studies conducted by Princeton and Ohio U have been completed. He praised the script exchange service and circulating transcription libraries originated by the group. He paid tribute to the various Government agencies which, he said, have been staffed with competent personnel from the industry. He lauded the present censorship system of voluntary cooperation and added, "It is very important that broadcasting remain in the free, untrampled field." H. B. McCarty of the OWI, on leave as general manager, WHA, Madison, Wis., commented on the uncertain future of universities. He said "here is where radio may rise to its opportunity". He asserted that radio, both commercial and educational, faces "a tremendous opportunity" in filling the gap which will be brought through curtailment of college work because of the war. Maj. Harold W. Kent, War Dept. Bureau of Public Relations radio branch and national president of AER, spoke briefly. Guests at the dinner included Judith Waller, NBC Director of Education, Chicago; George Adair, assistant chief engineer, FCC; Elizabeth Gowdy, national secretary, AER, and Dr. Franklin Dunham, former director of education, NBC, now with the USO. WAVERLY ROOT, news commentator of AVINS, New York, is the commentator of a special short on "What Happened to Hess?", a baeljground story of Rudolf Hess" flight to England, currently being shown at the Emhassv Xewsreel Theatres in New Yorlv. ntlTtSH COCUMHA LAND OF OPPOtTUNinr i VANCOUVER, CANADA J H. McGILLVRA (U S ) H N. STOVIN (CANADA) NEW ORLEANS 50,000 WATTS The Greatest Selling POWER in the South's Greatest City CBS Affiliate Naf'l Rep. The Katz Agency Inc. KLX, Oakland, Cal. more than meets our every requirement . . . news every hour on the hour. Joseph R. Knowland CBS-50KW ^:heSeIli^^gP«^'' inlbeBuymg Market BROADCASTING • Broadcast Advertising December 28, 1942 • Page 55