Broadcasting (Jan - Jun 1944)

Canadian Stations Get More ^,™! Back _, MBS Board Talks Power Under Freeze Lifting Modification Gives 46 Outlets 5 kw; Frigon Opposes CAB Plan for Private Network whose jurisdiction comes licensing of stations, that the ceiling be raised from 1 kw to 5 kw. Dr. Frigon said criticism of the Canadian Assn. of Broadcasters [Broadcasting, May 1] on the power freeze was not correct, in that 25 stations had been granted power increases. Dr. Frigon said the stations had done nothing about the increases. (No private stations, from the record of increases since 1936, had been given permission to increase over 1 kw.) "Due precaution" had to be taken in granting any television, RAY C. ELLIS, director of the WPB's Radio & Radar Division, returned to Washington last week after two months in the Soviet Union where he observed production methods of the Russians. POWER FREEZE of 1 kw., in force in Canada since 1936, has been modified to allow 46 Canadian stations to go to 5 kw under Havana Treaty regulations, Dr. Augustin Frigon, acting general manager of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. told the House of Commons Committee on Broadcasting at Ottawa last Wednesday. This is "not a change of policy" but "strictly an adjustment to meet technical conditions as they exist today," he said. The CBC Board of Governors has recommended to the Dept. of Transport Minister, under PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY Jansky & Bailey An Organization of Qualified Radio Engineers DEDICATED TO THE SERVICE OF BROADCASTING National Pren Bldg., Wash., D. C McNARY & WRATHALL CONSULTING RADIO ENGINEERS National Press Bldg. Dl. 1205 Washington, D. C. PAUL GODLEY CO. CONSULTING RADIO ENGINEERS MONTCLAIR. N. J. MO 2-7859 HECTOR R. SKIFTER H. R. SKIFTER DONALD M. MILLER CONSULTING RADIO ENGINEERS ENGINEERING SERVICES AVAILABLE AFTER VICTORY GEORGE C. 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C Phone: Metropolitan 0540 FM facsimile or other rights, Dr. Frigon told the Committee, in replying to CAB criticism, to allow anyone to occupy a frequency "with the purpose of simply claiming vested interest at some later date." Dr. Frigon did not agree that a second network should be operated by private stations, as suggested by the CAB. He said: "It is hard to believe that 30-odd stations in Canada would rather lose money with a private network than make money on a CBC network." Principal objection to a private network in Canada "is that such a powerful instrument of communication and propaganda would inevitably come under the control of very few individuals. Even if operated on a mutual basis such a concentration of power in the hands of a few could not be prevented," he declared, but offered to discuss network programs from a competitive angle with the private stations. Price mention on Canadian stations would invite strong competition between advertisers on different stations and advertisers broadcasting at different times, he explained. "In small communities, especially, it would unquestionably compete with the local newspaper," said Dr. Frigon. "This would invite abuses and would not be in the interest of the public." Dr. Frigon told the Committee that the CBC Board of Governors has decided to give one hour per month to free political network broadcasts, instead of the half -hour set earlier this year. This would give 24 half-hour periods. A new definition would have to be made on political parties to allow some of the newer parties to be heard, he reported. He asked the Committee for recommendations. Dr. Frigon stated that while no pressure would be brought on private stations to carry free political broadcasts, they are invited to do so, with the CBC' bearing line costs. Stations which refuse to cooperate with the CBC on the freedom of opinion broadcasts stand a chance of losing their licenses, it was pointed out. Committe members reported greater opinion freedom on the air than in the press. An application by the Halifax Chronicle for a station was announced by Dr. Frigon, who reported it had come up before the CBC Board meeting at Ottawa on May 8. Applications for stations at Gravelbourg, Sask. ; St. Boniface, Man.; Prince Albert and Edmonton, also had been considered by the CBC Board. Post War Policies Current Outlook, Future Plan Feature Three Day Agenda POST-WAR and current plans were discussed May 8-11 in Chicago by Mutual executives, members of the Board of Directors and shareholders, in the second MBS meeting of the year in the Drake Hotel. Program heads of five key MBS stations and network program officials met May 8 to discuss program policy. Officers of the MBS Program Operating Board include Chairman Miller McClintock, MBS president ; vice-chairman Adolph Opfinger, MBS program director; Lewis Allen Weiss, Don Lee, Hollywood; C. M. Hunter, WHK Cleveland; Julius F. Seebach Jr., WOR New York; Frank Schreiber, WGN Chicago; and Linus Travers, Yankee Network, Boston. Executive Committee Meets The executive committee, which met May 9-10, included Chairman W. E. Macfarlane, WGN Chicago; John Shepard III, Yankee Network, Boston; H. K. Carpenter, WHK Cleveland; Mr. McClintock; T. C. Streibert, WOR New York; and Lewis A. Weiss. Members of the board of directors and shareholders, who met May 11 included Chairman Alfred J. McCosker; E. M. Antrim, WGN Chicago; H. E. Barroll Jr., WFBR Baltimore; Benedict Gimbel Jr., WIP Philadelphia; Leonard Kapner, WCAE Pittsburgh; Mr. Macfarlane; Mr. McClintock; Mr. Shepard; Mr. Streibert; Mr. Weiss. Miles on Coast RESUMING advertising on CBS after a 10-year hiatus, Miles California Co., Los Angeles, on May 1 started sponsorship of Lady of the Press, a five weekly quarterhour series in eight CBS Pacific Coast stations, in behalf of all Alka-Seltzer products acceptable to the network. Contract for 52 weeks was placed through Wade Adv., Chicago. NBC Disc Boom THREE times as many contracts for syndicated transcribed programs were signed during the first four months of 1944 as in the same period of 1943, Claude Barrer, in charge of syndicated program sales of NBC's radio recording division, has announced. Versatile Joe JOE DINEEN, WORL Boston commentator, was the only male civilian to accompany 87 WAVE recruits from Boston to Hunter College, Bronx, N. Y., where they were to undergo indoctrination training. Boston WAVES, who had completed boot training, persuaded the newscaster to cover the New York night spots, an assignment Joe quickly accepted. Page 70 • May 15, 1944 BROADCASTING • Broadcast Advertising