Broadcasting (Jan - Jun 1944)

News Sponsoring Ban Reported in S-814 Mystery Shrouds Bill; Meeting Tuesday? AN AURA of mystery last week enveloped the Senate Interstate Commerce Committee over widely circulated reports that Chairman Wheeler (D-Mont.) proposes to include in the revised WhiteWheeler Bill (S-814) a provision banning sponsorship of news and commentators as a matter of law. A Committee meeting, it was learned, has been tentatively called for Tuesday (May 23). Wheeler Silent Efforts to get from Chairman Wheeler any answer to the question brought the retort that he would have a statement to make later. He would give no inkling of the scope of the bill or of Committee plans. All of the news associations— AP, UP and INS — were perturbed over the reports which for some time have been current in radio circles [Broadcasting, May 15]. Efforts by these associations to ascertain whether the revised bill would contain such a farreaching ban proved futile. Similarly, Sen. White (R-Me.), coauthor of the bill, was non-committal but, along with Sen. Wheel er, predicted that the revised draft would be available soon. It is generally felt that if the bill contains such a provision, it would never get out of Committee or be passed by Congress. While no one questions the report that Sen. Wheeler, a persistent critic of the Winchell-Pearson type of commentator, would like to impose such a ban, it is felt that the provision would amount to restrictive legislation of the worst sort. Chairman Wheeler met all inquiries with the observation that he would have something to say "on Monday" (today, May 22) about the bill. Aside from Sen. White, all other Committee members contacted appeared to be in the dark, except Sen. Moore (DOkla.), who said Chairman Wheeler had advised him the Committee would be shown a revised draft of S-814 on Tuesday, May 23. "I don't know why all the secrecy about legislation," he commented. "I understand there are to be provisions which were not discussed when we held hearings on the bill. If such is the case I think the full Committee should conduct further hearings before writing any legislation. Certainly I want to get the viewpoint of broadcasters and engineers, if I am asked to vote on legislation involving sponsored news and the clear channel stations." Film Industry Big Timebuyer; MGM Spends $1,000,000 in '44 Stations to Furnish As Exhibitors Turn By DAVID GLICKMAN FILM industry will contribute several million dollars to radio advertising during the coming 12 months according to term contracts signed and others in the making. Since curtailment of newsprint advertising, film executives have learned the effectiveness of paid radio plugs. As a result more studios show inclination to expand their radio time beyond the spot classification, if and when desirable regional and transcontinental network time is made available. MGM-RKO Big Users Universal is developing its radio department in an effort to fill the void created by the newsprint shortage and restriction on space permitted for films, according to John Joseph, advertising-publicity director. Studio doesn't plan its own program, but will use radio for direct advertising. MGM and RKO are using the medium most extensively, as are Page 8 • May 22, 1944 Theatres Invasion News to Radio Advertising Warner Bros, and Paramount. Columbia, United Artists and Republic rely on spot announcements for coming and current film attractions. 20th Century-Fox, in addition to announcements, utilizes quarterhour programs on local stations. Other studios are coming into radio gradually with increased use of spot announcements, five-minute programs and quarter-hour broadcasts, tying in, of course, with local exhibitors' current showings. RKO following a 13-week test, with broadcast of May 29 expands the five-weekly Hollywood .Star Time on 20 Blue Western stations to 177 stations, Monday through Friday, 3:15-3:30 p.m. (EWT). A showcase for current films and talent, program originates from film studio's Hollywood commissary. RKO pioneered in radio exploitation with highly successful campaigns for "Hitler's Children" and "Behind the Rising Sun". Warner Bros, recently bought quarter-hour spots on some 200 stations through(Continued on page 56) Sen. Chan Gurney (R-S.D.), who a fortnight ago was renominated on the Republican ticket (virtually tantamount to re-election), said he had not been informed of a meeting. Neither had he been told what is in the revised measure but expressed the view that the "Committee is composed of 21 members who might have something to say". Sen. Gurney, former operator of WNAX Yankton, S. D., said he would withhold comment until after he sees the re-, vised version, but remarked that he didn't think Congress could tell any particular business what commodities it could or could not sell. Sen. Reed (R-Kan.) said he knew nothing about radio and that whatever "Wallace White says is all right with me". He attended only a few hearings on the WhiteWheeler Bill. Little Hope of Passage Although secrecy shrouded Chairman Wheeler's moves, proposed radio legislation and the Tuesday meeting were topics of Capitol Hill conversation. Considered significant was a lengthy visit last Thursday of Judge Samuel Rosenman, confidante and advisor to President Roosevelt, with Chairman Wheeler. Judge Rosenman went to Sen. Wheeler's office for lunch and remained nearly three hours. Although the Senator declined to discuss the visit, which followed a 45-minute conference between the President and Sen. Wheeler a fortnight ago at the White House [Broadcasting, May 15], speculation was that Chairman Wheeler and Judge Rosenman discussed pending radio legislation, the proposed international communications merger and the status of FCC Chairman James Lawrence Fly. The NAB Legislative Committee, which met in Washington May 8-10, likewise was given no clue as to Sen. Wheeler's plans. The Committee, however, desires to see the Senate group consider the White-Wheeler bill, whatever its form, in the hope of procuring desired amendments or of catching things up in the House. There appears to be little hope anyway of enactment of legislation at this session, with Congress slated to recess within a few weeks for the political conventions and the campaigning ahead. Rep. Lea (D-Cal.), chairman of the House Interstate & Foreign Commerce Committee, has said there was "little chance" that the House would consider any radio legislation this session, even though S-814 should pass the Senate. The bill, aside from the controverted news sponsorship provision, is understood to provide for a five-man Commission with a rotating chairmanship in lieu of the pxesent seven-man Commission with the chairman named by the President. It also is designed, it is reported, to spell out more clearly! the functions of the FCC. Some light on Sen. Wheeler's views came last month in a state ment read for him to the Institute for Education by Radio in Columbus. He stated then that he thought radio should follow the example laid down by newspapers in "presenting unhampered, factual news' and condemned the practice of selling news broadcasts. The bill also is understood to' contain a provision limiting thej power of standard broadcast stations to 50,000 w — a move long fostered by Sen. Wheeler. Ed Cra ney, general manager of Z-Bar Network, who has acted as ex officio Committee clerk and Wheeler advisor since the hearings last November and December, likewise has fostered restrictive provisions and has contended that commentators shouldn't be sponsored. It also is reported that the clause limiting power to 50,000 w supplemented by one in effect commanding the FCC to duplicate all clear channels. This provision, it is understood, would forbid the Commission from protecting any| station from interference outside) a radius of 750 miles from the transmitter. This provision likewise is attributed to Mr. Craney. SEATED ON STEPS of the Gl radio station VU2ZY, in New Delhi, India, in a script conference are Pvt. Tim Horan (left) Boston, and Pvt. Charles (Chuck) Whit tier, Wilkes-Barre, former sporty announcer for N. W. Ayer & Son Standing is Pvt. Eskil E. Holt, former engineer with KGB San Diego, The 50 w station, operated by a group of soldiers formerly active in la] radio, broadcasts transcriptions of J( popular shows aired in the U. S programs of news, sports comment music and GI talent. Others ac tive in the operation of the station but not in the picture are Lt. Rob ert L. Black, Sandpoint, Ida., and formerly of KIT Yakima, Wash, and KMO Tacoma and Pfc. William Stulla, Los Angeles, announcer and producer who has appeared on .the Mudy Vallee Hour. BROADCASTING • Broadcast Advertising ist Ml in _ 1