Broadcasting (Oct - Dec 1949)

FM AIR TIME KLUF Protests FCC Proposal FCC'S PROPOSAL to lengthen the minimum operating hours of FM stations [Broadcasting, Nov. 21] brought a prompt protest last week from KLUF Galveston, which said economic conditions had forced it to shorten its FM hours to avoid cheapening AM service. KLUF Vice President and General Manager L. D. Clough wrote the Commission: "Until such time as ALL agencies concerned restore to FM its deservedly proper values and potential worth to the industry and the consumer, and cease attempting to disparage and discourage FM, particularly to the listener-consumer-advertiser, we earnestly protest the adoption of the proposed rule requiring AM-affiliated FM stations to operate 'at least the number of hours daily as the associated standard station.' " He told FCC that "I do not hesitate to say frankly that all of our efforts, sacrifices and heavy investment in FM appear to have been a total waste of resource!" This feeling, Mr. Clough said, is based on inability to get dealer cooperation in pushing FM sales; "widespread propaganda that 'FM is already on the way out'; lack of automobile FM sets; "the overall economic squeeze imposed upon smaller market stations" by increased competition, and "the cur Mr. Russell W. Tolg Batten, Barton, Durstine, and Osborne Chicago, Illinois Dear Russ: When th' coal strike was called off t'other day these boys at IVCHS sure did a bang-up job o' reportin' ! They k named th' IVCHS lisseners mould want to hear all 'bout it, an thet ever' one' d p articu larl y want ter hear from Bill Blizzard of th' U M IV -Mho WU2 in Chicago at th' ti m e , Coal Operator R e presentative Moody who wuz in IV ashing ton, an' Jesse Sullivan of th' IV. Va. Coal Operators Association. All them fellers wuz way off from Charleston, but thet didn't stop these fellers at all, nosirree! Our prog ram director, Mort Cohn, jest got them fellers on th' telephone, asked their opinions, and got their permishun ter record and broadcast their remarks! Now thet' s smart, ain't it Russf But these here IVCHS boys is alius willin' ter go any lengths atall ter please their lisseners or their clients! Yrs. ■ Algy W C H S Charleston, W. Va. BUFFET dinner sponsored by local stations Nov. 12 was the occasion for this get-together of agency, radio, television and advertising executives between sessions of the 17th annual convention of the Southwestern Assn. of Advertising Agencies meeting at Tulsa. The group includes (I to r): Les Hauger, vice president, Watts-Payne Advertising Agency, Tulsa; Dale Rogers, advertising manager, Mid-Continent Petroleum Corp.; Gustav K. Brandborg, commercial manager, KVOO Tulsa, who served as host for the event; Buell Herman, Dallas representative, Edward Petry & Co.; Ralph Nimmons, assistant manager in charge of sales, WFAA Dallas; Miller Robertson, commercial manager KSTP-TV Minneapolis-St. Paul, and George Ketcham, promotion manager, KTUL Tulsa. rent decline in trade activity." He cited instances of stations selling 15-minute programs for "less than |2.50 per program" and spot announcements for 15<i each, plus a dominance of "telephone giveaway" shows in many program schedules. He took FCC to task for a policy which would "permit improperly operated stations to gain power and channel advantage over the smaller, older, properly conducted stations which have suffered loss of potential revenue by refusing to lower themselves to a like level of policy!" Mr. Clough said KLUF-FM had been "forced" to shorten its schedule to 3-11:30 p.m. daily, but that "we will endeavor to maintain our present post-6 p.m. schedule as long as possible, as we are attempting to pioneer the process of FM relay via a station 50 miles away." FCC's proposal would require FM stations in AM-FM operations to operate as many hours as the AM station. FM-only stations would operate a minimum of six hours daily during the first year on the air; at least eight during the second year, and at least 12 thereafter. PEARSON-JONES INCIDENT 'Saturday Evening Post' Gives Account THE current (Nov. 26) issue of The Saturday Evenmg Post contains an article by Kenneth G. Crawford in which the Post writer gives a detailed account of "Columnist Drew Pearson's attempt to discredit a government official." The official is FCC Comr. Robert F. Jones, lawyer and former Congressman from Ohio. In his article, Mr. Crawford points out that Comr. Jones's case never became a cause celebre, as other Pearson campaigns have done, but did provoke senatorial hearings [Broadcasting, July 7, 14, 1947]. The columnist had stated that Comr. Jones, then a Congressman, was unfit to serve on the FCC after being nominated by President Truman. He claimed Mr. Jones' father had been a mem ber of the Ku Klux Klah and Mr. Jones himself had been a member of the Black Legion. Mr. Crawford goes on to state that testimony given by four witnesses procured by Mr. Pearson was entirely refuted. Upshot of the hearings, Mr. Crawford writes, was that members of the Senate committee expressed their opinion of the Pearson evidence by voting unanimously to confirm Comr. Jones. : Gates Ls \ IF IT IS FOR A BROADCASTING STATION GATES RADIO COMPANY • Roberts Studios OPENING of Roberts Radio, Television, Stage & Screen Studios in New York has been announced by Bob Levitt Roberts, president, former producer at WABD (TV) New York and WINS New York. Mr. Roberts said over 500 ft. of space with complete facilities including direct line broadcasting equipment has been taken at 806 Seventh Ave. Jack Lacy, WINS disc m.c. and quizmaster, is under Mr. Roberts' personal management. Mr. Roberts added that he has several TV shows set to go on the air. MBS' children's show, Straight Arrow, has reached "Top Ten" in daytime listening according to A. C, Nielsen Radio Index. QUINCY, ILLINOIS TELEPHONE • 522 WASHINGTON, D. C. TEL. METROPOLITAN 0522 FOR SALE 200-Ft. Self-Supporting LEHIGH STRUCTURAL STEEL TOWER — Perfect Condition — Radio Institute of Chicago 165 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago ANdover 3-6767 Page 62 • November 28, 1949 BROADCASTING • Telecasting