Broadcasting (Jan - Mar 1950)

NARBA SNAG Clear-Channel Decision Now Urged by Cullum FOR THE GOOD of U. S. broadcasting the FCC should decide the clear-channel case — now almost five years old — before undertaking anyfurther NARBA negotiations. This view was voiced last week in letters being sent to clients by A. Earl Cullum Jr., Dallas and * Washington consulting radio engineer [Closed Circuit, Jan. 9]. Mr. Cullimi at one time reportedly was offered and rejected the post of chief engineer of the FCC. "Regardless of individual views," he wrote, "we feel that the broadcasting industry in the U. S. would be much better off to have a clearchannel decision, even if it is not satisfactory to each and every broadcaster, than to have the clearchannel case drag on indefinitely." He pointed out that the NARBA conference in Montreal, which recessed when the U. S. refused to accede to Cuban channel demands [Broadcasting, Dec. 5, 12, 1949], is slated to resume in the U. S. April 1 after U.S.-Cuban conferences starting Feb. 1. If FCC cannot issue a clearchannel decision by Feb. 1, he maintained, then the U. S.-Cuban meeting should be put off. Mr. Cullum said the U. S. delegation at Montreal was "seriously handicapped by not having a definite decision in the clear-channel case, and it is not fair either to that delegation or to the broadcasting industry for the principles involved to remain unsettled." He asserted : In giving consideration to the matter, you may wish to endeavor to get the clear-channel issues settled in a way that would be most favorable to your present and future broadcast activities, but we feel that your main effort might well be directed toward obtaining a general settlement for the welfare of the broadcasting industry as a whole, in order to help guard against the danger from foreign encroachment on broadcast channels used by the U. S. Mr. Cullum pointed out that, aside from the demands of Cuba, the U. S. and other nations are yet to meet the requests of Mexico, which did not participate actively in the Montreal sessions. "The inference to be drawn," he said, "is that Mexico may plan to come in later with demands much like the Cuban demands so that between these two Mr. Cullum Radio Station KFDA Amarillo, Texas 5,000 watts ABC Affiliate wuwjumM Hud oifsLciuDsi ^anjuwii^ 1, 1950 it is exclusively represented by THE BRANHAM COMPANY CHICAGO NEW YORK DETROIT DALLAS ATLANTA CHARLOTTE ST. LOUIS MEMPHIS SAN FRANCISCO LOS ANGELES KFDA Primary Coverage Area Population 490,092 Total Families 131,900 Radio Families 122,523 Retail Sales $454,691,000 EfFective Buying Income $547,699,000 KFDA KFDA-FM countries all U. S. channels wou) be dominated." Mr. Cullum continued: It appears that there is a defini' danjfer involved for the U. S. delet'. tion to participate in further conft; ences without getting the clear-char nel issues decided. It is our feelir that the U. S. broadcasters, for theij common good, should act through I whatever channels are available tcj them to bring pressure to bear onl Congress, on the FCC, and on the! State Dept., for ' the issuance of a] clear-channel decision. . . . BAB ANALYSES Laundry-Dry Cleaning Report ANALYSES of the laundry and dry cleaning business, prepared as ammunition for the radio advertising salesman, have been released by BAB as the third in a monthly series of retail information folders. The reports point to ways radio advertising should fit into budgets of both laundry and dry cleaning plants. The dry cleaning analysis shows that industry is spending less than 2.8 of gross sales on advertising, although its own association. National Institute of Cleaning & Dyeing, suggests 5-/r as a normal advertising expenditure. Previous issues in BAB's series of retail releases have dealt with furniture dealers and jewelers. The February folder will be devoted to banks. The automotive industry will be scrutinized for the March release. GEORGIA GROUP Winter Meet Opens Tomorrow EXECUTIVES representing more than 40 stations are slated to attend the winter meeting of the Georgia Assn. of Broadcasters Tuesday and Wednesday (Jan. 1718) at the Hotel Dempsey, Macon. Registration begins Tuesday at 3 p.m., after which a cocktail party will be given by Macon stations WBML WIBB WMAZ WNEX. The banquet at 7 p.m. will be addressed by McKibben Lane, general counsel of the Bibb Mfg. Co. Business session will get underway Wednesday at 10 a.m. Ardel Nation, from Boys Estate, will tell of the work which radio did in the 1949 fund-raising drive. Scheduled business also includes a report on the 1950 Radio Institute, discussion of a libel law to protect radio newsmen and consideration of special forms for use in giving free time so that those benefited will know what is being given in dollars. Page 2 4 • January 16, 1950 Philip D. Macarow PHILIP DANIEL MACAROW, 53, vice president and director of McKim Adv. Ltd., Montreal, died at his home on Jan. 7. Joining McKim in 1936, he became a vice president of the agency in 1946. BROADCASTING • Telecasting