Broadcasting (Apr - June 1950)

TV AUTHORITY Starts Recognition Drive, Presents 'Code' TELEVISION Authority, an amalgam of live talent unions, last week started a drive to gain recognition from the television industry and to establish wage scales and working conditions. TVA, which despite protests of the screen guilds has been granted jurisdiction over TV by the Associated Actors & Artistes of America, parent body of AFL talent unions, last week held its first meeting with representatives of television networks and the American Assn. of Advertising Agencies. Although TVA had prepared a full "code" of wage scales and working conditions which it proposed to seek as a basis of bargaining, it was learned that industry representatives at the meeting raised the question of whether or not TVA could claim to represent all talent in television. Although both are members -of the Associated Actors & Artistes of America, the Screen Actors Guild and Screen Extras Guild have repeatedly protested the 4A's action in granting jurisdiction to TVA and have announced they would continue to represent performers in television film. Film Also Covered The "code" presented by TVA embraced proposals covering television film, and the perplexing question as yet to be settled is whether the industry could enter an agreement with TVA covering film performances while the screen Guilds' claim to jurisdiction in this regard is still unresolved. The TVA proposals for wages and working conditions were detailed at length in a letter distributed to members of the various performers' unions. The TVA proposed a union shop for all television performers, and limits each collective agreement to one year. It further espouses the principle that any film or kinescope used more than once in any area "must require additional payment of fees to the performers involved." Specific wage minimums sought by TVA are: (1) For one hour telecasts: Minimum fee of $115 plus rehearsal fees, with rehearsals not to extend over more than nine consecutive days including the day of presentation. (2) For half -hour telecasts: Minimum fee of $85 plus fees for rehearsals that are not extended over more than five consecutive days including day of presentation. (3) Quarter-hour telecasts; Minimum fee of $70 plus fees for rehearsals that shall not extend over more than three consecutive days including show day. Rehearsal fees are set at $6 an hour, with no rehearsal to be less than three hours in any one day. TVA seeks a schedule < f no less than a three hour minimum call for 15-minute shows, a six-hour call for half-hour programs and a ninehour call for hour programs. After minimum rehearsal periods, fees are $3 per hour or any part of an hour, computed in halfhour periods. All foregoing fees apply for live telecasts, except standard acts that are defined as "any performer or group of performers who render and perform a self-contained theatrical performance with material and theatrical routines furnished by the producer-employer." "Such performances must have been previously rehearsed and/or used by such standards prior to their engagement by the television producer-employer." The TVA set minimum scales for standard acts as $201 for singles, $300 for groups of two, $400 for groups of three and $500 for groups of four. Minimum Scales "To all these payments there must be added all prescribed rehearsal fees at regular rates, plus 2% of the minimum fee for each station carrying the show by live, kinescope or similar device," the TVA proposed. "These minimums are to apply to any show regardless of the length of the program." TVA also seeks to set scales for filmed telecasts, defined as those which are "filmed prior to and for transmission by or from a television transmitter and may be used for telecasting purposes only." Film Fees Set Minimum fees for filmed programs will be the same as those pertaining to live performances, except that there must be an eighthour required call in any one. day, less one hour for meals. "No film telecast may be used more than once in an area," the TVA proposal adds, "without payment of additional compensation as provided for in the collective bargaining agreement." Repeat telecasts of any kind of television performance, live film or kinescope, require payment to performers of fees equal to those they received for the first telecast. An exception to that proposed rule is made in the instance of a live repeat performed "for the purpose of supplemental coverage of the same network within 48 hours of the original performance and for filmed or kinescoped telecasts used within 30 days of the original performance." Retakes on films or kinescopes will mean payment of additional fees to performers, computed at a rate of one-half of the program fee plus any rehearsals. TVA seeks to prohibit telecasts from any television studio or elsewhere that admission is paid. The TVA "code" of proposals also embraced provisions covering "commercial inserts, doubling, rest periods, demonstrations, auditions, previews, after-shows, television screen tests, walk-ons, extras, sportscasters, understudies" and other activities. Preliminary Meeting The meeting with industry representatives last week was described as preliminary in nature. Another meeting is scheduled late this week. It was made clear by television management representatives who attended that there were many difficult problems of procedure, in addition to that of TVA or screen guild jurisdiction, to be settled before discussions with either of the two union groups reach a negotiational stage. RADIO NEEDS SPARK AN ANTIDOTE for what he called "inertia . . . one of the greatest dangers to sound broadcasting," was enunciated by FCC Comr. Robert F. Jones, principal speaker at last Friday's New Jersey Broadcasters Assn. spring meeting held in Haddon Hall, Atlantic City. At the same time, he reminded broadcasters that this is no time "to don your sackcloth and ashes for sound radio." Comr. Jones said more than 40 million American families — or 95% of the total — own radio receivers. "Poor radio," he mused, "it has only 5% to go to completely saturate America!" Comr. Jones reviewed the "facts" of broadcasting— AM, FM and TV — in the state of New Jersey. He acknowledged that in the first category, New Jersey is covered "like a blanket with multiple services" in view of the powerful competition from clear channel stations in New York City and Philadelphia. The latter stations, he said, "skim off the sweet cream of the advertising dollar," while less powerful outlets compete "for the skim milk of radio advertising with a national appeal." Looking at the future of radio, Comr. Jones observed there are "definite improvements" which the smaller station can make to level its sights at the "critical job . . . of reducing the cost of operation and increasing the sales income." These, he said, are: (1) Blueprint jobs necessary to operate an efficient station, (2) offer regular training to personnel, (3) urge training in selling methods since "radio advertising today . . . requires salesmen with outstanding training and qualifications," (4) make it easier for the advertiser to buy, such as more than one station selling a single package to meet big station competition, (5) re-evaluate station's promotion — keep the old as well as the new advertiser informed of the station's progress, and (6) let the community know of the job the station is performing. Example of 'Inertia' As an example of radio's "inertia," Comr. Jones retold an experience of an NAB delegate, who, he said, found the broadcast business suffering from "a form of myopia from internal politics and accumulated inertia — which in the human structure is called hardening of the arteries." In view of the growing importance of TV, he said, the economic factors must be considered. But, he asserted, "don't set your sights on national statistics when you know your local financial condition contradicts the predictions and conclusions reached on a national basis." Localized radio stations have had to become, he said, "that which in my judgment, the Communications Act of 1934 contemplated — media of local self Jones Hits 'Inertia' expression, as important to your community as your daily newspapers and as integral a part of your local institutions as your schools, churches and town halls or beer parlors." Admonishing the extreme pessimists who find radio on the way out because of television, Comr. Jones said "radio and TV can live side by side." Although values and times may change, he said, "no wide awake medium of intelligence has ever gone into complete eclipse because of the introduction of a new medium." ". . . Radio every year has achieved new records, if what I read in the Broadcasting Yearbook is so," he continued. ". . . Our own FCC figures show that television, even at this early age, has tapped 'new money' to a greater degree than it has raided the incomes of other media." The FM picture was not painted a rosy hue by the Commissioner who admitted that "fitting FM into your picture is a problem." However, he said, the low powered FM properties of stations can serve an area several times as far as many an AM facility because of the latter's severe limitations at night. "In terms of square miles of nighttime coverage free from interference, FM stations often serve areas that are from 10 to 100 times as large as the coverage of the associated AM station," Comr. Jones noted. Page 28 • May 8, 1950 BROADCASTING • Telecasting