Broadcasting (Oct - Dec 1950)

Radio (and TV) (Continued from page 21) nual convention, published on the front page of Broadcasting, said in part : Radio broadcasting not only is the great fire-side entertainer but has come to be a great moulder of public opinion. There should be no monopoly in the moulding of public opinion, either government or private. Even then, FDR foresaw the development of TV, as indicated in this paragraph: Today broadcasters are faced with development of new and intriguing innovations in the field of radio. I refer to reports reaching me of laboratory achievements in visual radio and in the shortwave field. When they will prove technically and economically practicable, of course, no one can foretell. But I have an abiding faith in American inventive genius and in the ability of broadcasters to utilize these new developments in a way that will improve their service to the nation as a whole. And just a year later — June 11, 1937_when the NAB held its 15th convention, Mr. Roosevelt, in his third letter to Bro.\dcasting, lauded radio for its public service during the Ohio and Mississippi river floods, which inundated thousands of acres and left hundreds homeless. He said: The manner in which radio threw open its facilities for relief work during the devastating floods of the Ohio and Mississippi early this year was a revelation of its tremendous public service value in time of emergency, and a credit to the spirit of helpfulness on the part of the broadcasters of the nation. Problems 'Not Insoluble' Radio then was having intramural conflicts, with the very existence of NAB threatened. On this score, Mr. Roosevelt said: The problems that present themselves to you broadcasters are not insoluble. In your industry there are no problems that cannot be solved by intelligent management, good programming and an awareness of public responsibility. On Oct. 8, 1940, just prior to his election for a third time, establishing precedent for White House incumbency, President Roosevelt made his flat "radio as free as the press" pronunciamento. The occasion was a congratulatory message to the Editor "on the steady progress which enables you to mark the beginning of the 10th year of Broadcasting magazine by making this journal a weekly instead of a semi-monthly publication." He continued: This proposed change emphasizes the importance that radio has attained in every phase of our national life. The rapid growth in radio and in the technique of broadcasting have been truly amazing during the past decade. In all probability we are still in the infancy of this field of communication. New developments, such as television, are certain to broaden radio's service. Moreover, radio has an increasing obligation to keep the people fully informed. A free radio is just as essential as a free press. President Hoover's first utterance on American Plan radio after his assumption of the Presidency came on Oct. 26, 1931, in a remote control talk to the opening session of the ninth annual convention of the NAB in Detroit. It was published in full text in the Nov. 1, 1931 Broadcasting, the second number to roll off the presses. He alluded to the 1922 "Hoover Conferences," when, while Secretary of Commerce, he directed the developments that led to the "national policies in relation to radio." He said: The decisions reached at that early date have been of unending importance. The determination that radio channels were public property and should be controlled by the government; the determination that we should not have governmental broadcasting supported by a tax upon the listener, but that we should give license to use of these channels under private enterprise where there would be no restraint upon programs, has secured for us far greater variety of programs and excellence of service without cost to the listener. This decision has avoided the pitfalls of political and social conflicts in the use of speech over the radio which would have been involved in government broadcasting. It has preserved free speech to the country. These principles are now strongly imbedded in our law and in our entire public system. The industry has constantly faced new and complex problems in developing policies and practices abreast of development and need. Your association has contributed greatly to their solution. I am confident that you recognize the responsibility which rests upon you in public interest. It is needless to mention the manysided importance of radio in modern life. Its dissemination of entertainment, of knowledge, and of public opinion and topics of the public welfare, has become an essential element in the intellectual development of our country. It has brought most of the supposed values which were formerly available exclusively to life in the cities to every home throughout the land, for the treasures of music, of entertainment, and of information have been brought to the loneliest farm and the most remote hamlet. It is an incalculable extension of happiness and contentment. AT DINNER following a special broadcast of the Esso Reporter on WGY Schenectady, plaque for public service was presented to the station by Esso Standard Oil Co. Toking part were (r to I) R. B. Hanna, WGY manager; Bill Meenam, the first Esso Reporter who began the series in 1935, and Harvey J. Green, district manager, Esso Standard Oil Co., who presented the plaque. Following the regular newscast a resume of news headlines entitled Fifteen Fateful Years was presented by the WGY staff. Material was compiled by United Press. Don Lee (Continued from page 25) July, may remain with the organization in a top-level capacity. Preliminary talks between Messrs. Weiss and Hoffman, who wants him to remain, already have taken place. In a closed-circuit talk to afiiliates on Tuesday, Mr. Weiss gave assurance the network will remain intact, if and when purchased by the Hoffman group. In telegrams to Frank White, president of Mutual, and Theodore C. Streibert, president of WOR, which like Don Lee owns approximately 19% of Mutual stock, Mr. Weiss said: No Changes "I have been authorized by Mr. H. L. Hoffman, president of Hoffman Radio Corp., who was high bidder for Don Lee properties, to assure you that Don Lee Broadcasting System would be presei'ved intact and that its relationship with Mutual Broadcasting System would be continued in the spirit of whole-hearted cooperation that has characterized our association for the past 13 years." Mr. Hoffman reported that no new companies will be formed and there will be no change in management, ownership and operation of Hoffman Radio Corp., which started in 1941 and manufactures radio and television receiver sets as well as electronics equipment for armed forces. Besides four owned and operated stations (KHJ Los Angeles, KGB San Diego, KDB Santa Barbara, KFRC San Francisco) Don Lee Broadcasting System has 16 California affiliates with 25 affiliated through Pacific Northwest Broadcasting Co. Thomas S. Lee Enterprises Inc. owns all of the outstanding shares of Pacific Northwest Broadcasting Co. in addition to its holdings in MBS. Other assets of Thomas S. Lee Enterprises consist of a threeacre studio building at 1313 Vine St., Hollywood, completed about two years ago at a reported cost of $3 million; KTSL (TV); KHJFM; Mt. Lee, Hollywood, present TV and FM transmitter site; 160acre Mt. Wilson, Pasadena, proposed site of TV and FM transmitter, as well as Culver City KHJ transmitter acreage. In addition to the radio and television properties, the estate has a $5% million cash reserve, representing recent liquidation of Don Lee Cadillac agencies and other properties. Thomas S. Lee estate is now in process of litigation. His will, written in 1934, leaving the entire fortune to an uncle by marriage, R. Dwight Merrill of Seattle, is being contested by his aunt Mrs. Nora Patee, and by two adopted daughters of his father, the late Don Lee. CBS was reported to have worked out an agreement v/ith William O'Neil, president of Yankee Network, to buy KTSL should the General Tire & Rubber Co. bid have been accepted. Yankee would retain the Don Lee Network regional setup, with CBS utilizing studio facilities for its TV operations on a rental basis at 1313 Vine St. until its planned Television Center is available. CBS is known to be intensely interested in securing its own TV station in Los Angeles, and may undertake negotiations to acquire Earle C. Anthony Inc.'s KFI-TV or Mrs. Dorothy Schiff's KLAC-TV. NEWS TOPS Station Survey Shows NEWSCASTS are at the top in a program popularity poll conducted in 23 southwestern Wisconsin cities by WRCO Richland Center, Wis. The survey covered 10 counties. Second on WRCO's first annual canvas of listeners was the philosophy and poetry type of program with soft music background, preferably organ. Religious programs ran third; birthday and anniversary announcements, fourth; and children's programs, fifth. Tabulation on types of musical programs desired ended in this order: Popular, hymns, semi-classical, western hillbilly, waltzes, classical, martial, polkas, organ, and square dances. The poll disclosed an average listening day of 7% hours, with radio's popularity increasing between 20';^ and 50% in winter months. More than 50% of those canvassed stated they listen steadily between 12 noon and 3 p.m. Other popular periods were from 7 to 10 a.m. and from 5 to 7 p.m. In answer to the question, "What type of programs would you like more of?" sports and drama received the biggest share of votes, with women's programs, quiz and talent shows following in that order. Page 32 • October 16, 1950 BROADCASTING • Telecasting