Broadcasting (Oct - Dec 1950)

AT DEDICATION of WLEE Richmond, Va., In 1945, timebuyers turned the tables by presenting President Thomas G. Tinsley (also president of WITH Baltimore), their host, with a desk set. Mr. Tinsley had chartered a plane to fly the group from New York to Richmond. Present were, front row (I to r) Roland Van Nostrand, Benton & Bowles; R. C. (Jake) Embry, vice president, WLEE; Mr. Tinsley; Irvin G. Abeloff, WLEE general manager; Frank Silvernail, BBDO; Frank Haas, Erwin, Wasey & Co.; Carlos Franco, Young & Rubicam. Back row: Fritz Snyder, Betty Powell, Blow Co.; Gordon Mills, Arthur Kudner inc.; Vera Brennan, Duane Jones Co.; Jack Allison, Headley-Reed Co., WITH-WLEE representative; Mary Dunlavey, Pedlar & Ryan; Chester Slaybaugh, Morse Internotional; Gertrude Scanlan, BBDO; Frank Hayes, Headley-Reed; Linnea Nelson, J. Walter Thompson; \yilliam C. Dekker, McCann-Erickson; Bea Gumbinner, Lawrence C. Gumbinner Adv. Agency; Frank Headley, Headley-Reed; Betty Barrett, Donahue & Coe. 1946 THE FIRST full peacetime year since 1940 forcefully reminded broadcasters that they lived in an industry with more problems to the square inch than most any segment of the American economy. With laboratories and factories once again in non-war pursuits, technical problems came to the fore early in the year. The noise of New Year's Eve celebrations had scarcely faded when Zenith Radio Corp. went to the FCC to protest moving of FM "upstairs" to the 88-108 mc band. Television — especially with color — was to be a 12-month worry. James C. Petrillo and the AFM, irked by legislation, retaliated with strike threats and other maneuvers designed to keep broadcasters off balance. NAB completed its staffing and moved toward the first convention since 1944. In early January CBS promoted President William S. Paley to the board chairmanship. Paul Kesten moved to vice chairman, Frank Stanton became president and Adrian Murphy vice president. Later in the year Mr. Kesten resigned to serve in a consulting capacity. Earl H. Gammons, Washington director, and Howard S. Meighan, station director, advanced to CBS vice presidencies in the autumn. Mr. Gammons Mr. Kesten NBC realigned its staff in February, naming Roy C. Witmer staff vice president. Harry C. Kopf took Mr. Witmer's sales vice presidency. Later in the year William F. Brooks and Ken R. Dyke were elected to vice presidencies. ABC and MBS also went through top echelon reoi-ganizations. ABC in November named Robert E. Kintner executive vice president and Joseph A. McDonald vice president. A. A. Schechter and Estei-ly Page were named to MBS vice presidencies in the spring. Gloom hovered over the industry as spring approached because of a ban on all construction, handed down by Civilian Production Administration. Girded for vast expansion, the industry found itself limited to buildings costing less than $1,000. With the war over, spring brought a recurrence of the annual daylight saving time headache. ABC decided to adopt an intricate plan of recording programs and feeding them to stations in various areas. While it was working out this project the company announced a plan to sell stock to the public. Purpose of this securities project was revealed in part when the network announced in May it was buying WXYZ Detroit and WOOD Grand Rapids along with Michigan Radio Network foi$3,650,000. Leo J. Fitzpatrick, WJR Detroit vice president and general manager and an industry pioneer, resigned from the station in May. Three months later he bought controlling interest in WGR Buffalo. Business-wise the industry had started the year with knowledge that 1945 net time sales had totaled $310,450,000, according to the Broadcasting Yearbook. This was a gain of 7.37c for the year. Eleven months later FCC announced its 1945 income report. This amounted to $310,484,000, within a fraction of ICc of the Broadcasting estimate. Census Bureau figures compiled during the spring months showed the number of radio homes in 1945 was 33,998,000 compared to 28,847,000 in 1940, with 90.47f homes, and 76.2 7f of farms having sets. In June Broadcast Measurement Bureau announced that 95.27c of urban homes had radios, 87.47c of rural non-farm homes and 76.27c of farm homes. Cooperative Analysis of Broadcasting, which had measured program audiences for more than a decade, was abandoned efffective July 31, with C. E. Hooper Inc. continuing to supply program reports to CAB subscribers. Mixed Reception Meets BMB Station Coverage Figures BMB's station coverage figures met a mixed reception, which flared out at the NAB convention in October and led to an NAB board demand that BMB's board prove value of the statistics. While the research situation had its flurries, the extent of radio's coverage was appreciated as never before. President Truman took advantage of this medium May 24 when all railroads were on strike. The Chief Executive addressed the nation by radio and laid groundwork for a settlement as well as mobilizing the nation in case a prolonged strike might develop. The vast U. S. audience heard the June 30 atom bomb experimental blast at Bikini, in the Pacific, though the program was marred by faulty Navy arrange 1945 , (Continued from page lAU) basic frequency allocation task. NAB was running smoothly with the aid of a new administration. Never before had broadcasting i lived through a war. The industry's record had commanded widespread recognition as networks and stations supported the war effort loyally and enthusiastically. The war over, broadcasting looked ahead to 12 months in which the noise of guns and shackling rules of wartime operation would be lacking for the first time in several years. ments. The second blast four weeks later was handled smoothly and the world got a thrill as the bomb was detonated. A major research project conducted outside the industry but on its behalf showed that three out of five listeners prefer programs with advertising. The finding came out of an extensive study conducted by National Opinion Research Center. Despite criticism of the BMB coverage figures, BMB's board voted in the autumn to conduct a second study in 1948. The year provided broadcasting with one of its alltime headaches — FCC's "Public Service Responsibilities of Broadcast Licensees," better known as the "Blue Book." In this 139-page document, issued March 7, the Commission put broadcasters on the spot by asserting and suggesting vast powers over broadcast programs. Industry Joins in Opposition To FCC 'Blue Book' Reaction was violent from industry circles, starting a series of battles whose reverberations are still heard from time to time. NAB shouted its anger, joined by broadcasters everywhere. Broadcasting ran a series of articles and editorials dissecting the document. The "Blue Book" was a cruel blow at industry freedom but it was met by an expression of confidence in the industry by President Truman, who received NAB's board at the White House May 9. The President reiterated his belief that radio must be kept as free as the press and added "there must be complete freedom of radio." FCC held hearings in January, originally slated the previous May 9, on the clear channel question but the matter dragged through the year without decision. The Zenith protest against shift of FM to 88-108 mc was reviewed at a January hearing but the protest was denied. Paul Porter, FCC Chairman, left in February to join the Office of Price Administration, with Charles R. Denny becoming Acting Chairman. Comr. William H. Wills died in March of a heart attack. Rosel Hyde, general counsel, was nominated for the post and Bene(Continued on page H8) Page 146 • October 16, 1950 BROADCASTING • Telecasting