Broadcasting (Oct - Dec 1950)

TELL RADIO'S STORY — NOW THE STORY of radio's preeminence in the media field, with its ability to reach the most people at the lowest cost, must be told forcefully and frequently — and soon. This position was taken by the NAB AM Committee, meeting in Washington Oct. 23-24, and NAB's board of directors will have a strong recommendation from the committee at its mid November meeting. Two days of committee discussion covered the gamut of radio's current problems, under chairmanship of Hugh B. Terry, KLZ Denver. Out of the meeting came the proposal that NAB tell the world the true story of the broadcast medium, a story that many members felt has never been properly ' told in radio's 30-year history. A veteran broadcaster familiar with the medium's growth and its current status, Paul W. Morency, WTIC Hartford, led the committee movement to gain proper recognition for radio in the growingly competitive advertising field. Mr. Morency is District 1 director. Study Ryan Plan The committee went carefully into a plan submitted last August by William B. Ryan, NAB general manager, following demand by Assn. of National Advertisers for drastic radio rate reductions because of TV's impact on listening. At that time Mr. Ryan proposed that the true facts of media rate structures be pitted against each other [Broadcasting, Aug. 28]. The Ryan plan supplied many of the ideas behind the committee's recommendation, as finally adopted for board consideration. Committee members felt that the story of radio's growth should be told in terms of radio sets, audience and facilities. This would take the form of a major project, providing an all-out analysis of the broadcast medium. Sales impact of the spoken word and programming appeal would be portrayed in the radio presentation. While members agreed the impact of TV on radio is serious in major television areas, it was pointed out that all media and living habits have been aff'ected. Therefore the committee advocated a broad look at the advertising media picture. Radio's problem thus is much more than a competitive battle with TV, members felt. The idea of an intensive study of radio rates was taken up but committeemen were opposed to a survey of that type. They felt the radio project should deal with audience and facilities. Many of the members, however advocated radio rate increases based on general increase in operating costs, just as printed media have raised space rates. Convention Realignment A second project that drew committee attention was the 1951 NAB convention, to be held in mid-April at the Stevens Hotel, Chicago. Members favored the idea of a concurrent convention, with management and engineering groups meeting at the same time. For the last two years the engineering meetings have been held before or after the management convention, involving exhibitors in week-long participation. Committeemen agreed that the 1950 convention, with its high-brass aspect, had been a disappointment. They favored a convention with both broad industry aspects andspecialized workshop sessions. Main emphasis was placed on the need of brightening the agenda, making the convention as interesting as possible. Injection of more showmanship and drama into the convention meetings was favored. Workshop sessions would. interest such industry groups as independents and network affiliates, FM, TV and other segments. Industry Problems Discussed Other industry problems discussed by the committee included national defense measures, taxation, manpower recruitment, wage freezes, special orders by regulatory agencies and effect of the Wisconsin court decision on giveaways (see story page 19). A number of NAB staff members took part in last week's committee meeting, including President Justin Miller; General Manager William B. Ryan; C. E. Arney Jr., secretarytreasurer; Robert K. Richards, public affairs director. Full Agenda Hugh M. P. Higgins, director of Broadcast Advertising Bureau, outlined projects of the association's sales " promotion agency. Richard P. Doheity, employe-employer relations director, discussed operating costs and employment. Jack Hardesty, NAB station relations director, who starts tomorrow on a cross-country membership tour, reviewed the status of NAB membership and steps underway to bring in non-member stations. Dr. Kenneth H. Baker discussed NAB research projects and Ralph W. Hardy, government relations director, reviewed lobby activities. Committee members present, be WKBW STUDIOS Ceremonies Held Oct. 27 OFFICIAL opening of the new studio building of WKBW Buffalo [Broadcasting, Sept. 25] was marked last Friday with festive ceremonies attended by leaders of the industry. Climax of the occasion was a scheduled ABC coastto-coast pickup from Buffalo at 11 p.m., with the broadcast featuring FCC Comr. Frieda B. Hennock and Mark Woods, vice chairman of the board of ABC. Milton Cross served as master of ceremonies. Special contingent from New York for the event was to include Jack Purvis, N. W. Ayer; Frank Silvernail, BBDO; Frank Coulter, Young & Rubicam; Dick Grahl, Wm. Esty & Co.; Frank Daniel, Lennen & Mitchell; Chet Slaybaugh, Morse International; John Kucera, The Blow Co.; Ed Whitley, Badger, Browning & Hersey; Keith Shaffer, Erwin, Wasey & Co. Avery-Knodel Inc., national representative for WKBW, was to be representated by Arthur McCoy, Fred Newberth; John Tormey, J. William Knodel and Lewis H. Avery. sides Chairman Terry and Mr. Morency, were H Quenton Cox, KGW Portland, Ore.; Simon R. Goldman, WJTN Jamestown, N. Y.; Milton L. Greenebaum, WSAM Saginaw, Mich.; Glenn Shaw, KLX Oakland; F. C. Sowell, WLAC Nashville; William" E. Ware, KSTL St. Louis; Ben A. Laird, WDUZ Green Bay, Wis. CBS-NIHLEAN SUIT Is Settled Out of Court MISAPPROPRIATION of dramatic property suit brought by two writers against CBS for .$150,000 was settled out of court in Chicago last week and dismissed Monday in Federal District Court by Judge Philip Sullivan. Mr. and Mrs. Russell Nihlean of Chicago charged last August that CBS broadcast a network show. Hit the Jackpot, based on an idea submitted by them to WBBM (CBS) Chicago. They alleged the idea for Hit the Jackpot was taken from their show. Watch Your Step. Judge Sullivan dismissed the case "with prejudice," which provides that same suit may not be brought into court again. The plaintiffs and the defendants were ordered to pay their own court costs. Codefendants with the network were DeSoto and Plymouth, sponsors of Hit the Jackpot. Lindsey to KYMA WILLIAM L. LINDSEY, at present program director of KLAS Las Vegas, Nev., will become general manager of the new KYMA Yuma, Ariz., according to an announcement last week by Albert Johnson, manager of Salt River Valley Broadcasting Co., which holds the KYMA construction permit as well as the license of KOY Phoenix. Mr. Lindsey is to leave KLAS Nov. 6 to take up his new duties preparatory to the Yuma 250 w outlet on 1400 kc taking the air around Dec. 1. KYMA will affiliate with Mutual-Don Lee and the Arizona Network, is was an-t nounced. '■ NAB RADIO Committee held two-day session in Washington last week. Attending were (I to r): Milton L. Greenebaum, WSAM Saginaw, Mich.; William E. Ware, KSTL St. Louis; Paul W. Morency, WTIC Hartford; Justin Miller, NAB president; Hugh B. Terry, KLZ Denver, chairman; William B. Ryan, NAB; F. C. Sowell, WLAC Nashville; Simon R. Goldman, WJTN Jamestown; H Quenton Cox, KGW Portland; Ben A. Laird, WDUZ Green Bay.