Broadcasting (Oct - Dec 1950)

BROADCASTING TELECASTING i^MWAnMVWuwtAnAru Closed Circuit comini THERE'S better than even chance that agreement among TV networks will develop to avert FCC's investigation of AT&T allocation of coaxial cable and microwave relay time, scheduled to start next Monday. Pre-hearing conference today may kick off renewed efforts toward voluntary pact. FCC reportedly has no appetite for hearing, called after networks' failure to agree forced AT&T to make arbitrary time allocations, which DuMont and ABCTV protested. Stratford Smith, assigned as FCC counsel for case, was in New York last week querying AT&T and networks in preparation for today's conference. FIRST peeks into typical broadcast operations point to healthy 1950 increase in all business categories except network, with year's total to be well ahead of $429 million net in 1949. TV boom, of course, will leave 1949's $25 million far behind. THOUGH nothing definite yet, transit and related FM services seemingly weathered all-day, all-FM FCC session Friday, one of several to be held to survey FM problems. Suggestions that transitcasting, storecasting, etc. be curtailed or banned reportedly received little enthusiasm at Commission level. LLOYD YODER, veteran general manager of NBC-owned KOA Denver, slated for appointment as general manager of KNBC San Francisco and northern California operations of NBC. He'll succeed John Elwood, recently retired. No successor as yet named at KOA. TOP CBS executives make no secret of dissatisfaction with date on which network representatives are invited to see RCA color demonstrations in Washington — Dec. 15, 10 days after demonstrations begin. Adrian Murphy, CBS vice president, telephoned request to RCA to move date ahead but was told accommodations unavailable for CBS before then. FCC CHAIRMAN Wayne Coy this week will start month's leave on doctor's orders. Nothing organically wrong, it's reported. Doctor called it fatigue. It's presumed Vice Chairman Paul A. Walker will function as acting head. STANDARD BRANDS through Compton Adv., New York, will use spot announcement campaign in radio and television in eastern and southern markets starting in spring of 1951 for its instant tea. EDWIN W. CRAIG, WSM Nashville, chairman of Clear Channel Broadcasting Service, has called special meeting of 15 member stations in Chicago for today. Meeting will devise plans for opposition to Senate confirmation of NARBA treaty, which CCBS contends will endanger rural sei-vice to substantial portion of nation. DESPITE worsening of international situation, there's little talk about reestablishment of Defense Communications Board to coordinate communications policy matters. Evidently situation is being handled adequately through informal (Continued on page 118) Dec. 6: Tennessee Assn. of Broadcasters, Andrew Jackson Hotel, Nashville. Dec. 6-13: Baseball Major and Minor League meetings. Hotel St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Fla. Dec. 8: Television Broadcasters Assn. Clinic, Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York. Dec. 12-13: School Broadcast Conference, Hotel Sherman, Chicago. (Other Upcomings on page 27) Bulletins KELLOGG Co. moving Tom Corbett, Space Cadet from CBS to ABC and picking up sponsorship of MBS Victor Borge Show Jan. 1. Both shows to be heard Mon., Wed., Fri. Tom Corbett program moves into 6:30-6:45 p.m. ABC time slot and Victor Borge Show to appear 5:55-6 p.m. Kenyon & Eckhardt is agency. EXCESS tax bill approved Friday by House Ways & Means Committee. House Rules Committee gave bill priority for two days debate, with vote Tuesday. Radio-Television Mfrs. Assn. has asked to testify before special Senate committee slated to open hearings today (Monday). Dr. Allen B. DuMont, chairman of National Conference of Growth Companies, said Friday House bill is purely partisan. BALLANTINE EXPANDS MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL p. BALLANTINE & SONS, Newark (Ballantine ale and beer), will sponsor telecasts and broadcasts of Boston Braves baseball games during 1951 season. Telecasts will be divided between WNAC-TV and WBZ-TV in Boston, while WJAR-TV Providence will carry complete schedule. WNAC Boston and 29 Yankee Network stations will carry broadcasts of 1951 schedule. Jim Britt will head three-man announcing team for play-by-play radio and television. Ballantine also will sponsor the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies and Athletics games. J. W. Thompson, New York, is the agency. NBC ELECTS MRS. HORTON MRS DOUGLAS HORTON, former Mildred McAfee, wartime head of WAVES, elected to board of directors of NBC Friday. As first woman member of NBC board, Mrs. Horton succeeds Edward J. Nally, recently retired because of age. She was also vice president of Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America and one-time president of Wellesley College. MITCHELL NAMED V-P MAURICE B. MITCHELL, general manager of Associated Program Service, elected vice president of Muzak Corp., New York, parent company. Mr. Mitchell, who joined Associated in September, continues as general manager. RALPH G. ALLRUD, former sales manager for WDEM Providence, R. I., has joined staff of Blair-TV Inc., New York, as account executive. Business Briefl AGENCY NAMED • Standard Housekeep New York, national mail order and ii organization, names William Warren, Jacl & Delaney, New York, as advertising age Television will be used. HOLIDAY SPECIAL • Stanley Home pj ucts, Westfield, Mass., to sponsor Boy's Tf Choir in special program of Christmas n\ over ABC Dec. 10, 5-5:30 p.m. Agency, Chi W. Hoyt Co., New York. P&G SIGNS • Procter & Gamble, Cincin (Dreft and Oxydol), to start sponsorship . 1, three times weekly, of Kate Smith on N TV. Agency, Dancer-Fitzgerald-Sample, J York. I COSMETIC FIRM PLANS HEAVY RADIO-TV DRIVE HAZEL BISHOP LIPSTICK, New York ' delible lipstick), will start participation s; sorship of three network television shows well as heavy spot announcement campaig both radio and television, effective first v in January. Advertiser originally used spot test c paign in television and is shifting much oi budget from newspapers into radio and 1 vision. List of network shows in which H Bishop Lipstick will participate is as folic Kate Smith Show on NBC-TV, Fri. 4: p.m., Cavalcade of Bands and Cavalcadi Stars, both on DuMont TV network. Spot announcement schedule will include minute films to be placed on 35 television tions throughout country. In addition minute radio announcements will be usee about 50 stations in non-television marl Agency, Raymond Spector, New York. Murray Spitzer, advertising director Revlon Inc., joins agency as account execv on Hazel Bishop Lipstick account. RCA EXPLAINS COLOR TV INVITATION LIST RCA DID NOT invite FCC members t( latest compatible color TV demonstrations cause color controversy is pending in c( RCA spokesman said Friday. Statement in answer to newspaper assertion that ] "snubbed" Commission by failing to ex invitation to showings, which start in W ington Tuesday. Spokesman said that when RCA's against adoption of CBS color standards been finally decided, FCC will be invite demonstration that will include all dev ments and improvements in RCA systen to that date, and that Chairman Wayne and other Commissioners have been infoj accordingly. DRUG STORE RENEWAL ' DRUG STORE Television Productions renewed Cavalcade of Stars on 19-sti DuMont TV network, Fri., 10-11 p.m. f( weeks with 13-week options, and Cavalca Bands on 21-station DuMont TV net^ Tues., 9-10 p.m., also for 52 weeks with 13options. New contracts signed Friday bj ward Kletter, president. Products Adv. ' il Page 4 • December 4, 1950 BROADCASTING • Telecast