Broadcasting (Oct - Dec 1950)

Program Firms (Continued from page 53) and chief engineer, Trans-Radio Recordings, Boston, sees a 25% jump in his company's business revenue from tape and Microgroove recordings. The national crisis, he feels, probably will keep TV's billings to "current figures or below" and "prevent much drop in present network radio billings." National spot and local billings should show a "slight increase," he thinks. Most business will be down 10% but the transcription and radio business will be down 259c, according to William P. Robinson, president of Robinson Recording, Philadelphia. He also expects a 25% hike in operational expenses. In Dallas, Tex., James E. Sellers, manager and partner in Sellers Co., points out that the much-debated excess profits tax levy coupled with inflation could incline many companies to spend on advertising. He sums it up this way: "War industries will increase their business, others will show a decline. I don't think department stores or the automobile industry, for example, will do as much next year. Scare buying is fairly well over. Controls will also slow down some fields." TORONTO, ONT. Canadian firms look for "gen1 erally favorable" business developj ments, with stress on tightening of critical materials and possibly more advertising if excess profits taxes are levied. Hal Williams, president, Do'j minion Broadcasting Co., feels that scarcity of materials may force j the industry to use glass for 16' inch recordings and looks for smaller firms to expand. Radio's I outlook is likely to remain uni changed from this year's, he adds. \; Spence Caldwell, president of |S. W. Caldwell Ltd., thinks busi. ness will generally remain the 1 same, but anticipates that "fairly I new business" will mushroom the company's 1951 revenue by any^vhere from 100% to 300%. Any boost in operating costs will be WDRC proportionate to the general business increase, he adds. Stuart Mackay, assistant general manager, program division of AllCanada Radio Facilities, looks for a "bigger" revenue year for radio and for his firm, partly because of demands for package programs on the regional and national basis. Next year should be "good" judging from the "experience of World War II," he adds. BBC Plans Color Tests EXPERIMENTAL color TV tests are to be started by British Broadcasting Corp. according to Sir William Haley, director general of state-controlled monopoly. Color contracts are to be placed with three firms. Equipment orders may reach $2 million. Government plans to complete five high-power relay stations by 1954. BONNETED Ken Ovenden, WEEI Bosfon announcer, grows up as a member of the station's Fifteen-Year Club. Inducting him is Harold E. Fellows, WEEI manager, at the club's seventh annual dinner meeting. Mr. Ovenden is the 19th club member. He came to the station in 1935, taking time out to serve with a civilian defense unit during World War 11. DCn PflMTDni Broadcasters Weigh Effects IILU UUIllllULo/ scows, NLRB Actions SPECULATION is mounting that the Communist Party and its "front" organizations may seize upon the new Supreme Court decision as a legal means for refusing to register under the subversive-control act, and thus escape that provision of the newly-enacted bill which would require them to identify ■*• sponsorship of radio and television broadcasts. In a unanimous decision Dec. 11 the court held that any witness appearing before a grand jury may decline to answer questions relating to Communist affiliations on the ground of possible selfincrimination. The decision would not apply to alleged invasion of free speech and made no specific reference to Congressional committees. Communist Party officers already have steadfastly refused to register under the McCarran bill, now law, for which the 81st Congress created a Subversive Activities Control Board headed by Seth Richardson. Sponsorship Mention While FCC rules and regulations specifically require mention of sponsorship of all radio and television programs, authorities note there is no provision which would force organizations to identify themselves as "front" or "action" groups of the Communist Party, or as "subversive" organizations so labeled by the Justice Dept. but not yet determined by law. The problem of determining what organizations fall within this category has been delegated to the newly-created board, whose nominations must still be confirmed by the Senate. The board will act on the recommendations of the Justice Dept., which already has published a list of subversive organizations, including the Peoples Radio Foundation Inc., applicant for an FM station grant in 1945. The board has set up machinery preparatory to holding hearings on the Communist issue, with a view to determining what organizations may be regarded as subversive. And the 82d Congress, mindful of ecasting speculation that legality of the act may yet confront the courts, has indicated it may re-examine the legislation next year and possibly revise it. Broadcasters, more securityminded than ever in view of the international crisis, also are weighing the potential eff'ects of a National Labor Relations Board ruling, that failure of a union to file non-Communist affidavits does not, at the time of negotiations, excuse the employer from bargaining with the union. In its majority opinion, NLRB upheld an earlier Court of Appeals decision which stated: "We do not think an employer may take the matter into his own hands and refuse to bargain with a union because its officers have not filed . . . It is thus the board which refuses its processes to the non-complying union, not the employer." The board ruling overruled a 1949 finding which provided that an employer had no obligation to bargain unless the union had already complied, at the time it sought to bargain, with the filing requirements of the Taft-Hartley Act. The recent majority decision was held by NLRB Chairman Paul M. Herzog and Members John M. Houston and Paul L. Styles. A minority report, filed by James J. Reynolds Jr. and Abe Murdock declared that a union's right to exclusive recognition is a "privilege" granted by Congress, which "effectively and completely extinguished the privilege" with respect to any union whose officers have not filed non-Communist affidavits. In a recent labor case involving a broadcaster, the labor board disallowed a protest by Seaboard Radio Broadcasting Corp., licensee of WIBG-AM-FM Philadelphia, that the American Communications Assn. Local 1 had alleged Communist affiliates which would disqualify it from participating in a board election. "The authenticity or truth of affidavits" is properly the function of the Justice Dept., the board asserted [Broadcasting • Telecasting, Dec. 11, 4]. ACA previously was dislodged from the CIO on the Communist issue. Resolution Approved Meanwhile, the Senate Judiciary Committee has approved a resolution which would authorize it to "make a continuing study of the administration, operation and enforcement" of the 1950 Internal Security Act — the so-called McCarran subversive control bill. The resolution (S Res 366), sponsored by Sen. James 0. Eastland (D-Miss.), supported by Sen. Pat McCarran (D-Nev.) and five other Senate members and reported by Sen. McCarran, singled out "the agents and dupes of the world Communist conspiracy . . . engaged in activities (including the origination and dissemination of propaganda) designed and intended to bring such protective laws into disrepute or disfavor and to hamper or prevent eifective administration and enforcement. . . ." Sen. McCarran plans to hold hearings on the Communist issue sometime early next year after the 82d Congress convenes. The resolution was introduced Nov. 30 and reported without amendment Dec. 11. December 25, 1950 • Page 55