Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr - June 1951)

MAJOR'S RULE Upheld In Federal Court A U. S. District Judge last week ruled that major league clubs can prohibit broadcast of their games in areas where minor league teams are playing. This ruling, in effect, put a stamp of legality on baseball's rule which gives major league clubs the right to forbid broadcasting of their games by stations within 50 miles of minor league games. A restraining order had been sought by WFIN-FM Findlay, Ohio, which asked permission to broadcast Cleveland games while the Lima, Ohio, team was playing at home. The dispute grew out of the Cleveland club's refusal to permit the broadcasts. The judge, Frank L. Kloeb, said that the principals would be called again June 18 but did not explain the nature of that call. PREPARING to address a joint session of the Massachusetts legislature. Bob Clayton (center), disc jockey at WHDH Boston, accepts the gavel from Senate President Richard I. Furbush (I), and Sen. John F. Powers, minority floor leader. The legislators invited Mr. Clayton to address the joint session last month. The law makers have twice appeared with their song selection on his program, Boston Ballroom. SCORES CUTS Affiliates Urged to Act DECLARING that radio has plunged its rate structure "into a witch's cauldron," George P. Hollingbery, president of the representative firm bearing his name, last week said that "competitive media never could have hurt radio as radio is hurting itself." He referred directly to the CBS and NBC rate reductions. In a letter to stations represented by his firm, Mr. Hollingbery said that "prompt, resolute action by network affiliates, working independently, can help to stabilize the overall rate structure now seriously threatened." Though affiliates disapprove of the network reductions, Mr. Hollingbery feels they have "sound reasons to request and receive the following reciprocal action from the networks as a quid pro quo: 1. Pay stations at national spot rates for all network commercial programs broadcast in station time. 2. Provide full minutes instead of breaks for spot sale between all (day and night) commercial and sustaining programs. . . . 3. Eliminate hitch-hikers and cowcatchers. They started innocently enough but they take millions out of affiliates pockets. 4. Charge national spot rates for all cut-in announcements. 5. Stop networks' encroachment upon stations' spot revenues by refusing to accept such devices as the Tandem Plan, the Pyramid Plan, staggered five-minute newscasts without regard to a station's program structure, or selling implied program sponsorship for the price of announcements or any other subterfuge. . . . 6. Re-establish the integrity of the networks' rate cards. . . . HUBBELL NAMED Will Head 'Voice' Unit APPOINTMENT of Richard W. Hubbell, radio-TV producer and consultant, as transcription service director for Voice of America was announced last week by Foy D. Kohler, International Broadcasting Div. chief, State Dept. Mr. Hubbell also will head a television section being established to explore the use of that medium internationally. Author of two books on TV Television Programming and Production, and 4,000 Years of Television, Mr. Hubbell entered broadcasting 16 years ago. His past associations include WTIC Hartford, WOR New York, WQXR New York, CBS-TV, WLW Cincinnati, Time Inc. and N. W. Ayer & Son Adv., New York. He has directed and produced more than 1,000 television programs several dozen short films, innumerable radio programs and has lectured widely. With respect to international utilization of video, the State Dept. has prepared a survey, at the request of Sen. Karl E. Mundt (R-S.D.), which explores the possibility of supplementing the Voice of America in certain overseas locations. Inherent in the plan, proposed by Sen. Mundt last year, is the use of large screen community receivers as phychological weapon in Asia and Europe. The study may be released shortly. MUTUAL 'BLOCK' To Remain on for Summer A BLOCK of MBS Sunday-afternoon mystery and adventure programs will remain on the air throughout the usual summer hiatus period, the network announced last week. Among them are The Shadow, 55:30 p.m.; True Detective Mysteries, 5:30-6 p.m.; Challenge of the Yukon, 6-6:30 p.m.; Nick Carter, Master Detective, 6:30-7 p.m.; and Wild Bill Hickok, 7-7:25 p.m. Increased use of portable radio receivers, plus specific requests by fans of the programs, were responsible for retention of the programs during the summer, the announcement said. LSMA I * INDIANAPOLIS GIVES YOU BONUS COVERAGE! The South Bend-Mishawaka trading area — all by itself — is a market worth covering. Over half-a-million people live in these eight counties alone. They spend nearly half-a-billion dollars a year on retail purchases. And that's just part of WSBT's primary coverage! The entire primary area takes in 1% million people who spend nearly $1% billion a year. That's what we mean by bonus coverage ! Want your share of this big, rich bonus? It's yours with WSBT, the only station which dominates the entire market. PAUL H. RAYMER COMPANY • NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE SOOq Page 46 • June 4, 1951 BROADCASTING • Telecasting