Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct - Dec 1952)

Vol. 43, No. 18 NOVEMBER 3, 1952 POLITICAL TILL MOUNTS Record Spending in AM, TV By JOHN OSBON THE MAJOR political candidates will place unprecedented reliance today on those twin electronic media— radio and television — in their 11-hour whirlwind appeal to the electorate of America. Some day, somewhere, someone may unveil a magic device that will compute accurately the voluminous expenditures involved in the "high cost of campaigning" at all levels. But until then, one may only estimate the flurry of time purchases purchased by the major parties and related groups. This has been the spendingest campaign in history — and, not incidentally, one that has raised a host of problems and headaches for many broadcasters. The 1952 Presidential campaign will be recorded in history as a multi-million dollar drive, with roots in the primary media of radio and television. Appraisal of overall totals at the national, state and local levels is nigh impossible. Some light has been shed on these huge purchases in reports submitted to the File Clerk of the U. S. House. They also point up contributions to both parties by major radio-TV personalities and those in allied fields. The reports do not include final timebuys on the major radio and TV networks the past fortnight as ij both parties scraped the barrel for funds to put their candidates before radio-TV audience. Nor do they take account of the role that radio and television have played in whipping up public interest in the 1952 campaign — starting with the July conventions in Chicago, gathering steam around Labor Day and culminating with a gigantic organized drive for a rec.ord registration that is certain to be reflected at the nation's ballot boxes tomorrow. An indication of the high cost of campaigning is written in the contributions and disbursements reported on Capitol Hill. The names printed here do not include all contributors from the radioTV and related field. However, Also see stories on Congressional lineup in '53, Inaugural coverage plans, network and station election coverage, pages 26-27. those appearing represent leaders or well known persons who are the most readily identified within the industry. Among those revealed as contributors to one of the two major parties are such figures as FCC Chairman Paul A. Walker, NARTB Board Chairman Justin Miller, CBS Board Chairman William S. Paley and AFM President James C. Petrillo. Balance Sheet The House reports covered contributions and expenditures for September and most of October. They were submitted by the Democratic and Republican National Committees, the Senatorial and Congressional Campaign Committees of each party, and various other organizations including the Stevenson Volunteers, Citizens for Eisenhower, the CIO Political Action Committee and Labor's League for Political Education. Among those contributing to the Democratic National Committee: FCC Chairman -f Paul A. Walker, $100; Justin Miller, NARTB board chairman and general counsel, $100; Milton H. Biow, The Biow Co., $1,500; Joseph A. Katz, Joseph Katz Co., $2,500; Ralph E. Stolkin, former president of RKO Pictures Corp., and stockholder in three stations, $2,500; Nathan Strauss, president of WMCA New York, $2,000; Marshall Field, Field Enterprises (radio, newspapers), $3,000; Barry Bingham, Louisville CourierJournal and Times (WHAS-AM-TV Louisville), $5,000; James A. Noe, KNOE Monroe, La., $2,500; Leo Resnick, FCC hearing examiner, $100; Secretary of Commerce Charles Sawyer, owner of WIZE Springfield, WING Dayton and WCOL Columbus, $500; (the late) Francis P. Matthews, former stockholder of WOW Omaha, and KODY North Platte, Neb., $500; Sen. Robert S. Kerr (D-Okla.), part owner of WEEK Peoria, 111., and KRMG Tulsa, Okla., $2,000; Arde Bulova, New York, $2,000. Mr. Stolkin, who resigned the past fortnight as head of RKO Pictures Corp. [B«T, Oct. 27], has interests in KOIN Portland, KJR Seattle and KXOB Stockton, Calif., both TV applicants, and has subscribed interest in WMAY Inc., applicant for TV in Springfield, 111. Among other contributors to the Democratic National Committee were Paul Herzog ($1,000), National Labor Relations Board; Stephen J. Spingarn ($250), Federal Trade Commission, and Albert A. Carretta ($100), also FTC. A report on contributions to the Republican National Committee included: Ross D. Siragusa, Admiral Corp., $3,000; Arthur Godfrey, CBS Radio-TV personality, $2,500; Henry R. Luce, publisher of Time, Life and Fortune, $3,000, and Cecil B. DeMille, Hollywood producer, $100. No other radio-TV names were identified. The Volunteers for Stevenson re( Continued on -page 3 k) LIBEL LIABILITY Haunts Broadcasters THE most feverish campaign in recent history was almost over last week, but the end was not in sight for the libel and censorship troubles arising from political broadcasting. Seldom if ever has there been as much controversy over the use of radio and TV in a campaign. Toward the end — with another 24 hours to go — even the most closedmouth observers were willing to concede the need for revising the Communications Act in particular and campaign procedures in general. Apparently, the 83d Congress will tackle the unenviable task of removing broad casters from Dante's Inferno of political broadcasting. The FCC was placed in the middle of most of the controversies, but displayed little willingness to act before the national elections tomorrow. The difficulties in which stations found themselves stemmed from these developments: 0 WTVN (TV) Columbus, Ohio, reportedly was besieged with protests when it refused to carry the telecast of a speech by Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-Wis.) on ABC-TV last Monday. Q Radio consultant Morris S. Novik lashed out at an alleged practice by network stations of scheduling spot announcements for one party right after a program sponsored by the opposing party, and called on the broadcast industry to "clean our own house instead of waiting for legislative action." $ Legal counsel for DuMont TV Network revealed the gist of a protest filed with FCC charging that some video affiliates have refused political programs from networks other' than those of which they are primary affiliates. @ Harold E. Stassen protested to FCC that the United Auto Workers failed to properly label a TV program as a "paid" broadcast and that CBS "declined to offer" him (Mr. Stassen) equal opportunity to answer UAW leader Walter Reuther whom he accused of misquoting him. Other than the Stassen and DuMont complaints, FCC also is identified with cases involving KINGTV Seattle's refusal to carry an earlier McCarthy talk and a protest by the National-Volunteers for Stevenson over the purported $2 million GOP spot blitz. BROADCASTING Telecasting WMAL-TV Washington, D. C, also was confronted with the libel question the past fortnight. A veterans committee had sought time to oppose candidacy of Joel Broyhill, GOP House aspirant from Virginia, and claimed station refused to air its program. The Evening Star TV outlet said its counsel felt the script contained "possibly" libelous allegations and advised the advertising agency handling the program. FCC was not directly involved in the WTVN case. Receipt of Mr. Stassen's telegram was acknowledged in Commission quarters. Sen. McCarthy, who had promised to seek revocation of KING-TV's lisense in that case [B«T, Oct. 27], had filed no formal complaint with FCC as of late Thursday. CBS reportedly advised FCC Wednesday it felt that Sec, 315 of the Communications Act was not applicable since Mr. Stassen is not a candidate. Network said sponsoridentification requirements were met and submitted a transcript of them. WTVN cancelled the McCarthy speech from Chicago minutes be( Continued on page 52) November 3, 1952 • Page 23