Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct - Dec 1952)

VADEBONCOEUR Named WSYR President ELECTION of E. R. Vadeboncoeur as president of Central New York Broadcasting Corp. was announced effective today (Monday) by S. I. Newhouse, owner of WSYR AM-FMTV Syracuse. Mr. Vadeboncoeur has been acting head of the Syracuse operation since Col. Harry C. Wilder's retirement resignation from that office last Sept. 30 Mr. Vadeboncoeur [BWT, Sept. 29]. Mr. Vadeboncoeur, who will continue as general manager of the stations, joined WSYR in 1939 as news director and three years later became WSYR vice president and general manager. Before entering radio, he had spent 19 years as a newspaperman and was author of numerous short stories and articles. The new WSYR president, who is director of NARTB District 2, was forced to drop his 15-minute daily newscast a year ago because of increased administrative duties. NON-N.Y. AGENCIES Seek Billings Via W&S MAJOR agencies outside New York, representing a combined total billing of $40 million, are making a concerted bid for their share of radio and television advertising revenue through Wyatt & Schuebel, New York, it was reported last week. Mumm, Mullay & Nichols Inc., Columbus, Ohio, has retained Wyatt & Schuebel [Closed Circuit, Oct. 20], it was formally announced by John Wyatt, partner of the firm. With this addition, 16 major out-of-New York agencies are co-sponsoring radio and television planning, production and placement through W&S. Their joint effort to participate in radio and television billing increases, which totaled $87 million last year, was sparked 20 months ago when Westheimer & Block, St. Louis, and Liller, Neal & Battle, Atlanta, named the then new W&S radio and TV team, to represent them and their radio and TV departments in New York. Since then 14 other major agencies have joined under the Wyatt & Schuebel banner. Arvin Christmas Drive ARVIN Industries, Chicago, plans to use radio and TV to back its pre-Christmas campaign for its full line, including radio-TV sets, electric housewares, car heaters and metal furniture. Advertising is expected to be done cooperatively with dealers and distributors. Agency is Roche, Williams & Cleary, Chicago. Drawn for Broadcasting • Telecasting by Sid Hix "The chief said you'd know what to do with it . . ." RCA SALES $473.5 Million Hits New High for 9 Months SALES of products and services of RCA and subsidiaries for the first nine months of 1952 totaled $473,501,673, an all-time record volume which compares with $421,281,782 for the same period last year, Brig. Gen. David Sarnoff, board chairman, announced Thursday. Earnings before federal income * taxes amounted to $36,443,110 as against $37,851,841 for the comparable 1951 period, while net profits after federal income taxes were $17,847,110 for the first nine months this year compared to $18,356,841 for the first nine last year. Net earnings applicable to common stock for the nine-month period, after payment of preferred dividends, were $1.12 per share while the comparable 1951 figure was $1.15. This year's third quarter was itself a record one, the report showed, with total sales of products and services reaching $167,663,848. Earnings before federal income taxes were $13,106,180 compared with $5,540,480 for last year's third quarter, and net profits after federal taxes were $6,547,180, compared with $2,653,480 a year ago. The report is as follows: 'FREEDOM U.S.A.* Sales Now Total 570 SALES of the Freedom U. S. A. transcribed radio series to three insurance companies for sponsorship in nine markets, plus other sales to bring the total to 570, have been reported by Frederic W. Ziv Co. Sales Vice President Alvin E. Unger said Farmers Insurance Co. had bought the series for KFH Wichita, KOMA Oklahoma City, KERG Eugene, Ore., and KCMO Kansas City in addition to markets the company previously had signed for; Pilot Life Insurance Co. had added WMFD Wilmington, N. C, and stations in Gastonia, N. C, Waynesboro, Va., and Jacksonville, Fla., to its list and American Home Life Insurance Co. had signed for sponsorship in Topeka. RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA AND DOMESTIC SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30 Products and Services Sold Cost of Operations Profit before Federal Taxes on Income Federal Taxes on Income Net Profit for the Quarter Preferred dividend Balance for Common Stock Earnings per share on common (13,881,016 shares) FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30 Products and Services sold Cost of Operations Profit before Federal Taxes on Income Federal Taxes on Income Net Profit for the Nine Months Preferred dividend Balance for Common Stock Earnings per share on common (13,881,016 shares) 1952 1951 $ $ 167,663,848 118,948,849 154,557,668 113,408,369 13,106,180 5,540,480 6,559,000 2,887,000 6,547,180 2,653,480 788,239 788,239 5,758,941 1,865,241 .42 .13 473,501,673 421,281,782 437,058,563 383,429,941 36,443,110 37,851,841 18,596,000 19,495,000 17,847,110 18,356,841 2,364,716 2,364,681 15,482,394 15,992,160 1.12 1.15 RAWLS NAMED Will Head KPHO-AM-TV RICHARD B. RAWLS, formerly ABC-TV director of station relations, has been appointed general manager of KPHO-AM-TV Phoenix, it was announced last week. Mr. R a w 1 s, effective Nov. 15, succeeds John C. Mullins, who remains as a consultant. The appoint , V •*"•*• ment of Mr. Rawls followed by four months FCC approval of the purchase of Mr Rawls KPHO-AM-TV by the Meredith Publishing Co. [B*T, June 30]. Meredith also owns WOW-AM-TV Omaha and WHEN (TV) Syracuse. Entering television 13 years ago, Mr. Rawls joined ABC in 1946 after two years service in the Army. From 1946-49, Mr. Rawls was manager of television operations for ABC. From then up to the present, he was ABC-TV director of station relations. Previously, he had been with CBS as manager of studio operations for WCBS-TV New York. He served also as manager of service operations for WCBS-AMFM. Up to that time, Mr. Rawls had been associated with the theatre. He was national technical director of the Federal Theatre, government operator of a national theatre with productions in 43 cities in 26 states. Earlier, he was active in Broadway theatre and film circles. PONTE VEDRA MEET Ends ABC Sessions ABC top officials completed their 1952 round of regional meetings with their radio affiliates last Tuesday. Session — fifth in the series, which started Sept. 29 in Hollywood— was held at Ponte Vedra, Fla., with 48 representatives of some 35 stations in attendance. Like the four preceding meetings, the one-day session was devoted to subjects of common interest to network and affiliates — sales, program, promotion plans and prospects, the pending merger of ABC with United Paramount Theatres and its potential effects on network operations, etc. As in the prior sessions, officials reported, the network's plan to establish a single rate for daytime and nighttime radio also was explored. Executives said afterward that, although opposition had been manifest by some, they still were thinking in terms of effectuating the plan but were not "pushed" on it since target date is not till April 1 [B»T, Oct. 20]. Page 24 • November 3, 1952 BROADCASTING • Telecasting