Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1954)

PEOPLE Networks, AFTRA in Accord On Pension, Welfare Plan ALMOST two months of negotiations were at virtual end Friday, following agreement of four television networks and American Federation of Television & Radio Artists on industryfinanced pension and welfare plan for tv performers, said to be first of its kind in enter, tainment talent field. | Pension plan, which covers only tv although radio had also been included in original AFTRA demands, will be highlight of new two-year contract covering network radio and tv. Spokesmen for both industry and union confirmed that no other benefits will be written into new contract, terms of which have been substantially agreed upon. Pension and welfare plan will require employers to contribute 5% of "gross compensation" due each artist, but talent will make no contribution. Assuming $50 million is spent annually for tv talent by advertising agencies and networks, pension and welfare plan would realize about %2Vz million per year. Overall AFTRA contract, when signed, will cover both tv and radio networks. Pension plan will cover tv networks and their local station operations in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. AFTRA is reported to have about 10,000 members potentially eligible but it is not known how many will participate. Six trustees — three representing AFTRA and three representing management — will be named to administer plan, which is still subject to ratification by board of directors and membership. It is slated to become effective on or after Nov. 15 this year. Radio portions of new contract, it was reported, will be "substantially the same" as in old pact, which expired Nov. 15. NARTB Intensifies Efforts In News Freedom Campaign DECISION to broaden its efforts for equal access of radio-tv at public hearings was made Friday by NARTB's Freedom of Information Committee, meeting at Ambassador Hotel, New York. Committee agreed to (1) take part in American Bar Assn.'s projected conference with radio-tv heads on revision of Canon 35 which bars broadcast media from courtrooms, (2) request personal talks with Senate-House Rules Committees' chairmen on equal access at Congressional committee public hearings, (3) ask Radio-Tv News Directors Assn. to designate member to sit in with it at future sessions, and (4) urge broadcaster associations to set up counterpart committees at state level. WWCO Waterbury, Sold SALE of WWCO Waterbury, Conn., by coowners Marinus Koster, William G. Wells and James H. Shoemaker for $75,000 to New England Broadcasting Corp., subject to FCC consent, reported Friday by Mr. Wells. New England is headed by Lawrence Brandon, New York City broker; Morris Bergreem, New York attorney, and Ivan R. Drechsler, Baltimore publishing executive. Sale arranged by Blackburn-Hamilton Co. at deadline KIDS' RESPONSE IN LESS than three weeks, contest for youngsters, conducted over WRCA-TV New York, attracted more than 120,000 entries, station spokesman reported Friday. Response was said to be "remarkable" because contest has been conducted on early-morning Kids Today show, featuring Herb Sheldon (Mon.Fri., 6:45-7 a.m.). Contest, which involved writing letter on "What Thanksgiving Means to Me," ended last Friday. United Front in News Access Urged by RTNDA in Chicago RECONSTITUTION of its Freedom of Information Committee empowering chairman to represent group in liaison with NARTB, American Bar Assn. and other organizations on censorship fight adopted Friday by Radio-Television News Directors Assn. Committee report, under Chairman Charles Roeder, WCBM Baltimore, warned that freedom of information is in "tenuous position" and foresaw united front in fight for equal news access. It cautioned that "warriors for freedoms in radio-television must be well armored both for the trying crises and for the outright clash." Russ Van Dyke, KRNT Des Moines, elected president for RTNDA in 1955, succeeding James Byron, WBAP Fort Worth. Other officers: Paul White, KFMB San Diego, vice president (program); Harold Baker, WSM-TV Nashville, vice president (radio), and Charles Harrison, WFIL Philadelphia, vice president (television). In talk prepared for luncheon delivery Saturday, Dr. W. R. G. Baker, vice president of General Electric and general manager of RETMA Electronics Division, said new "electronic tools" (recorders, video tape, portable tv cameras, small transmitters), will help speed flow of information to public. He doubted color tv will affect basic tv coverage any more than color has affected theatre newsreels, and felt radio-tv newscasting "has grown continually more mature." Fairmont Tv Control Sold SALE of 75% interest in ch. 35 WJPB-TV Fairmont, W. Va., by J. Patrick Beacom for $147,000 to Donn Baer announced Friday by Blackburn-Hamilton Co., subject to FCC consent. Mr. Baer is Cincinnati investor-public accountant. Mr. Beacom, owner WETZ New Martinsville, W. Va., and WBUT Butler, Pa., retains 25% share. UPCOMING Nov. 22: Tennessee Assn. of Broadcasters, Patten Hotel, Chattanooga. Nov. 22-24: Eastern Council, American Assn. of Advertising Agencies, Roosevelt Hotel, New York. Nov. 28: Communion breakfast. Catholic Apostolate — Radio, Television & Advertising, Waldorf-Astoria, New York. For other Upcomings see page 129 FRANK YAHNER, formerly with Biow Co. and Young & Rubicam, appointed vice president and account supervisor on Campbell Soup Co. (V-8, pork and beans) account. Mr. Yahner previously supervised advertising for Procter & Gamble's Joy and was senior account executive at Y&R on Borden, Bristol-Myers and other accounts. DUANE M. WEISE, chief engineer, KOMUTV Columbia, Mo., appointed to similar capacity for WTTW (TV) Chicago, forthcoming educational tv outlet, assuming new duties Dec. 13. LEONARD H. LEVITT, sales manager, WTNJ Trenton, named sales director on Ted Steele Show on WOR-TV New York. Shopping Guide Publishers Get Canton Uhf Grant MORE local live programming, better studios and less concentration of control of mass media of communication are basic reasons cited Friday by FCC Examiner Fanney N. Litvin in 1 1 8-page initial decision recommending grant of ch. 29 at Canton, Ohio, be made to Tri-Cities Telecasting Inc. Ruling, to establish first local tv service, would deny competitive bids of Brush-Moore Newspapers Inc. (WHBC) and Stark Telecasting Corp. (partial common ownership with WCMW). Tri-Cities is headed by Norton Frank who with Mrs. Frank owns nearly 28% of applicant. They publish two area "shopping guide" newspapers. Because of Brush-Moore's ownership of only local daily papers and control of other papers in area plus WPAY Portsmouth, Ohio, examiner concluded firm must be "greatly disfavored" on mass media issue. She also criticized past operation of WCMW, citing failures to comply with various regulations on keeping logs, timely filing of ownership reports. KHJ Operates Despite Strike KHJ-AM-TV Hollywood was operating normally on radio and about to be normal on tv, station said Friday, despite Thursday strike by IBEW technicians. Supervisory employes replaced striking technicians, stagehands, lighting personnel, prop men and building engineers. IBEW claimed "100% backing" of local AFL Central Labor Council. Stations said other personnel were coming through picket lines. KNXT (TV) not affected, though it leases half of KHJ Vine St. building, station spokesmen said. ABC Hollywood Cutbacks CUTBACK of ABC Hollywood operation continues [B«T, Nov. 8] with four more engineers from radio-tv pool discharged last week. Three large studios in network's Vine St. radio building have been shut down since no ABC participation show presently originates from West Coast. "Many small Vine St. studios are still in use," according to network. Vitamin Corp. Buys Blair Group VITAMIN Corp. of America, Newark, subsidiary of Rexall Drug Co., Los Angeles, signs for John Blair & Co.'s new National Saturation Group plan for one year from Jan. 10, longest term for which plan has yet been sold. Agency, BBDO, Los Angeles. Sale handled by Carleton Coveny and Ted Johnson of Blair Los Angeles office. Broadcasting • Telecasting November 22, 1954 • Page 9