Broadcasting Telecasting (Jul-Sep 1955)

closed circuit PUBLIC CAMPAIGN FUNDS • Advertising Council looks with favor on proposal of Philip L. Graham, publisher of Washington Post & Times Herald and chairman of WTOP Inc., to use public service advertising to solicit public funds for financing of all political campaigns. Council, formerly headed by Mr. Graham, at recent meeting conditioned its tentative approval upon setting up of appropriate bi-partisan group, representing both political parties as well as industry and labor, to raise out-of-pocket costs for Ad Council campaign. B»T HOW MUCH would Advertising Council need to launch public service advertising campaign from sponsoring group? Offcuff estimate is $30,000-$50,000. Mr. Graham's project, disclosed in address at U. of Chicago month ago, would urge small contributions from citizens, to supplant undesirable gifts from underworld or self-serving special interest groups. Radio and tv, plus printed media, would be used to teach importance of good government and respect for political life. Both GOP and Democratic National Committee chairmen have endorsed plan. B«T McCAW BUYING • Negotiations looking toward sale of KFEL-TV Denver (ch. 2) by Eugene P. O'Fallon to J. Elroy McCaw reportedly were in final stages last Friday in Denver. Contract contemplates payment of $400,000 for 100% of stock, plus assumption of corporate liabilities amounting to approximately $350,000. Purchase would be arranged through series of notes, with acquisition by Mr. McCaw's Gotham Broadcasting Co. (WINS New York). Among Mr. McCaw's other properties are KYA San Francisco, KELA Centralia, Wash., and KTVW (TV) Tacoma-Seattle (ch. 13). B»T MACY'S New York, understood to be negotiating through Grey Adv., with WRCA-TV New York for spot television campaign which would start in fall and run for 52 weeks. If it goes through, Macy's move might lead other department stores across country into heavier tv use. B«T TV IS BIGGEST • Contrary to newspaper reports, Philip Morris will spend more money this year in tv than in any other medium. Overall tv expenditures on spot basis should eclipse $4 million despite dropping of / Love Lucy and Public Defender, it's learned authoritatively. Television Bureau of Advertising last May was instrumental in selling PM on 26wesk spot campaign running in excess of $1 million until end of year (on 52-week basis it would exceed $2 million). Newspapers have sought to make capital out of PM cancellation of networks and when TvB week ago announced that for first time national advertisers have invested more in tv than in any other medium (story page 35), not single New York newspaper carried story. Newspapers previously had played up Bureau of Advertising claim that their national billings were at all-time high and higher than any other medium. B«T WNHC-AM-TV New Haven has been notified by NBC that affiliation contracts are cancelled effective Oct. 1 for tv and Dec. 1 for radio. Aldo DeDominicis, general manager and secretary-treasurer, disclosed receipt of cancellation notices. Ch. 8 tv outlet is primary NBC affiliate but also carries CBS-TV and ABC-TV programs. FCC last week announced it had continued without date oral argument on application to transfer WKNB-AM-TV New Britain from Julian Gross, et al, to NBC for $606,000 [B»T, Jan. 10]. Ch. 30 uhf slated to replace WNHC-TV. B»T CLYNE ADDS DUTIES • Terry Clyne, vice president and chairman of plans review board of McCann-Erickson, New York, will get additional responsibilities of management supervisor of entire radiotv department, and top man will be appointed vice president in charge of that department, reporting to Mr. Clyne. New vice president is expected to be named within next two weeks. B«T NEWS soon will be forthcoming on FCC decision to delete radio station on grounds of aiding and abetting horse race gambling in violation of state laws. Case involves small station in East, and FCC will hold that station defied Commission warnings and broadcast not only local track but outside results which allegedly were broadcast to satisfy "bookie" demands. Note: FCC within fortnight renewed licenses of four stations in Miami area involving race track broadcasts but found these were in category of tip sheet selling rather than illegal gambling. B«T NO VACANCY • To oft-rising question whether CBS Radio plans to develop own version of NBC's weekend Monitor marathon, CBS network officials offer this answer: "Where would we put it?" They point to Sunday commercial schedule particularly, with afternoon Woolworth Hour and Rhythm on the Road, and evening Kraft hour, Jack Benny, Amos V Andy, and My Little Margie among sponsored shows either continuing through summer or expected back in fall. B»T SOME members of FCC regard their upcoming decision on de-intermixture of uhf and vhf in same markets as determination of whether Commission will completely abandon uhf. No decision yet whether FCC will establish overall pattern or handle issues argued last week on "caseby-case" basis. Likewise, while effort will be made to decide cases prior to Aug. J summer recess, it appears to be race against time (see page 60). B»T LIGHT BREAKFAST • Swift & Co.'s decision to drop ABC Radio's Breakfast Club after 14 years hit network's Central Division hard, following as it did similar move by Quaker Oats Co., which carried three 15-minute segments of program weekly. Swift reportedly is shopping for new network tv property and may also continue Horace Heidt Show Wagon. It is emphasized that early-morning show will continue with new advertisers in prospect. B»T PROBLEM of spectrum allocation being given consideration at highest level these days. Arthur S. Flemming, Defense Mobilization administrator, and Harold M. Botkin, assistant director for telecommunications, recently met with FCC Chairman George C. McConnaughey and Comr. E. M. Webster, to explore prospect of orderly long-range plan to accommodate all services ( with emphasis on tv ) in most desirable slots. B«T LEAVING CHICAGO • Radio Advertising Bureau has closed its Chicago office, attributing decision to desire for greater administrative efficiency. Instead of having three national salesmen in New York and one in Chicago, bureau will have four in New York (plus two to be added by fall). Officials say all national salesmen now will be able to specialize on given product categories, whereas man working solo (as has been Chicago case) must necessarily be "expert" in all fields. Consolidation also eliminates liaison lags. Decision to close Chicago office stemmed from Gale Blocki Jr.'s resignation, effective June 15, to become vice president and Chicago manager of Simmons Assoc., radio station representation firm [B«T, May 23]. B»T JERRY SILL, Midwest broadcaster, reportedly in process of selling WMIL Milwaukee and his interest in WAGE-TV Marquette, Mich. (ch. 6). Upon consummation, he plans to return to his old haunts in East and to radio-tv or both. B»T ABC BUILD-UP • Underlining revitalization program in progress at ABC, network this week will announce expansion of advertising, promotion and publicity department in New York and Hollywood, encompassing several promotions to newly created posts and substantial additions in personnel in two cities. HH Broadcasting Telecasting July 4, 1955 • Page