Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1956)

STATIONS WIBW-TV Camera Covers Kansas Legislature Sessions CURRENT SESSIONS of the Kansas Legislature are being covered daily by WIBW-TV Topeka, described by the station as the first such coverage in state history. Using a sound-film camera, WIBW-TV films the sessions for the 6 p.m. newscast by Dick Upton, WIBW-TV news director. Another precedent in legislative coverage has been made by WSAZ-AM-TV Huntington, W. Va., which covered the opening session of the West Virginia Legislature [B«T, Jan. 16.] President Harold E. Fellows, NARTB, called the legislative coverage "an historic event and a real advance in our efforts to achieve greater freedom of information for the American peo GENE McKINNEY, news cameraman of WIBW-TV Topeka, covers the Kansas Legislature with sound-on-film camera. pie." He added that it showed "these media can operate unobtrusively without disturbing the decorum of the proceedings." WRIT Wins Decision on Tapes THE UTILITIES Committee of the Milwaukee Common Council last week recommended that WRIT in that city be permitted to continue making tape recordings of the fire department dispatcher's daily report. The Milwaukee station earlier had charged Fire Chief Edward Wischer with violating "freedom of the press" in ordering the tape recordings discontinued. The fire chief, who attended last week's meeting of the Common Council committee, agreed to the committee's recommendation, it was reported. The Proof KEY HERBERT, WBAP-TV Ft. Worth cameraman-reporter, made a sound-onfilm motion picture of a meeting of Texas senators discussing whether or not Mr. Herbert and his camera should be admitted to the Texas Senate committee investigating insurance scandals without the senators being aware that they were being filmed and recorded. Permission was denied. Doyle Vinson, WBAP-TV news film director, said the fact that the pre-hearing was filmed without the senators awareness was evidence that sound-on-film coverage of the hearing would not have interfered with the proceedings. "If the presence of a television news camera in the hearing room would have resulted in a 'show' or 'production' as some senators suggested, then those responsible . . . would have been someone other than the news cameraman," Mr. Vinson said. Sooners to Visit Soviet THIRTY Oklahomans will make a threeweek tour of the Soviet Union in May under the combined auspices of WKYAM-TV and The Daily Oklahoman, Oklahoma City stations and newspaper. The touring party will be composed of 28 Sooner agricultural and livestock men and two newsmen, WKY-AM-TV reporter Richard John and Roy P. Stewart, staff writer for The Daily Oklahoman, The tour, which has been months in the making, was conceived last August by P. A. Sugg, WKY-AM-TV manager, who negotiated with the U. S. Dept. of State and later directly with the Soviet Union to complete arrangements. WSRS Cleveland Features #Big Week-End' Competition WSRS Cleveland, currently is featuring a "Big Week-End" contest in which employes of local companies may get two extra days off from work. Workers are invited to enter the contest, in which the radio station serves as the intermediary, after getting permission from employers who agree to donate a "bonus vacation of Friday through Monday away from work." WSRS announces several winners, over the air each day, and the station then conducts an interview concerning the company involved, giving information about its product and its contribution to the community. As an added inducement for companies to participate, WSRS is pointing out that the expense involved by the company in giving workers two extra days off "is tax deductible." Three Department Heads Appointed by KPTV (TV) THREE department head changes at KPTV (TV) Portland, Ore., were announced last week by Frank J. Riordan, managing director. Don Tykeson, sales manager, was named national sales manager; D. Donald Lonie Jr., promotion manager, became local sales manager, and Albert R. McLaughlin, continuity director, replaced Mr. Lonie as promotion manager. AH three men have been with KPTV from two to three years. Radio Release-Newspaper Ad Decried by KSJO's Manager THE PRACTICE by some companies of sending "news releases" to radio stations and then inserting the same information in paid newspaper advertisements was assailed last week by Norman Paul, general manager of KSJO San Jose, Calif. In the wake of the flood disaster in California, KSJO received a release from an electrical products manufacturing concern telling how the company helped flood victims, said Mr. Paul. "We then find in the local press a paid ad . . . containing the same copy, word for word, as received in the so-called radio news release," the station manager declared. "KSJO's news department is set up to gather and write hews and not to boil down advertiseing copy. The (company's) publicity office has been notified of this fact along with a copy of our rate card. . . . We sincerely trust other broadcasters are following suit. . . ." Page 72 • January 23, 1956 One-Cent Sale on Spots Found Successful at WILD A PACKAGE announcement campaign using a one-cent-per-spot inducement, started Jan. 9 by WILD Birmingham, Ala., has succeeded far beyond expectations, according to Tom Thurman, vice president-sales manager. WILD has been operated since Jan. 1 by Gordon Broadcasting Co., also owner of WSAI Cincinnati. Charles Black is WILD vice president-general manager. The plan was adopted to promote the station's new program format of music, news and sports, and to bring in new local advertisers. Local advertisers are offered 50 spots at one cent each for every 50 announcements bought at the published rate. The announcements must be used prior to Feb. 25. A similar plan for national advertisers will be announced by WILD, with a saturation package based on 12 weekly announcements for $144 plus another 12 for a cent each, or $144.12 for 24 announcements, for example. The general plan resembles the local promotion. In effect, WILD is offering roughly a 50% discount on its get-acquainted deal. Mr. Thurman told B»T Thursday that 28 local advertising packages had been sold in two weeks, many of them to new clients. The list includes auto dealers, three oil companies, Arthur Murray dance studio, two tire firms, a dry cleaner and others. Under its 15-minute protection policy, Mr. Thurman said, the station is unable to take any more automotive business for the time being. A new rate card based on a 10% increase has been announced. KNXT (TV) Expands Class AA, Increases Charges on Spots KNXT (TV) Hollywood has extended its Class AA time to include the 7:30-10 p.m. period (formerly 8-10) and increased spot rates, according to Austin Heywood, KNXT press information. Class AA rates for a minute spot were upped from $600 to $700, Class A, $400 to $500, Class B, $250 to $300, and Class C and D rates remain the same. Rates on The Big News, a late-evening news show, have gone from $500 to $600 for 12-minute and $300 to $400 for six-minute segments. KAAA Changes to KCUE KCUE are the new call letters for KAAA Red Wing, Minn., newly-purchased by the Hiawatha Valley Broadcasting Co. from the Red Wing Broadcasting Co. Owners of KCUE are Nicholas Tedesco, St. Paul, Minn., president; Gene Elston, Red Wing, vice president and general manager, and Victor Tedesco, St. Paul, treasurer. The Tedescos also own WKIJ Sparta, Wis., and WCOW St. Paul. Mr. Elson previously was radio-tv director for the W. D. Lyon Advertising Agency in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Broadcasting • Telecasting MR. ELSTON