Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1956)

dosed drcuit BLOCK BOOKING? • One of most controversial proposals yet made to Senate Commerce Committee will be introduced today (Monday) by Richard A. Moore, president-general manager of successful independent ch. 11 KTTV (TV) Los Angeles. He is expected to advocate reduction of network option time in prime evening periods on grounds it is inhibiting development of syndicated and other program sources. His testimony will be based at least in part on detailed memorandum he submitted privately several months ago to FCC's network investigating staff. Mr. Moore now feels free to speak publicly, as individual, since expiration of his term as chairman of all-industry Television Bureau of Advertising. B»T IN 83-PAGE MEMO to FCC network study group Mr. Moore charged network option time constituted block booking — not unlike that outlawed for motion picture producers and exhibitors under Dept. of Justice consent decree several years ago. It was his contention that because networks have desirable evening periods sewed up in many markets, advertisers find it impossible to clear good time for syndicated shows, and hence syndicators are finding it tougher to produce for anything but network distribution. B«T AD HOC EXIT * Frank Marx, ABC engineering vice president, has quietly quit ad hoc committee set up by Sen. Warren G. Magnuson to devise new Iv allocations plan. Mr. Marx reportedly told committee chairman, Dr. Edward L. Bowles of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, that he withdrew in belief committee had flunked its assignment and had let time run out on its mission of coming up with allocations repair to help uhf situation. B»T HERE'S capsule history of ad hoc committee: It was formed June 21, 1955, held organizational meeting that day, has not met since in committee of the whole. Since then Dr. Bowles has urged expansion of committee and its scope — to include economic advisers and considerations, and has suggested Congress ante up $150,000 or more for special study by university (presumably MIT). Expansion plans now seem arrested at least temporarily by unexpected contraction of membership with resignation of Mr. Marx. B»T SPOTS AND CHECKS • Television Bureau of Advertising is making painstaking double-checks to be sure its forthcoming estimates of spot dollar spending by advertisers in last quarter of 1955 are holeproof. Basic information came from Rorabaugh Reports covering most operating tv stations, but TvB independently has obtained detailed revenue breakdowns from more than 60 stations and is using that information to validate or correct Rorabaugh figures. Station revenue reports have been submitted in confidence to International Business Machines, which then works up group figures, concealing identity of individual stations, for submission to TvB statisticians. B»T REPUBLICAN National Committee through its agency, BBDO, New York, has set Sept. 20 as its kickoff date for political campaigning on network television and radio. Other details not firm yet. B»T SHOWDOWN • There's possibility that FCC will learn this week whether it has any chance, or none, of getting several vhf channels from military for addition to tv spectrum. Office of Defense Mobilization is planning meeting, tentatively scheduled for Thursday, with FCC and other government officials, in hope it will result in understanding. B«T WBBM Chicago's declaration of Milwaukee as "open city" for beaming CBS Radio shows, now that network is without affiliate there, is expected to be big factor in Milwaukee ratings picture. Pulse figures will reflect listener data on CBS o&o Chicago outlet in forthcoming surveys. B«T DELAYED BY WEATHER • Transaction whereby J. H. Whitney & Co. would acquire ch. 11 KGUL-TV Galveston-Houston for about $4,300,000 [Closed Circuit, March 19] reportedly was still in negotiation last week, having been delayed by inclement Eastern weather which prevented Whitney attorneys and principals in New York area from making Houston trip as planned. Negotiations have been resumed, however, for CBS affiliated station. Paul E. Taft. president-general manager and 40.5% owner, would continue as directing head, reacquiring about 10% in new company, to be headed by John Hay Whitney. PRESIDENT EISENHOWER'S nomination last week of James Durfee, Wisconsin Public Utilities Commission member, to be member of Civil Aeronautics Board, (and expected to be named chairman) has FCC significance too. Warren E. Baker, FCC general counsel, had been mentioned for CAB post (he is CAA alumnus). B»T SECRET'S OUT • Television can claim real beat over movies in NBC-TV's signing of Katharine Cornell with "Barretts of Wimpole Street" for April colorcast on Producer's Showcase, but it represents twoyear campaign by Matinee Theatre producer Albert McCleery. Clincher was fulldress, top secret, closed circuit performance in locked NBC New York studio in January when Miss Cornell tried on tv from all aspects. She consistently refused movie offers through the years, but finds live tv akin to stage. B»T REPORTS were current again last week that CBS would participate in big New York metropolitan area "Television City" project being promoted by impresario Billy Rose. It was ascertained that CBS Inc. president Frank Stanton and his associates did attend session at which project was pitched but that not even a preliminary commitment was made. B»T AMERICAN FIRST o How do Canadian viewers rate U. S. programs as against those of state-controlled CBC? Commentator Patrick Nicholson, in Ottawa, reports that best yardstick of public's probable free choice is seen in Toronto and Vancouver where Canadians have choice of CBC or U. S. stations. "Of the 10 most popular programs in each of the centers, nine are American," he related. B»T INTERESTING development at FCC has some tongues wagging that Chairman McConnaughey is following Ike's "team" idea. Comment sparked by appointment last week of three-member committee of commissioners to be responsible for hammering out satisfactory final decision on proposed approval of private intercity radio relay systems (see story page 82). Earlier, FCC chairman named committee of four commissioners to oversee network study. B»T HOLDOVERS • Indications that administration may have dropped its iron-clad policy of no reappointment of holdovers to independent agencies seen in appointment by President Eisenhower of Edgar B. Brossard, Utah Republican, for new term on United States Tariff Commission, to run until 1962, confirmed last week by Senate. Chairman Brossard has served since Coolidge appointment in 1925. Appointment regarded as of possible significance in view of expiration of term of Commodore E. M. Webster as member of FCC June 30. He would accept reappointment but is not actively campaigning for it. Comr. Webster is independent and assumed office April 10, 1947, after having served in Coast Guard and on FCC's engineering staff. B»T YOUNG (31) Samuel M. McMillan, special staff consultant handling Senate Small Business Subcommittee investigation of daytime broadcasting, was hand picked for job. Qualifications: Alabaman (Sen. John Spark man [D-Ala.] is chairman of full committee), attorney (Harvard 1954), technician (he worked at various times for U. S. Army Signal Corps., Western Electric, Sperry Gyroscope, and was Marine Corps radarman). Broadcasting • Telecasting March 26, 1956 • Page 5