Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr-Jun 1957)

PROGRAM SERVICES continued Wrather Buys 'Sergeant Preston', Pays Detroit Group $1.5 Million JACK WRATHER organization has acquired all rights to the tv program Sergeant Preston of the Yukon from George W. Trendle, H. Allen Campbell and Raymond Meurer of Detroit for $1.5 million. Purchase is the third of a national tv network property by the Jack Wrather organization, which purchased the Lone Ranger in 1953 and Lassie in 1956. In addition to the 78 color films now being telecast on CBS-TV, Thursdays, 7:308 p.m. with Quaker Oats as sponsor, the package also includes comic strip, merchandising, license and novel, serialization and film rights. John L. Loeb, senior partner in the New York banking firm of Carl M. Loeb, Rhoades and Co., is associated with Mr. Wrather in the purchase, which was concluded Monday in New York. Monte Livingston of the Beverly Hills, Calif., law firm of Kaplan, Livington, Goodwin and Berkowitz represented the Jack Wrather organization in the negotiations. Edwin T. Tornberg of Allen Kander and Co. acted as agent in the negotiations. Goetz Network Aide For Gay COL. JOSEPH F. GOETZ, head of the Defense Dept.'s world-wide entertainment program 1951-1956 and currently vice president of Ron Assoc., Washington, D. C, advertising and public relations agency, was appointed last week as network coordinator for Connie B. Gay's two CBS-TV programs emanating from WTOP-TV Washington. Mr. Gay also announced that Col. Goetz will assist him with toplevel co-ordination of his far-flung Town and Country Network radio stations. Heads TelePrompTer Advertising ALFRED N. GREENBERG, formerly advertising and promotion manager of WBBM Chicago, was appointed director of advertising, promotion and research for the T e 1 e P r o m pTer Corp., New York, it was announced by Herbert Hobler, vice president in charge of sales, last week. In another move designed to bolster the company's executive lineup, Robert Rosencrans, a former vice president of Sheraton Closed Circuit Television, has been named business manager of TelePrompTer's sales department. GOVERNMENT COL. GOETZ MR. GREENBERG SOLONS ASK ALLOCATION STUDY • Potter, Bray suggest establishment of commission • Group would evaluate government use, future needs DISTURBED over possible demands by the military for a larger slice of the radio spectrum, Sen. Charles E. Potter (R-Mich.) and Rep. William G. Bray (R-Ind.) last week introduced identical resolutions calling for the establishment of a three-man commission to investigate the utilization of frequencies allocated to the federal government. Sen. Potter, a member of the Senate Commerce Committee and its Communications Subcommittee, introduced his resolution (SJ Res 106) Tuesday; Rep. Bray, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, introduced its companion (H J Res 381) Thursday. Members of the commission, which would be established for six months, would be appointed by the President. As set forth in the resolutions, the commission's duties would be: ". . . To conduct a thorough and comprehensive study and investigation of the radio and television frequencies allocated to the various agencies and instrumentalities of the federal government with a view to determining (1) whether such frequencies are being efficiently utilized to the maximum degree possible, (2) whether any (and if so. how much) of such frequencies may, without jeopardizing the public interest, be relinquished to the FCC for allocation to nongovernmental purposes and (3) what are the likely future requirements of the various agencies and instrumentalities of the federal government for radio and television frequencies." If the commission is set up, it would be required to report to the President and Congress on its findings within six months. Much of the classified material would, of necessity, be omitted from the Congressional report, Sen. Potter said. However, he felt that this would not preclude the gaining of a clearer picture of military spectrum needs. Sen. Potter headed the 1953-54 uhf-vhf investigation conducted by the Communications Subcommittee of the 83rd Congress. He said that he has been "frustrated" for over a year in trying to find out how the government uses its allocated frequency space and has hit a "stonewall." Following earlier published reports that the military is casting covetous eyes on vhf chs. 2-6 [B»T, April 1], Sen. Potter inquired of Gordon Gray, head of the Office of Defense Mobilization, about the government's plans. Mr. Gray replied that military services are finding it difficult to meet defense requirements with the "limited" spectrum space now available and that the situation will become more critical as new weapons are perfected [At Deadline, April 8]. The need for the facts which would be developed by the proposed commission are "urgent and compelling," Sen. Potter stated. "Contrary to the layman's opinion, the presently usable spectrum does not offer an unlimited number of channels. . . . The situa tion could well become critical unless factual data is obtained promptly." Spectrum space presently is allocated under a dual system. The FCC assigns radio frequencies to non-government users (including commercial broadcasters), while the President assigns space to meet the government demands. Because of the cloak of secrecy shrouding the government's portion, it is not known how this space is utilized. Sen. Potter pointed out that in 1959 the U. S. will participate in an international conference at Geneva, Switzerland, dealing with the radio spectrum. "Unless our government Sen. Potter knows specifically its current use of the spectrum and what our future needs are likely to be, the best interests of the U. S. will suffer," he stated. The senator feels that the spectrum is being inefficiently utilized and that the study he has proposed by a high-level, unbiased body is essential. "Terrific pressure is building up for radio and tv frequencies," he said. "Commercial users accuse the government of hogging spectrum space. Federal agencies claim they need what they have. We may find that some of these [government] frequencies could be relinquished to the FCC for non-governmental use. . . ." On the other hand, Sen. Potter stated, if the proposed commission finds that more space will be needed by the government in the future, such a move should be in the planning stage rather than have it made known in an unexpected executive order. "Certainly we wish to see each federal agency retain sufficient space for full discharge of its responsibilities, but we must also guard against the government preempting spectrum space unnecessarily. The commission I have proposed . . . will make recommendations as to the most efficient use of the spectrum. In this way, the U. S. will be enabled to realize the full potential of a vital national resource," Sen. Potter stated in support of his resolution. Rep. Bray also has been interested for some time in the government's plan to secure more space in the radio spectrum. On introducing his companion to Sen. Potter's resolution. Rep. Bray stated: "I have been disturbed by recurring ru Page 62 June 24, 1957 Broadcasting Telecasting