Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr-Jun 1957)

NETWORK STUDY GROUP REPORT NOT TO BE READY UNTIL SEPT. 30 enjoined. This will probably result in a consent decree, it was understood. No dates have been scheduled for this action. Stations fined were WHAT, WPEN, WIP, WDAS, WIBG, WJMJ, WCAU, WFIL, and KYW (the last at that time the Westinghouse outlet in Philadelphia). In the civil action which seeks to enjoin the so-called violation, Westinghouse is not a party since it no longer has any radio properties in Philadelphia. Stanton Replies 'Nonsense' To ALA Censorship Charges . CBS President Dr. Frank Stanton and Moss Hart, president of the Authors League of America, exchanged letters last week over l\ ALA's charge that radio and television networks imposed "a virtual blackout" over the air of news of the report of the House Judicial ary Subcommittee [Celler Report, B«T, June | 17]. Dr. Stanton denied this charge insofar | as it was leveled against CBS and Mr. Hart I promptly rejoined that the CBS president's reply was unsatisfactory. Dr. Stanton's letter to Mr. Hart Monday i\ was prompted by a telegram the playwright had sent to the heads of three networks on June 12, citing the report's conclusions relating to broadcaster practices in connection with alleged discrimination against writers and composers of music. Other network heads have not replied. Dr. Stanton claimed in his letter that ALA's two main allegations are "nonsense." He said that (1) "There was no blackout" j of news on the Celler Report since two of 1 CBS Radio Network broadcasts on June 9 and the main CBS-TV newscast on June 10 I covered the report, (2) "There was no censorship" imposed by CBS management, because, in the case of all CBS news, "at no time were there any instructions — direct or indirect — to our news editors that they should or should not cover the Celler Report, or if they covered it, how they should do so." He termed ALA's "censorship" charge "scandalous." Mr. Hart, in reply, asserted that Dr. Stanton "must assume responsibility for suppression of news by the CBS news department." He claimed that "When an error of judgment is made by your news editors, it is the error of CBS." ALA's charge of "censorship" did not mean that Dr. Stanton "dictated specifically to the CBS news department . . . censorship can be more subtle than that," said Mr. Hart. He argued that CBS editors choose their material for the air "with a clear understanding of CBS policy . . . you would not keep them on the job otherwise." Kratter Drops St. Cloud Bid MARVIN KRATTER last week withdrew his application for ch. 7 in St. Cloud, Minn. Upon Mr. Kratter's withdrawal, Central Minnesota Television Co. asked the FCC to expedite the shifting of ch. 7 from St. Cloud to Alexandria, Minn., and the move of ch. 36 from Alexandria to St. Cloud. Central Minnesota requested that the moves be completed before the August recess. Broadcasting • Telecasting THERE isn't going to be any network study report until Sept. 30. That became official — following several weeks of rumors — last week when the FCC Network Study Committee officially postponed to the third quarter the report of the study which began in September 1955. The original target date was June 30. The Network Study Committee — comprising FCC Chairman George C. McConnaughey and Comrs. Rosel H. Hyde, Robert T. Bartley and John C. Doerfer — declared that "it is not possible for the staff to meet this date [June 30]. "The problems under study are complex and require processing and analysis of a great volume of data," the Committee said. "This has required more time than had been anticipated." Much time of the staff has been expended, the Committee said, in "protracted negotiations and some litigation occasioned by unanticipated resistance of a component of the industry to supply required information." This last refers to the current juridical squabble involving four tv film producerdistributors. Originally seven film firms refused to submit requested data, but following the issuance of subpoenas, three agreed to comply (see page 70). When the report is completed, it will go to the four-man Commission committee. After they have made their analysis and recommendations, it will then be submitted to the full Commission for action. The report will be a complete report, according to Dean Roscoe R. Barrow, director of the study. It will present an anlysis of the pros and cons in various areas of interest, with recommended solutions. The U. of Cincinnati law school dean declared there will be no preliminary reports before the final overall submission. Mr. Barrow also stated that the threemonth extension means that his entire 12man staff would remain on the job until Sept. 30. The staff comprises a number of regular FCC employes in addition to those serving on a "when actually employed" pay basis. There are eight full time and four part time employes. The FCC was given $80,000 in the 1956 fiscal year budget for the network study, and $141,000 in the 1957 fiscal budget. There is no provision for study funds in the 1958 budget, although the Senate declared that it was its belief that the study should be completed using regular Commission monies. Up to May 31, the network study has cost $103,400 in personal services (salaries) and $15,300 in travel expenses out of the $141,000 allocated in the 1957 budget. It is understood that the total $141,000 will be expended by the end of the fiscal year. June 30. The study staff has not been charged for supplies, telephone service and other housekeeping items. The three-month extension will cost the FCC an estimated $50,000, it was understood. This will have to come from the Com mission's regular funds — probably through failure to fill vacancies in personnel and in other savings. FCC Head Answers Magnuson Query on Limiting Translators THE FCC has taken no action to prohibit translator stations from operating in cities where there is a regular tv station, Chairman George C. McConnaughey emphasized last week in a letter to Sen. Warren Magnuson, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee. Mr. McConnaughey was answering an earlier letter from the senator relating to present rulemaking before the Commission which would limit translators to non-tv cities. Included in Sen. Magnuson's query were approximately 1,400 letters the Senator had received which opposed the proposed rulemaking. "Translators are intended as an emergency, stop-gap measure designed to bring television to communities and areas without service," Mr. McConnaughey said. "The Commission feels that it would not be proper to license translators in such a manner that the establishment and development of conventional television stations would be precluded or significantly retarded in certain communities and areas with the result that the public would be deprived of the manifold advantages and benefits to be derived from local television outlets." He pointed out that translators merely pick up the signals of other tv stations and rebroadcast them on one of the 14 upper uhf channels. They have no local studios and originate no local programs. Of those commenting on the Commission's proposal to limit translators, approximately 2-1 were against the rule-making [B«T, June 10]. "I can assure you that the views of all parties will be afforded careful attention before our [FCC] final report is issued," Mr. McConnaughey wrote. FCC Says It Will Accept Bids For 5 Kw Day on Mexican Clears THE FCC announced last week that it would accept applications for 5 kw operation on Mexican clear channels during daytime hours, but that it would delay processing them until the January 1957 agreement between the United States and Mexico is ratified by the Senate. Under present rules, daytime powers of U. S. stations on Mexican clear channels (730, 800, 900. 1050, 1220 and 1570 kc) are limited to 1 kw. Such stations also are prohibited from putting more than a 5 uv/m groundwave signal at the Mexican border. The U. S.-Mexican agreement signed earlier this year permits these stations to operate with 5 kw. but limits power to 1 kw on the following frequencies: 800 kc. S20 miles from Ciudad Juarez. Chihuahua: 1050 kc, 620 miles from Monterrey, Nuevo L^on: 1570 kc. 620 miles from Ciudad Acuna, Coahuila. June 24. 1957 • Page 67