Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1957)

TRADE ASSNS. continued and still growing ROCKFORD New, industries continue to come to Rockford . . . and' companies already here continue 'to expand. That is why Rockford has become the NO. 1 City in Illinois (outside Chicago) . . . and a rich market for your products or services. Rockford is the 2nd largest machine tool center in the world . . . 3?itn in the USA in expendable income . .. . 36th in buying power . . . and 13th in Postal "Savings. and still growing Survey after Survey of 14 counties indicates Uncontested Dominance of Northern IllinoisSouthern Wisconsin area by WREX-TV. Combined rural and industrial following . . . ideal for test campaigns. casting. Frank Schooley, manager of the university's WILL-AM-TV Champaign-Urbana, discussed the work of the Assn. for Professional Broadcast Education in collaboration with NARTB. Automatic programming talks and demonstrations featured second-day activities under the leadership of Robert Paulson, sales manager of Ampex Corp., and Leon Hase, its midwest manager. The IBA resolution noted that over 90% of all Illinois broadcasters operate under blanket agreements with both BMI and ASCAP and claimed that "during the past several years approximately twice as much money has been paid to ASCAP as to BMI for music performance rights." It pointed out that the very "existence of BMI has prevented a monopoly in the music licensing business." "Contrary to implications," the resolution continued, BMI has never exercised "any pressure" on Illinois broadcasters to play BMI records "in any advantageous manner over the musical selections licensed by others." In his talk on news problems. Mr. Ellison asserted that "good news coverage builds prestige, and prestige builds a listening audience which attracts advertisers." Aside from Mr. Cook, other IBA officers elected were R. Karl Baker, vice presidentgeneral manager of WLDS Jacksonville, vice president, and M. H. Stuckwish, general manager of WSOY Decatur, secretary-treasurer. Bruce Dennis, program manager of WGN Chicago, was elected to the board of directors, along with Mr. Biggar. NARTB's Anello Tells N. D. Court Outlets Should Be Libel-Exempt Broadcasters should be immune from libel suits growing out of political speeches broadcast under FCC's equal time regulation, NARTB contended Thursday in North Dakota Supreme Court. Arguing in the WDAY-TV Fargo, N. D., case, Douglas A. Anello, NARTB chief attorney, asked the court to uphold a lower court ruling throwing out a libel suit against the station for statements broadcast by a third-party candidate. At the hearing, held in Bismarck, N. D., Mr. Anello argued that enactment of the Communications Act by Congress had occupied the field of interstate communications and had vested regulatory control in the FCC. This makes conflicting state laws inoperative, he contended. Broadcasters can't avoid the equal-time issue by refusing to air all political talks, Mr. Anello argued. He observed that WDAY-TV had admitted libel, defending itself on the ground it was powerless to prevent statements by a third party candidate who attacked the Farmers Union. Sec. 315 of the law requires that all candidates be given equal time and specifically bans censorship of their material, he added, noting that if there is no immunity from liability the federal prohibition against censorship is unconstitutional in that it deprives a person of property without due process. NARTB took part in the hearing as a friend of the court. RTNDA Agenda Set For Nov. 6-9 Meet News broadcasters, providing one of the industry's most salable program commodities, will meet in Miami Beach, Fla., Nov. 6-9 at the annual convention of the RadioTelevision News Directors Assn. Sessions will be held at the Balmoral Hotel, with delegates coming from Canada as well as all parts of the United States. Ted Koop, CBS Washington director of news and public affairs and RTNDA president, said the program will include a series of workshops and panels designed to show the latest and best ways of presenting news on radio and tv. Plans will be drawn to continue RTNDA's aggressive fight to obtain equal access with print media in reporting public events. The convention opens the evening of Nov. 6 with a business session followed by a reception by Miami stations. A radio workshop the morning of Nov. 7 will be conducted by Lee White, KROS Clinton, Iowa, RTNDA radio vice president. On the panel will be Bayliss Corbett, WGTO Haines City, Fla.; Bert Cannings, CFCF Montreal; Dick Sanders, WJDX Jackson, Miss., and David Loring, WGIL Galesburg, 111. News budgets and techniques are included in the workshop. Tom Eaton, WTIC Hartford, RTNDA past president, will give the keynote speech at the Nov. 7 luncheon. In the afternoon a television news workshop will be conducted by Ralph Renick, WTVJ (TV) Miami, the association's tv vice president. Election of officers and other business will be handled the morning of Nov. 8. At the luncheon, T. R. P. Hole, British Broadcasting Corp. news editor, will be speaker. A freedom of information roundtable will be held in the afternoon, conducted by Julian Goodman, NBC Washington. Taking part will be Murray Snyder, Assistant Secretary of Defense, and Robert D. Swezey, WDSU-AM-TV New Orleans, chairman of the NARTB Freedom of Information Committee. The final morning will open with a television session featuring demonstrations of network news coverage. Canadian members of RTNDA will be in charge of the luncheon programming. Annual RTNDA awards for news coverage will be presented in the afternoon along with the second Paul White Award for service to news broadcasting. A banquet will wind up the program. Jack Krueger, WTMJ Milwaukee, is program vice president, with Mr. Renick local convention chairman. Morse To Open RAB Clinic Sen. Wayne B. Morse (D-Ore.) will address the opening-day luncheon of the 3rd annual National Radio Advertising Clinic tomorrow (Tuesday) at the WaldorfAstoria, New York, according to Kevin B. Sweeney, RAB president. Approximately 600 advertiser and agency executives and 250 radio broadcasters are expected to attend. Sen. Morse will discuss the economic future of the U. S. WREX-TV sales power! WREX-TV— "The Viewers' Choice" DELIVERS your message to the buyers in this rich industrial and agricultural market. The consistent high quality in production, promotion and merchandising of both spots and programs has earned many major awards for WREX-TV this year! For the best medium to reach this Rockford area market consult H-R for the WREX-TV story. J. M. BAISCH, General Manager REPRESENTED BY H-R TELEVISION, INC. CHANNEL 13 0 (§] Page 62 • October 7, 1957 Broadcasting • Telecasting