Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1957)

PMim NOW TO 82 MAJOf ITH Your commercials have greater impact on the Peoria area (I llinois' 2nd big market) than on New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, St. Louis, San Francisco or 76 other big TV market areas! Sets-inuse actually average 30.4% sign-on to sign-off— one of the nation's most phenomenal ratings! (ARB Jan., Feb., Mar., '57) And in the Peoria area, one station has the top programs, the top power (500,000 watts), the top tower (660 feet) and the top ratings : AVERAGE RATINGS QUARTER-HOUR DOMINATION WTVH Station B WTVH Station B Morning 9.1 7.2 71 38 Afternoon 12.1 11.2 87 75 Evening 30.1 21.5 133 33 (ARB 3/57) GOVERNMENT continued NETWORKS MUM ON BARROW STUDY • But Celler, Bricker, KTTV (TV) speak their minds promptly • Three FCC commissioners deep in study of proposals The loudest noise heard last week following the long-awaited release of the Barrow report [Lead Story, Oct. 7] was the complete silence of the networks and other industry spokesmen. In fact, the official "no comment" of ABC and NBC — with not even that much of a statement from CBS — was so conspicious it was compared to a deafening roar, both on Capitol Hill and elsewhere. On the other hand, Rep. Emanuel Celler (D-N. Y.), Sen. John Bricker (R-Ohio) and KTTV (TV) Los Angeles (Richard Moore), all outspoken critics of many network practices, were equally outspoken in their praise of the report. Chairmen of the two congressional Interstate & Foreign Commerce Committees, Sen. Warren Magnuson (D-Wash.) and Rep. Oren Harris (D-Ark.), could not be reaehed last week for comment. However, Rep. Harris' office said that he is expected to discuss the Barrow report when he addresses the Memphis NARTB regional meeting Oct. 24. Rep. Celler, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and its Antitrust Subcommittee, warned the FCC that "our Antitrust Subcommittee will maintain a watchful eye on all developments in order to help insure" that the Commission takes "prompt action" on the Barrow recommendations. "It is significant," he said, "that the Barrow group . . . has independently reached conclusions concerning restrictive practices [network option time, must-buys and multiple ownership of stations] in television broadcasting which are similar in material respects to findings previously arrived at separately by the House Antitrust Subcommittee [Celler report] and by the staff of the Senate Interstate & Foreign Commerce Committee [Cox report]. "Also buttressed by the Barrow report," Mr. Celler said, are the recommendations by the two congressional groups designed to promote competition in television by amending the Commission's first-call rule and to "provide the maximum amount of publicity for the networks' affiliation arrangements with their stations. The unanimity of the findings of three separate impartial groups . . . makes it imperative" that the FCC consider "carefully, objectively and without delay each of the recommendations contained in the Barrow report and take prompt action thereon." The congressman felt that "a salutary first step" has been taken by the Commission in the appointment of a permanent Office of Network Study. "This permanent staff should undertake various studies left undone by the Barrow group," he said. "These include studies showing the, effect on competition of (1) network talent contracts, (2) the relationship of network nonbroadcasting activities to their television broadcasting operations, (3) joint activities 'age 74 October 14, 1957 of radio and television networks and (4) joint ownership of radio and television stations." In light of the Barrow report recommending that the FCC complete its investigation of AT&T tv transmission charges and regulations governing the use of private microwave relay stations, "any further delay by the Commission in making final determination of these matters would be inexcusable," Rep. Celler stated. He also felt that it is "all too clear" from the Barrow report that the Commission has failed to enforce its chain broadcasting rules and to keep abreast of industry practices. "There is little doubt that these conditions have resulted in part from the informality , . . . that has characterized the relationship between the Commission and the television industry," Rep. Celler stated. "It is to be regretted that the Barrow group omitted from its study the relationship between sale to the advertiser of network programs and access by the advertiser to preferred viewer hours," Mr. Celler said, but made it plain this was not to be construed as a criticism of the report. "Such examination is necessary in view of widespread allegations that the network tie the sale of preferred viewing hours to the sale of programs in which they have a financial interest." He stated that since three years have elapsed since the Justice Dept. began an investigation of these charges, "it will be necessary for our subcommittee to determine the reasons for the apparent inordinate delay by the Dept. of Justice in resolving these highly important questions." Sen. Bricker said that "this report points out clearly practices tending toward dangerous monopolies that have grown up in the tv industry and submits constructive suggestions for legislation and regulation. It agrees with my long standing contention that the several networks must be brought under the regulatory authority of the FCC." [Sen. Bricker is the author of a bill (S 376) which would require the FCC to license networks and in April 1956, he issued a report on what he termed two-network domination of television. Previously confidential network financial data was used by Sen. Bricker in compiling the report.] "I am asking Chairman Magnuson to schedule early hearings by the Senate Commerce Committee [Sen. Bricker is the ranking Republican on the committee] to receive any additional testimony . . ." on this and other bills currently pending before Congress which would carry out the recommendations of the Barrow report, Sen. Bricker stated. KTTV's President Moore was a star witness against the networks before the Senate Commerce Committee in March 1956. A statement to Broadcasting by KTTV agreed with "many of the recommendations which the Barrow report contains" and said the significant fact is "that these are the Broadcasting