Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1957)

closed circuit: BABY ACTS UP • Speaker Sam Rayburn, who espoused formation of House Committee on Legislative Oversight (Moulder Committee), understood to be indignant over witch-hunt aspects of inquiry, going into entertainment and expense vouchers of members of independent commissions. It's learned Mr. Rayburn feels this tack is ridiculous and goes far afield from type of inquiry House leadership had in mind in seeking to ascertain whether independent agencies had become subservient to executive branch and were bypassing congressional jurisdiction. • Following sharp and sometimes bitter controversy at public hearing last Thursday between Republican members of Moulder subcommittee and Dr. Bernard Schwartz, executive director and chief counsel of committee, over mailing of questionnaires to commissioners of independent agencies, New York U. professor was heard to murmur aloud: "Oh, to get back to teaching law." • ABC-TV CHANGES • Changes at ABCTV aren't over yet. In latest move, Gene Accas, now administrative vice president, is slated to become vice president in charge of sales development, reporting to Don Coyle, vice president for research and sales development. James T. Aubrey Jr., programming and talent vice president, also due for promotion to new but as yet not definitely titled post under Oliver Treyz, now vice president in charge of tv. Looking to that time, network is considering new key program executive to serve under Mr. Aubrey. In another move, but unrelated to these, Thomas Velotta, v. p. and administrative officer for news, special events, sports and public affairs, is slated to transfer to West Coast in executive post. • Shuffle of personnel and accounts from Joseph Katz Co. to newly-formed Keyes, Madden & Jones (successor to Russel M. Seeds Co.) seems to continue unabated. Roselux Chemical Co., Brooklyn (Rose-X brand of bleach, starch and cleaning compound) and Charles Chappell, Katz vice president-plans director, reportedly are next to make switch. • THIRD VERSION • Shortly to be announced will be formation of Skiatron Franchises Inc. to handle licensing of Skitron closed-circuit installations throughout country. New company will function with Skiatron basic toll tv patents but will not be corporately identified either with Arthur Levy's Skiatron Electronic Co. or Matty Fox's Skiatron Television Inc. • Louis B. Nichols, spokesman for FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, may possibly wind up in communications field after Nov. I FBI retirement following 23 years' service. While Mr. Nichols plans to vacation for month, it's learned authoritatively that among several enticing offers he has received is one from RCA. Among Mr. Nichols' duties as FBI news contact has been supervisory charge of Bureau's Division of Records and Communications. • BOOSTER BUSINESS • At behest of Gov. Steve McNichols of Colorado, FCC Comr. T. A. M. Craven is spending this week in that state to investigate on-channel booster operations, which have been declared illegal by FCC. Informal investigation will cover number of operations in state authorized last year by former Gov. Edwin C. (Big Ed) Johnson in defiance of FCC ruling. Request for Comr. Craven was made because he is FCC's only engineer member and is familiar with onchannel booster vs. translator operation. • J. Glen Taylor, for past 20 years an executive in General Tire family and for past six years vice president of RKO Teleradio Pictures Inc., is resigning effective Nov. I and will return to his family home near Norfolk, Va. He will continue his personal business interests in New York and Virginia. • UA LOOKS AT STATIONS • Will United Artists Corp. follow trend to station ownership set by other Hollywood studio interests such as Paramount, MGM and RKO? United Artists, giant financing-distributing organization backing independent producers, seems to be finding potential gold mine in leasing post1948 films to tv and has announced plans to diversify into phonograph record and music publishing fields (Film, Oct. 14). On station acquisition, one top executive readily admits "we've been giving it some" thought," but no decision has been made. • Public Relations Society of America may face public relations problem of its own — among broadcasters, anyway — if it sticks to current plan for media presentations at its annual convention in Philadelphia next month. It's allotted 35 minutes to newspapers, 35 minutes to magazines and 35 minutes for radio and tv to divide between them. Broadcasting leaders feel radio and television are entitled to 35 minutes apiece. Named to make broadcasting presentations at Nov. 18 session were Robert E. Eastman, president of ABN, and Oliver Treyz, vice president in charge of ABC-TV. SLOW PAY CURE «> In effort by group of Adam Young Inc.-represented stations to encourage agencies to pay their broadcast bills more promptly, outlets are seri ously considering stipulation in new rate cards which would withhold 2% of 15% agency commission if stations' bills are not paid by 15 days after invoices are sent out. Proposal is said to have evoked enthusiasm from station managers at recent meeting held by Adam Young, and thinking is that more powerful outlets will initiate move at outset and gauge results, e Colorado Broadcasters and Telecasters Assn. reports mounting congressional interest in multi-faceted campaign involving several issues, particularly Smathers bill pertaining to BMI-ASCAP controversy and political broadcasting. It's understood Colorado congressmen have besieged association with requests for more information. • CO-OP PROGRAM • United Nations Radio, which in past has given permission for sponsorship of its recorded radio programs in limited number of major markets, understood to have reached agreement with MBS to allow its shows to be carried on network and sold locally to institutional clients. MBS said to be planning to scrap its Sunday night sustaining UN program and substitute three-day-a-week, 10-minute United Nations Radio Review. MBS officials believe programming is keyed to sponsorship by local banks, insurance companies and comparable institutions. • MBS reported to be in closing stages of negotiations with R. J. Reynolds Co., Winston-Salem, N. C, for sponsorship of extensive schedule of newscasts and adjacencies amounting to more than $200,000 gross. Discussions expected to end this week with advertiser pointing to early November start for campaign. Both Camel and Winston cigarettes probably will be advertised. Agency: Wm. Esty Co., New York. • RADIO POWER • Rare in this television era is filing of application of maximum power in radio. WAPI Birmingham, now operating with 10,000 w day, 5,000 w night on 1070 kc, has applied for 50,000 w daytime with directional antenna, continuing with 5,000 w at night. • Mapping realignment of Sunday evening schedule, ABC-TV officials plan to put action show into 8:30-9 spot following hourlong Maverick. One being considered is OSS, now seen Thursdays at 9:30-10 p.m., but this may be forestalled by possibility of product conflicts between Mennen, sponsor of OSS, and Helena Rubinstein Inc., which has signed to sponsor Sid Caesar-Imogene Coca show when it starts in January. Sunday 8:30-9 period occupied by Bowling Stars, half-sponsored by American Machine & Foundry. Broadcasting October 21, 1957 • Page 5