Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1957)

closed circuit: NOBODY FOR BARTER • Barter found no champions among national advertisers attending radio-tv workshop session during Assn. of National Advertisers' annual meeting last week (story page 27). Though workshop was closed, it's understood participants were asked whether any was using tv on barter deals. No hand rose. Finally one advertiser said he'd tried it in past but would never again because, in effect, when he was trying to reach children's audience he found he was getting spots at 11 p.m., and when he was after adult audience he was in 5 p.m. time. o Allen B. DuMont Labs reportedly is nearing completion of prototype color set incorporating Lawrence single-gun color tube. DuMont has been working on set design for about year, is licensed by Chromatic Television Labs (50% owned by Paramount Pictures) for research and development on project. o HOMESTRETCH • After dozen years on docket, so-called clear channel case is reaching point of decision by FCC, with fourth special meeting scheduled for today (Monday). Although more sessions may be necessary, present outlook is for: retention of most of 24 clear channels now listed as Class I-A (fully clear); reduction of six to eight I-A's to I-B's (duplicated clear), notably those in New York-New England area as well as KFI (640 kc) Los Angeles and possibly outlet or two in Chicago; no breakdowns of clears into regionals or locals, with prospects thus remote for increased hours of operation for daytimers. • One knotty question in final determination of clear channel case is whether rulemaking hearings will be necessary on applications of certain I-A's to increase power from present 50 kw maximum to 750 kw. Attitude of FCC appears to be that those stations which do not increase power cannot justify retention of I-A status and that such channels would be vulnerable to breakdown to I-B operation. • PERSONAL INTERVIEWS • FCC continues to have its Moulder Committee problems. Although Commission had advised Chairman Morgan Moulder (D-Colo.) that it could not answer questionnaire on gifts, entertainment, meals and like received from licensees, applicants or practitioners, individual members are being interviewed on identical questions by Baron J. Shacklette, chief investigator of House Committee on Legislative Oversight. Mr. Shacklette, one of government's ace investigators both during Truman and Eisenhower administrations, personally is interviewing members of Commission and expects to finish rounds this week. General Motors Corp., Detroit, which is sponsoring two-hour color extravaganza on NBC -TV Nov. 17 titled General Motors' 50th Anniversary Show, understood to be buying availabilities on stations carrying program, including 10 and 20 second spots before, after and in middle of production. Approximately 60 stations already are lined up and Kudner Adv., New York, is said to be seeking more. • BUILDERS' AID • RCA Broadcast Equipment Div., Camden, N. J., is about to unveil elaborate instruction kit which will educate prospective new radio station owners about everything from getting FCC permit and planning studios to selecting equipment and putting it together to make it work. Detailed instructions cover small, medium and large stations. Kit includes reprints of Broadcasting magazine stories to supply general background information on industry to many new interests such as local businessmen who are becoming station owners as radio continues its unabated expansion in stations and service. • Electronic Industries Assn.'s spectrum study committee (see page 90) got off to running start immediately after formation of top-drawer committee. Five-man steering group, headed by GE's Paul L. Chamberlain, met Thursday with military officials in Washington and on Friday with upper echelon officials of Office of Defense Mobilization action. Talks were informal and exploratory, it is said, and amicable. • TWO FROM ONE • Clients of Segal, Smith & Hennessey, old established Washington communications law firm, have been informed that effective Jan. 1 firm will split vertically, with one office headed by Paul M. Segal, senior partner, and other to comprise George S. Smith, president of Federal Communications Bar Assn., and Philip J. Hennessey. Clients were told that transaction is being worked out "in the utmost harmony and amity." Mr. Segal will continue practice at present location, with Messrs. Smith and Hennessey to move to new location. • Gala presentation being planned by ABN to show off its new all-live programming to advertisers, agencies and newsmen. Being developed by ABN President Robert E. Eastman, presentation will feature principal live entertainers now on network, including Don McNeill, Herb Oscar Anderson, Jim Backus, Jim Reeves, Merv Griffin, Bill Kemp, Johnny Pearson and assorted singers, choral groups, etc. Place and time: New York's Plaza Hotel, 9:30 a.m., Nov. 26. • REDUCING PLANS • With balloting now in progress on change of name of National Assn. of Radio & Television Broadcasters back to "National Assn. of Broadcasters," new movement is afoot to cut down size of trade association's board of directors from present 45 (with president and secretarytreasurer) to former dimensions of less than half that number. One such proposal points out present board is unwieldy and costs lot of money, and that much of its work could be better handled by small committees. • Though Radio Television News Directors Assn. officials wouldn't admit it last week, it's sure bet that Frank Stanton, CBS president, will receive annual Paul White memorial award at news directors' annual convention this week in Miami (see story page 90). Award is for advancing cause of broadcast journalism. • SPREADING OUT • Now that Broadcasters Promotion Assn. has blossomed into full-grown organization in second year (207 members — 173 voting, 21 associate, 13 affiliate), serious effort will be made to diversify geographical spread of officers and directors. It's good bet, too, that 1958 convention will be held in Midwest. • Agency and CBS-TV executives were meeting in New York last week to decide whether Dick and The Duchess (Sat., 8:30-9 p.m.) will be retained or another show substituted. Advertisers are Helene Curtis Industries through Gordon Best & Co. and Mogen David wine through Edward H. Weiss & Co., both Chicago. No decision as of Friday: • FILM HEDGE • AAP Inc. has withdrawn some of its Warner Bros, feature films and certain Warner Bros, cartoons from approximately 30 major markets. Distributor has called back only those films for which stations have expressed no immediate interest. Action, it's said, does not affect other AAP-distributed product (Warner Bros, library and other features and cartoons). Reason: AAP feels it ought to hold product back for year or more on premise pictures may be worth more because of pay tv or other new developments. • No applications for FCC pay tv authorizations are expected to be filed for at least another month, if not longer. This is estimate of FCC officials and Washington attorneys representing stations considering applying. First there is mass of detail which must be submitted with application, and preparing this will take long time. Second, and considered even more important, pay tv patent holders must figure out in what markets they want to be operative. Test of each system is limited to no more than three markets. (See Special Report on toll tv, page 60.) Broadcasting November 4, 1957 • Page 5