Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr-Jun 1958)

PEOPLE at deadline McGannon Attacks VTR Policy, Hits Major Barrow Conclusions Renewed opposition to proposals in Barrow Report on multiple ownership, option time and must buys were voiced Friday by Westinghouse Broadcasting Co. President Donald H. McGannon, continuing his previous day's testimony FCC (story page 53). Mr. McGannon rapped three tv networks for policy of refusing permission to stations to use videotape to record network programs to run on delayed basis, said WBC looked at move with "great seriousness" and felt advertisers and public won't gain if networks are "arbitrary" on this policy. He noted network policy conflicts with WBC's plans to carry baseball on WJZTV Baltimore, but said network VTR use is helping KPIX (TV) San Francisco network programming position. He said WBC had asked networks to limit network programming to option time and had been refused, but acknowledged such narrowed programming might make option time program costs go up. Mr. McGannon said WBC dropped NBC Spot Sales from representation of two WBC stations because quality was not good enough and said he did not recall writing letter (in possession of FCC) which "indicates to contrary." He saw nothing wrong with network spot representation if affiliation relationships can be insulated. Mr. McGannon didn't think Westinghouse Electric's $39 million ad budget (all media) has had any effect in network-affiliate relations by WBC outlets; nor has WBC's multiple ownership position, he added. WBC president said he had no objection to NTA proposal for added hour of option time from source other than affiliated network, but saw problems if present three-hour network option time were reduced. Asked by Chairman John C. Doerfer whether he felt FCC should require station to place local public service programs in option time, Mr. McGannon said this would create problems, since obviously not all communities have enough local issues to put on audience-attracting material for this prime time. Station should have leeway here, he said, so it can develop exceptional programs and promote them properly. Mr. McGannon had "no thought" on FCC shortening license period of marginal operator, but felt FCC might issue licenses varying from three to five years or longer depending on demonstrations by licensee of public interest programming. He felt industry could "live with" an "indefinite" license if standards could be defined so as to assure operator he wouldn't lose license and investment if he stuck to standards. Wagner Heads Ohio Broadcasters Jay Wagner, WLEC Sandusky, was elected president of Ohio Assn. of Broadcasters at Friday meeting in Cleveland (early story page 82). He succeeds Hubbard Hood, WK.RC Cincinnati. Tom Rogers, WCLT Newark, was elected radio vice president and Allan Land, WHIZ Zanesville, tv vice president. New members elected to board: Gordon Davis, KYW Cleveland; S. H. Topmiller, WCKY Cincinnati, and Gene Trace, WBBW Youngstown. Over 100 delegates attended Friday meeting. Tv Worth Money to Paramount Paramount Pictures Corp. has advised stockholders of "substantial" profits realized this year from film sales for tv (Paramount sold its feature backlog to Music Corp. of America). Reminder contained in report on 1957 operations, showing earnings from operations to be over $5.4 million and net income at more than $4.7 million. Profit would have been up slightly over 1956, but in that year additional $4.4 million-plus represented principally profit on sale of film to tv (Popeye Cartoons acquired that year by AAP), for total net income in 1956 of over $8.7 million. FCC Again Asks for Ch. 10 Case FCC Friday again asked U. S. Court of Appeals to send back Miami ch. 10 case. Commission said it's better to let it review case (in light of disclosures before Harris Oversight Committee) than for court to rule on legal issues which "might become moot by further proceedings." FCC representation furnished in response to objections by three parties to Commission's original motion to court to remand Miami case without ruling on merits. [Government, March 17]. Parties are National Airlines (which won ch. 10 grant), WKAT Miami (A. Frank Katzentine) and Eastern Airlines (seeking to intervene in proceedings). Harris to Address Law Group Rep. Oren Harris (D-Ark.), chairman of House Commerce Committee and Legislative Oversight Subcommittee, will address April 30 dinner meeting of Administrative Law Section of District of Columbia Bar Assn. Black-tie affair will be held in Washington's Mayflower Hotel in observance of National Law Day May 1. ABC Asks Syracuse Shift ABC asked FCC Friday to add third vhf channel to Syracuse, N. Y., by deleting ch. 8 there and adding chs. 9 and 11. Move would require ch. 8 WHEN-TV Syracuse to change to ch. 9, and ch. 11 CKWS-TV Kingston, Ont., to ch. 8. ABC said out of 44 ABC programs, only two are carried in Syracuse live, 15 are carried on delayed JOHN M. KEAVEY, account executive at Erwin Wasey, Ruthrauff & Ryan on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, elected vice president of EWR&R. DON W. WELLS, formerly sales manager of Lanolin Plus Inc.'s beauty division, to Foote, Cone & Belding, Chicago, as merchandising executive. ALEXANDER G. FIELD JR. appointed program manager of WGN-TV Chicago effective April 19, succeeding EDWARD J. ROTH JR., resigned. Mr. Field continues duties as supervisor of special broadcast services of WGN-AM-TV. GERALD E. CALDWELL, commercial export manager, General Foods Corp., (international), to GF's Maxwell House Div., as market research manager. ROBERT G. FURLONG, marketing manager, DuMont Labs receiver division since early 1957, to sales manager, television receiver division, replacing BILL C. SCALES, resigned. RUSSELL FORD, Compton Adv., and CHUCK KAMBOURIAN, H. K. Harrison Assoc., both to Grey Adv., N. Y., as executive producer and associate producer, respectively. Page 10 April 14, 1958 basis, five on spot basis, 12 are on pending orders and 10 have not been ordered at all. This is costing ABC $285,000 annually, network said. Only conflict, ABC said, is with pending proposal by WVET-TV Rochester, N. Y., to move chs. 9 and 13 to Elmira, N. Y. Syracuse has only one other commercial operating station, ch. 3 WSYR-TV. Educational ch. 43 is assigned to New York Board of Regents but is not operating. Stuart First on U.S.S.R. Trip First U. S. station executive to visit USSR in connection with cultural program interchange is Harold C. Stuart, president of KVOO-AM-TV Tulsa and director of Assn. of Maximum Service Telecasters. He left Friday with Thomas Manhart, president of Century Geophysical Co., expert amateur photographer, and will offer Soviet typical locally produced radio and tv programs. After week in Moscow, itinerary includes trips to other Russian cities. Party returns to U. S. May 24. NAB's Radio Month Kits on Way Promotion kits to guide broadcasters in observing National Radio Month during May were mailed Friday by NAB. Theme of month is "Radio is close to you . . . at home ... on the move ... in your community . . . Radio is close to all America." Kit is more elaborate than others in past radio promotions. Part of material was mailed to non-member stations. Radio Advertising Bureau has mailed Radio Month kit including 101 ideas as well as speeches and other material. Broadcasting