Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr-Jun 1958)

CBS STRIKE continued reference to Local 1212's willingness to meet with labor commissioner Felix. Throughout the week there were reports of maneuvers by both CBS and Local 1212 to bring pressures to bear for a settlement. The network sent a letter to each striking employe, outlining in detail the proposals of its final contract offer. IBEW was understood to be miffed by CBS' avoidance of "channels of communication." Local 1212 sent telegrams to the leading advertising agencies in New York, asking their "cooperation" in the dispute by "the withdrawal of all programs from CBS." It added that "when we return to CBS, we shall amply demonstrate to those who cooperate with us now our gratitude and thanks in no uncertain way." A CBS official said the network carries no insurance against disruption of its programmine, except for its Baseball Game of the Week. He said the network had not computed the cost in rebates to advertisers stemming from the outright cancelation of programs and the fluffs in some commercials, largely during the first day. An IBEW official challenged the view expressed by many network executives on the "good" quality of tv production after the first day. He claimed that directors on many of the tv shows were "exasperated" by the ineptness of supervisory personnel handling the technicians' assignments. He acknowledged that production was "fair" but said this was because the directors necessarily are "shooting it tight, restricting mobility and scope." A network spokesman reported that only on Monday were live programs cancelled and not replaced with a kinescope of the same show. The cancelled programs were Art Linkletter's House Party (2:30-3 p.m.), sponsored by Standard Brands and Campbell Soup Co., and As the World Turns (1:30-2 p.m.), with 15 minutes of the program sponsored by Procter & Gamble. In their time slots, the network carried a half-hour anthology of filmed programs. The spokesman said that CBS-TV would reimburse the advertisers for the cancelation but could not specify the returnable sums. Programs that used kinescopes of earlier presentations included Studio One (Mon., 10-11 p.m.), which carried "The Deaf Heart" in place of "The Enemy Within"; Beat the Clock (Tues., 2-2:30 p.m.), and The Red Skelton Show (Tues., 9:30-10 p.m.); Climax! (Thurs., 8:30-9:30 p.m.), which telecast "Home Call for Matthew Quade" in place of the scheduled "Volcano Seat"; Playhouse 90 (Thurs., 9:30-11 p.m.), which substituted a 90-minute film drama, "The Dungeon" (originally planned for this coming week) , in place of the live "Rumors of Evening." It was pointed out by a CBS-TV official that on Wednesday, the hour-long live presentation of the U. S. Steel Hour (10-11 p.m.) was telecast "without any difficulty at all." He explained that the network deemed it wise to forego live telecasting of Climax! and Playhouse 90 on Thursday because these programs originate in Hollywood. Network personnel there, he continued, have not had "the extensive training" that em WHO'S OUT, WHO'S IN On strike: Cameramen, video men. audio men, master control engineers, projectionists, boom operators, cable men, transmitter engineers, shaders, technical directors, film editors, construction engineers. At work: such technical and semi-technical jobs as stage hands, lighting directors, staging directors, carpenters, set decorators and scenery painters. THE MONEY ISSUE This is a breakdown of the finances involved as outlined by CBS: Cost to CBS of salaries and benefits to IBEW employes (approx. 1,400) for 2V2 years, Feb. 1, 1958 to Aug. 1, 1960: Current rate: $29,030,846 in salaries and $146,000 in contributory life insurance payments (total) $29,176,846. Last CBS proposal: $30,792,656 in salaries and $280,000 in 100% completely paid life insurance (total) $31,072,656. Last IBEW proposal (4/4/58): $32,681,038 in salaries and $280,000 in 100% completely paid life insurance (total) $32,961,038. In percentages: final CBS proposal would give IBEW a 6.5% increase. Final IBEW proposal would give IBEW a 12.97% increase. WATCHING & WAITING Interested observers of IBEW's dispute with CBS are members of the National Assn. of Broadcast Employes & Technicians, who last Thursday sent reports to the international office in New York detailing why they rejected an offer by NBC and ABC. A spokesman for NABET International said reports from its locals would be studied and evaluated and by next week NBC and ABC would have a consolidated report of the local's attitude. The network and NABET International reached an agreement Feb. 1 [Personnel Relations, Feb. 10] but this proposal failed of ratification by the membership. A new meeting is expected to be arranged after the networks have studied NABET's report. NABET members, numbering 1,600 at NBC and 800 at ABC, are understandably interested in the IBEW strike. The outcome there conceivably could have some bearing on the final contract proffered by NBC and ABC. Although the unions are rivals, feeling ran high among some NABET members last week for support of the IBEW strikers. A spokesman at NABET headquarters acknowledged there was considerable talk about joining IBEW strikers on picket duty and setting up a strike fund. But he emphasized that, officially, NABET has taken no position in the matter. ployes in New York have had, and the supply of available workers there also is limited because a larger percent belong to the union. He indicated, however, that these telecasts will be attempted this week and the network plans to program its regular schedule without substitutions, assuming the walkout continues. CBS-TV's plans were to proceed with live out-of-the-studio pickups of the Edward R. Murrow Person-to-Person program Friday night (10:30-11 p.m.), although a network official acknowledged the program could prove to be "a challenge" to the substitute personnel. Although CBS-TV was scheduled to telecast a baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday afternoon, the network was undecided whether to proceed with the arrangement or present a game from another city. CBS-TV officials said the eventual cost to the network for programs that used kinescopes in place of the scheduled shows would be "nominal." Unlike cancelled programs, the kinescopes contain commercials for the advertiser. A spokesman for the CBS-TV Owned Stations Div. said only a few local programs were cancelled and film shows substituted. Present plans, he added, are to abandon some of the live shows scheduled over the weekend (when a larger proportion of shows are live) and utilize film. On the five CBS-owned tv stations affected by the strike, the official reported, there have been instances of station breaks and some program announcements either eliminated or garbled. In these eventualities, he said, the station will act as it normally does in cases of missed commercials — give the advertiser "time credit." CBS Radio reported that programming continued uninterrupted on the network and on the owned stations, with "only a few, slight miscues." The network's owned outlets in St. Louis, KMOX-AM-TV, did not participate in the strike. It was reported that IBEW members there felt there should have been a ballot before strike action was implemented. In Chicago 1 1 0 members of IBEW Local 1220 walked off their jobs at 12:05 p.m. (CST) Monday, cutting off a local news program on WBBM-TV. CBS Chicago promptly pressed an emergency plan into operation, losing only about five minutes air time. WBBM-TV called on a pool of 585 employes to man technical posts. H. Leslie Atlass, CBS vice president in charge of the Central Div. and general manager of WBBM-AM-TV reported members of other IBEW locals, including three house electricians from Local 134, had refused to cross picket lines, stationed in the front and side of CBS Chicago headquarters at 630 N. McClurg Court. Ten painters walked out Monday but returned the following day, he added, while 30 members of IATSE also declined to enter the CBS plant. Later, two IBEW technicians crossed the line and returned to their jobs. Frank Atlass, WBBM-TV program di Page 34 • April 14, 1958 Broadcasting