Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr-Jun 1958)

dent of Kansas Broadcasters Assn.; Frank Jarman, general manager, WDNC Durham, N. C; Elden Shute, vice president, WKTQ South Paris, Me., and president of Maine Broadcasters Assn.; E. R. Vadeboncoeur, president, WSYR Syracuse, N. Y., and former president of state association; W. Randall Davidson, general manager, WAKN Aiken, S. C, and president of state association; Leo Morris, general manager, WBBZ Ponca City, Okla., and president of Oklahoma Broadcasters Assn., and John Patt, president, WJR Detroit. Thursday — Bandleaders Sammy Kaye (BMI) and Ray Block (ASCAP); singer Jane Pickens; Jimmie Davis, former governor of Louisiana; tv-recording personality Nat (King) Cole (ASCAP) or his wife; Sam Philhps, president, WHER Memphis, Tenn.; Malcolm Merrick, personal manager for radio-tv-movie star Jack Benny, and Eddie Gallaher, WTOP Washington disc jockey. Atlanta Stations Prepare Defense To Program-Imbalance Charge Atlanta radio stations queried by the FCC three weeks ago regarding purported imbalance in their program structures [Closed Circuit, March 31] were preparing responses this week following receipt of the Commission's detailed letter of inquiry. Stations involved are WAKE, WAOK, WEAS, WERD, WGST, WQXI, WTJH (East Point, Ga.) and WIIN (Decatur, Ala.). Five Atlanta stations had their licenses renewed with no questions raised about their programming. They were WSB-AMFM, WAGA-AM-FM and WYZE. WGKAAM-FM was told that its application for license renewal was received too late to process. WAGA-AM-FM has not been renewed but no question has been raised regarding programming. Its renewal has been deferred pending clarification of purported collusion with its network. All radio stations whose license renewals were deferred claim they have a clean bill of health. Questioned by the FCC were the composite week logs furnished by stations when applying for license renewals. Indications were, it was learned, that the stations queried had little or no so-called public interest programs. The FCC's letter to the stations was as follows [edited to protect the addressee]: "Gentlemen: "The Commission considered your application on March 27, 1958 and withheld action thereon pending further study of the station's past and proposed operation. In the course of the staff review of Section IV of the renewal application, it is noted that during the 1957 composite week the station did not devote any time to [deleted] programs and very small amounts of time to [deleted]. It appears from the application that the station's format consists primarily of recorded music and news. Additionally your response to the request for a statement on the policy to be pursued with respect to [deleted] does not provide sufficient information to permit a determination of the station's policy. "In view of [deleted], there is a question whether the station is meeting its responsibilities and obligations to the Atlanta community in adopting a program format which omits, to a large degree, any educational, discussion, agri Broadcasting FEDERAL EYES AND EARS The government has mechanized its war against the unscrupulous broadcast advertiser. In Washington the radio-tv monitoring unit of the Federal Trade Commission headquarters staff now is fully equipped with kinescope and recording equipment, giving attorneys something to show for their hours around the receiver. They used to monitor at home, later requisitioning copies of questionable commercials from their source, and this is the way field officers still conduct monitoring. The Washington operation now is geared, however, for quicker action. A continuously operating tape recorder takes down television audio from station sign-on to sign-off. Lawyers study the tape record for deceptive ad claims, picking out dubious spots for kinescoping the next time they come around. Radio monitoring is considerably simpler, involving only the audio record. Mobilizing against deceptive commercials has cost the FTC more than $3,000. If the Washington unit is productive, presumably the federal agency will equip offices in the field. The monitor unit's box score since it was created in October 1956 shows about 10 formal complaints against radio-tv advertisers and 17 other cases settled without running the course of litigation. Officials claim a noticeable decrease in commercial exaggerations since the watchdog unit was created. mmm THE SOURCE of government evidence in the case of the people vs. the fraudulent tv advertiser is pointed out by T. Harold Scott, FTC legal adviser and head of the broadcast monitoring unit. Questionable commercials are recorded sound-on-film by the kinescope system, with a title card (c) to establish "credits." Looking on is Harry A. Babcock, now executive director of the trade commission but who was chief of the bureau of investigation at the time the monitoring program was set up. PRIOR to kinescoping, preliminary tv reconnoitering is done by taping audio from the unit's other receiver, operated at left by Joseph J. Connolly, chief project attorney for the monitor unit. Simultaneously (below) radio commercials are checked for violations on the FTC's powerful set. April 14, 1958 Page 61