Broadcasting (Apr - June 1960)

mously to supply their facilities, he said. He offered another idea — adoption of a resolution suspending Sec. 315 requirements, to be followed after the campaign by a study of the whole subject. In any case he flatly opposed a law compelling broadcasters to provide free time. He said CBS’ offer specifies exclusive broadcasts. David C. Adams, NBC senior executive vice president, told the committee NBC's offer of weekly Meet the Press hour-long programs presenting candidates had led Rep. Stewart L. Udall (D-Ariz.) to withdraw his House version of the free-time bill (HR 11260) as superfluous (At Deadline, May 9). Mr. Adams pointed to “grave constitutional questions” in the legislation, specifying interference with freedom of expression, taking property for public use without just compensation and discrimination in singling out one medium for donation of facilities and services. The NBC offer was first made April 21 by Robert W. Sarnoff, board chairman, in a New York address to the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Oliver Treyz, ABC-TV president, said the network would pre-empt the three hours it felt would provide the largest audience. He suggested such programs as 77 Sunset Strip, The Untouchables and Donna Reed-Real McCoys. CBS, he suggested, could preempt Have Gun Will Travel and Gunsmoke or, Ed Sullivan and Perry Mason, and NBC Wagon Train, Perry Como and Bonanza. Sen. A.S. Mike Monroney (D-Okla.) insisted during the hearing that the bill would solve the difficult problem of providing time for candidate appearances Let's rotate ■ Facing crossfire, ABC president Oliver Treyz proposed threeway division of voluntary prime time. All were opposed ■ Vice President Thomas E. Dewey criticized Senate Richard Nixon, ex-President Herbert bill to seize network time for politics. Hoover and ex-presidential candidate (See separate story page 76). on tv. And Sen. Ralph W. Yarborough (D-Tex.), co-author with Sen. Monroney of S 3171, kept emphasizing the air belongs to the people, with industry witnesses accepting his point but disagreeing with the right of Congress to seize time segments or control program content. See How It Works ■ Adlai Stevenson, Democratic presidential nominee in 1952 and 1956 and former governor of Illinois, was receptive to the idea of a voluntary plan among the networks to make tv time available to major presidential nominees, but said Sec. 315 would have to be amended anyway to eliminate demands for equal time by splinter candidates. He thought the plan might be tried to see “how it works.” He didn’t think presently-exempted news and panel programs would be a good substitute because they are “interrogative” and “diluted.” The candidate should be able to talk on any subject he wishes without interruption or cueing, he thought. Mr. Stevenson felt a half-hour for each candidate for eight weeks is enough, 45 minutes at most. He didn’t explain exactly why he would modify the amount of time, but did say he received a wire from one irate viewer during the 1956 campaign: “I like Ike and I Love Lucy. Drop dead!” The former Democratic nominee said he had no objection to federal financing of appearances on tv by presidential candidates, but he thought networks could well afford to contribute eight hours of time every four years. Mr. Stevenson felt tv networks would How about stations? ■ Adlai Stevenson figured networks will donate time; but was not certain affiliates will re spond. He urged amendment of Sec. 315, wondered if half-hour or less might be preferable to hour show. BROADCASTING, May 23, 1960 73