Broadcasting (Apr - June 1960)

tries; that its effect doesn’t mean a slap on the wrist to NBC.” Major peeve of Mr. Celler, it is reported, is that he believes that NBC has achieved what the government antitrust suit sought to prevent — vhf tv stations in five of the top eight markets. NBC has tv stations in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles as well as in Washington and Philadelphia. In discussing resuming his network study, Rep. Celler is understood to be anxious to determine what the FCC has done about the Barrow Network Study. This took place two years ago and resulted in a series of recommendations, several of which already have been voluntarily adopted by the industry or by FCC fiat. The networks are under orders to reduce option time by 30 minutes in each broadcast segment. Mr. Celler and, at one time, the Dept, of Justice tagged option time as an antitrust violation. The Judiciary chairman is also concerned, it was said, at the intimation that once the Dept, of Justice washes its hands of a case, other government agencies might presume that this signifies approval on antitrust grounds and refuse to consider this “public policy” question in their own deliberations. This is said to be the reason Mr. Celler is expected to watch closely the T o the uninitiated, a page of Gregg is so much Greek. But a secretary trained in the symbology of shorthand's foremost authority can translate it into a meaningful communication. To a bus-driver, a page from the 1960 BROADCASTING YEARBOOK won't be very lucid either. But the men and women who make important decisions in broadcast advertising look upon this comprehensive volume as THE authority for a multitude of facts about television and radio . . . dependable facts they can Political survey An annoyed FCC reminded broadcasters last week that they are expected to answer all questions on the questionnaire regarding station policies in giving political broadcast time. The commission sent questionnaires to all tv stations on the request of the Senate Communications Subcommittee (Broadcasting, May 23). The commission said that the questionnaires, due June 6, “indicate a neglect by many to answer two specific questions.” One question deals with general policy to make free time available and the other with the November presidential elections — clearing time for sustaining programs from both network and non-network sources. FCC said stations that have returned incomplete questionnaires should supply the additional information “promptly.” FCC’s action on this matter. It was predicted that if the FCC approves the transactions without a thor translate into more profitable advertising plans. Nowhere is so much useful TV-radio information assembled within a single set of covers, or consulted so often dayafter-day throughout the year. The 1960 BROADCASTING YEARBOOK, packed with more data about the broadcast media than ever before, will be delivered to subscribers in early September. Your message gets a big bonus of attention and long life at regular BROADCASTING rates. Today's the day to reserve a good spot for it. ough investigation and hearing Mr. Celler is going to move in — fast. As of now, however, no plans have been made or announced on resuming the antitrust subcommittee hearings on ; broadcasting or the networks. Justice Finds No Abuse ■ Significantly it was the Justice Dept.’s finding that there was no abuse on the part of NBC in the forthcoming station transfers j that set the New Yorker off. The government’s position was given in May 26 letter to Rep. Celler by Mr. Bicks. This was in response to a telegram from the congressman. Mr. Bicks told Mr. Celler that Justice had begun an intensive investigation of ji all the facts surrounding the NBCRKO deal as soon as the agreements j were finalized. This was in January. Interviews were conducted with 48 people, Mr. Bicks reported, and documents were obtained from the principals. Key NBC and RKO General officials were interviewed under oath, he i explained. Ticking off the possible illegalities, 1 Mr. Bicks reported that his antitrust i division had found that: ■ There was no present or prior con :■ nection between the owners of KTVU 1 and RKO General by which “leverage” i was exerted by the latter on the former jS in order to get the San Francisco station to agree to sell to NBC. Several i; owners of KTVU are former officials Ui of RKO General. ■ There was no use of economic j! leverage in the agreements between !j» NBC and RKO to permit the view that a tie-in transaction was involved. Ji NBC’s agreement with RKO for the exchange of the Philadelphia and Bos yj. ton stations was contingent on the net T work’s acquiring another station in an |i ji other market. It also had been alleged that RKO General’s agreement to ex Iw change its Boston station for NBC’s [I; Philadelphia outlets was conditioned i on RKO General’s buying the net ; work’s Washington stations. ■ In its negotiations with RKO Gen ! eral the network had not exerted the Ij power of network affiliation to force j? RKO General to agree to the transac jr tions. In fact, said Mr. Bicks, “the evi I dence obtained seems more consistent i with the proposition that RKO General ■ occupied a stronger bargaining posi J; tion than NBC.” ■ NBC’s unsuccessful negotiations r with KRON-TV San Francisco in ( volved no restraint of trade. NBC had j tried to buy the San Francisco Chron jl icle station first, but the Chronicle re 14 fused to sell at what it termed the un * satisfactory offer made by the network. ■ ■ No unlawful means that would ■ stand up in court could be found that implied the arrangements between Ji: '] NBC and RKO General and the pur jl j Deadlines? July 1 if proofs are needed; July 15, no proofs. BROADCASTING THE BUSINESSWEEKLY OF TELEVISION AND RADIO 1"735 DeSales Street, N. W., Washington 6, D. C. in Shorthand . . . in TV and Radio . . . IT’S BROADCASTING it’s Gregg YEARBOOK! BROADCASTING, June 6, I960