Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1960)

Late news breaks on this page and on page 10 Complete coverage of week begins on page 29 AT DEADLINE . . . '. Hearing called on high towers Public hearing on Federal Aviation Agency's proposed rules requiring FAA clearance for tv towers and other tall structures will be held early in January in Washington. Meeting was set by E. R. Quesada, FAA administrator, in Friday wire to Charles H. Tower, NAB tv vice president. Move followed meeting earlier that day between FAA officials and group comprising broadcast, railroad, petroleum, real estate and municipal officers associations. Group, organized under aegis of NAB, asked FAA to authorize public hearing to study impact of proposed rules. FAA rules were issued in draft form last September. They propose to require FAA approval for all structures extending 175 ft. above ground in certain areas near airports and flyways, and 500 ft. at other sites (Broadcasting, Sept. 19 et seq.). Major conflict arose over jurisdiction between FAA and FCC. FAA stated it had final word on whether proposed towers were aeronautical hazards. They implied this would be sufficient to ban broadcast grants. FCC and broadcasters rejected this thesis, asserting FCC by law has final say on whether to grant radio or tv licenses. Impasse broke early last Tv's 'biggest show' NBC-TV's Peter Pan presentation last Thursday night (7:309:30 p.m. EST) drew largest onenetwork audience in history of television, NBC claimed Friday. It said American Research Bureau's National Arbitron gave it total audience of 24.3 million homes, with 17.7 million homes tuned per average minute. NBC said average audience rating for Pan, making its third appearance on network, was 39.8, or 1.5 times combined ratings of network competition. Largest tv audience in history was for election coverage last month, when 83 million people in 33 million homes watched during single half-hour, according to ARB (Broadcasting. Nov. 14), but those figures counted tune-in to all three networks. Sarnoff to appear NBC Board Chairman Robert W. Sarnoff reportedly will be leadoff broadcast witness in hearings this Thursday-Friday by House Campaign Expenditures Committee on high costs of running for public office as result of extensive use of tv and radio and on hardships imposed on candidates because of length of time between nomination and election (story, page 67). Other networks have been invited to testify, but had not indicated acceptance by last Friday. month when Mr. Quesada agreed FCC has final powers on grants for broadcast stations (Broadcasting, Nov. 21). MGM eyes tv market for post-'48 features Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer officially confirmed Friday (Dec. 9) it is reviewing post-'48 feature market in television so company "will be able to act promptly when circumstances are most favorable." MGM first indicated interest at time Screen Gems leased more than 200 Columbia features to five CBS owned and operated tv stations (Broadcasting, Dec. 5). MGM's official position was contained in annual report which disclosed more than $9.5 million net profit ($3.83 per share) for fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 1960, gain of 25% over previous fiscal year. MGM president Joseph R. Vogel said he was confident earnings for fiscal 1961 would substantially exceed current period, and that during 1960 licensing of pre1949 features and short subjects to tv brought total $58.3 million in contracts. Media invited to join ANA-AAAA ethics project Broadcasters and other media people were officially invited Friday to take part in agency-advertiser self-regulation project. Invitation was voted by Assn. of National Advertisers and American Assn. of Advertising Agencies Committee for Improvement of Advertising Content. It had been indicated this would be done when committee's socalled Interchange of Opinion on Objectionable Advertising, originally sponsored by AAAA alone, became co-sponsored by ANA (Broadcasting, Oct. 10). Broadcasters and other media executives should direct their complaints against advertising taste, etc., to interchange committee via their respective media associations (NAB, etc.). Gov. Collins honored at Orlando dinner Surprise testimonial to Gov. LeRoy Collins, of Florida, who assumes NAB presidency Jan. 4, was paid Thursday night at Orlando, Fla., dinner by nearly 300 state and military leaders. Gov. Collins was host at dinner paying tribute to achievements of military in state. Event took reverse twist when guests presented him with trophies, paintings and other gifts for his helpfulness to military services in area. He was described as "a man who worked as an announcer for a week last summer," referring to his chairmanship of Democratic convention. He told dinner he had received over 8,000 letters as result of convention role. Lt. Gen. Donald N. Yates, USAF, deputy director of defense research and engineering, said three communications satellites now in orbit "increase solid communications channels by 10 to 40 times, or half again as many as now exist between the East and West Coasts." He described weather satellite as "biggest breakthrough in meteorological history." He added, "We are going into the space age faster than most people realize." WBC buys KLAC for $4.25 million Purchase of KLAC-AM-FM Los Angeles by Westinghouse Broadcasting Co. for $4.25 million is being announced today (Dec. 12). Acquisition of Los Angeles independent, subject to usual FCC approval, would give WBC its seventh am station. It also owns five tv stations. KLAC, on 570 kc with 5 kw day, 1 kw night, is owned by Mortimer Hall, who bought it from his mother, Mrs. Dorothy Schiff Sonneborn, in 1956 for $850,000. Mr. Hall continues his part ownership in KEAP San Francisco. Westinghouse stations are WBZ-AMFM TV Boston, WBZA AM FM Springfield, both Mass.; KYW-AMFM-TV Cleveland, KPIX (TV) San Francisco, WJZ-TV Baltimore, KDKAAM-FM-TV Pittsburgh, WOWO Fort Wayne, KEX-AM-FM Portland, Ore., and WIND Chicago. Other sales reported Friday and subject to usual FCC approval: ■ KWBA Baytown, Tex.: Sold by BROADCASTING, December 12, 1960 more AT DEADLINE page 10 9