Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1961)

WEEK'S HEADLINERS James P. Sweeney, vp and member of board of directors, Henri, Hurst & McDonald, Chicago, joins CampbellMithun, that city, as vp and account supervisor on recently acquired Admiral account. He headed Admiral group at HHM for past two and one-half years after serving earlier for two years as account executive on Admiral Electronics Div. Previously, Mr. Sweeney was account executive and vp in charge of radio-tv at Gourfain-Cobb & Assoc. February. Number of additional markets has not yet been determined. At same time, company announced it had renewed sponsorship of ABC-TV's Ozzie & Harriet (7:30-8 p.m. EST, Thursdays) . O'Cedar Division of American-Marietta Co., Chicago, and Fels & Co., Philadelphia, have placed orders for daytime segments on NBC-TV. O'Cedar already is heavy daytime user; Fels is using network tv for first time. Turner Adv., Chicago is O'Cedar's agency; Richard K. Manoff, New York, handles Fels. Networks neck and neck It would appear it's nip and tuck in ratings among three tv networks, if full-week (ending Dec. 3) reports are averaged. According to analysis released by ABC-TV: Mon.-Sun., 7:301 1 p.m., period for that week based on Nielsen multi-market report, reveals ABC-TV has average rating of 18.1, CBS-TV has 18.1 and NBC-TV has 18.5. Clyne plans return Reports that C. Terence Clyne, formerly top tv executive at McCann-Erickson, plans to return to agency business and has been negotiating to join Maxon Inc., were confirmed Friday. He's said to be scheduled for top management post at Maxon in close association with Louis Maxon, president of agency, which has offices in Detroit and New York. Mr. Clyne resigned last summer (Broadcasting, July 17) as chairman of McCann-Erickson Productions, tv-radio division of Inter-public Inc., and as vice chairman of McCann-Erickson. Details of his pending association with Maxon are not yet worked out. Don Menchel, manager of buying division of Tv Stations Inc., New York, elected vp of company by board of directors. Mr. Menchel, who has been with Tv Stations Inc. for five years and previously was with ABC Films, continues as manager of buying but, in addition becomes chief administrative assistant to Herb Jacobs, president. Tv Stations Inc. is owned by tv stations in more than 100 markets and serves as their film program buying consultant. Rep. Thompson charges tv is 'callous, greedy' Rep. Frank Thompson (D-N.J.), chairman of House Select Subcommittee on Education, accused television industry Friday of callousness and greed. Tv is "more interested in selling razor blades" than in program quality, he said. Rep. Thompson made remark during hearing held by his subcommittee in San Francisco on economic condition of performing artists. He said television companies should record "the great orchestras" and make programs available to small communities that now lack good music. He said he would discuss matter with FCC Chairman Newton N. Minow. But Rep. Thompson's plan did not win support of union official. Paul Rosen, representing local of American Federation of Musicians, said, live orchestras would be better for small communities than televised programs beamed to them. Earlier, Phil Fisher, AFM official, restated union's request for protection against imported musical sound tracks that are used in television and movies. Court backs FCC denial in am interference case FCC was upheld Friday in denying application for new am radio station where more than 10% of population in proposed service area would receive interference from another station. U. S. Appeals Court in Washington said FCC was correct when it turned down application by Guinan Realty Co. for new standard station in Mount Carmel, Pa., because 22% of population in projected coverage area would be subject to interference from WFBR Baltimore, Md., on 1300 kc. New program hearing date Requests by three tv networks for two-week postponement of program hearings (see page 83) were granted by FCC Friday (Dec. 8). En banc hearings now are scheduled to begin Jan. 23 instead of Jan. 9. Commission did not act on networks request for designation of order of their appearance. Joseph W. Evans dies; Storer Programs manager Joseph W. Evans, general manager, Storer Programs Inc., died Thursday (Dec. 7), after brief hospitalization with malignant tumor at base of spine. He joined Storer Broadcasting Co. in May 1958 as general sales manager of WVUE (TV) Philadelphia, and held similar position at WITI-TV Milwaukee, where he was also managing director. Prior to assuming post with Storer Programs Inc. on Aug. 1, 1961. he was managing director of WSPD-TV Toledo, Ohio. WBRO asks new look at short-term license WBRO Waynesboro, Ga., Friday asked FCC to reconsider short-term license renewal (15 months) agency handed station and to grant full threeyear renewal (Broadcasting, Nov. 13). Station said promise-versus-performance shortcoming found by FCC was unfair because present licensee wasn't operating WBRO on two of seven composite-week days that commission considered. (It acquired station November 1959). WBRO said it has attempted to learn and serve needs of community and is trying to fill educational, talk and discussion program categories. Station claimed talk category promise would have been fulfilled if free public service commercials WBRO broadcast had been used as subjects for talk program. Services for Blair-Tv exec Funeral services were scheduled Dec. 9 for John W. Davis, 46, vice president of Blair-Tv, Chicago, who died late Wednesday of operation earlier that day for brain aneurysm. He had been ill three weeks. Mr. Davis had been with Blair 16 years. He leaves wife Ellie and two children. Looking ahead Sign of well-advanced network planning for next season time period scheduling: ABC-TV Friday (Dec. 8) confirmed tentative placing of new series, Going My Way. starring Gene Kelly, in Monday 10-11 p.m. slot. Ben Casey now in that period would move up to 9 p.m. in place of Surfside Six, which would be rescheduled. New season's start is now more than 10 months away. For other personnel changes of the week see FATES & FORTUNES 10 BROADCASTING, December 11, 1961