Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1962)

CLOSED CIRCUIT Three-year rule Passed over at last week's FCC meeting — but coming up again this week — final decision which would prevent sale without hearing, of radiotv stations held by licensee for less than three years (Closed Circuit, Feb. 12). Sale would be permitted in less time under certain circumstances, such as ownership death or divorce settlement. "Inadequate" operating funds will not be reason for sale approval, as originally proposed, but "unavailability" of funds will be. Rule, as proposed over year ago, also has been tightened to delete death of key employes and "human factors" as valid reasons for selling. Despite near-unanimous opposition of industry, rule is expected to be cleared by FCC. It was issued in December I960 on 5-2 vote. K-K clearance Postponement of Kennedy-Khrushchev exchange of television talks from March 25 to date uncertain, alleviates tensions precipitated over manner in which networks were "instructed" by White House to clear for unprecedented event. While networks are reluctant to discuss matter, strong inference is that White House news secretary, Pierre Salinger, in effect, ordered clearances rather than suggested availability of program. Custom on all White House broadcasts including news conferences, has been to notify networks of events, with clearances handled on live or delayed basis at discretion of networks — if at all. There's no doubt that all networks would have jumped at opportunity to carry K-K exchange because of obvious newsworthiness but expected to be asked rather than told. Indefinite postponement developed because principals decided climate isn't right. Format decided upon by Soviet and U. S. is for President to speak in English for 15-minutes over Soviet system and his remarks to be translated into Russian. Khrushchev would be given equal treatment on U. S. tv networks. Cross reappointment Whether FCC Commissioner John S. Cross will be nominated for another term on FCC was in doubt last week — less than four months before June 30 expiration of his term. Leading candidate to succeed Arkansas Democrat is Kenneth A. Cox, for past year chief of Broadcast Bureau, who came to FCC from private law practice in Seattle, Wash., and who served as special counsel of Senate Commerce Committee on communications matters for several years. Mr. Cross is avowed candidate to succeed himself and is understood to have unqualified support of Arkansas Congressional delegation. But White House last week was represented as having made no decision on reappointment. Mr. Cross, former State Department telecommunications expert and ex-Navy captain, was appointed to FCC in 1958 to fill unexpired term of Richard A. Mack. Commercial standards Station Representatives Assn. and American Assn. of Advertising Agencies are agreed on joint recommendation setting up guides for physical handling of spot tv commercials by agencies and tv stations. Treated will be such oft-irritating details as standards and specifications in commercials. Three new MCA TV series MCA TV understood to be placing two one-hour and one half-hour network series into immediate release to stations via its Films Syndication Div., and plans to release three additional half-hour series later this year. New "off-network" programs are one-hour Thriller, now on NBC-TV, and Frontier Circus (CBS-TV) and half -hour Wells Fargo (which is now one-hour series on NBC-TV). MCA TV now has ten "off-network" shows in syndication. MCA TV reportedly acquired complete interest in Thriller after Hubbell Robinson, its producer, decided to return to CBS-TV as senior vice president, programming (Week's Headliners, page 10). Mr. Robinson produced series for sale throughout MCA TV. Those mixed-up taxes Most confused people in broadcasting are those who handle tax procedures for tv stations but there's some hope light will be shed later in year. Internal Revenue ruling that film rental costs must be deducted in pro rated sums (Broadcasting, March 5) left taxpayers up in air because of vague language. Hope for clarification centers on ( 1 ) proposal now being studied at NAB for industry tax conference and (2) petition filed by KIRO-TV Seattle with U.S. Tax Court challenging regional revenue office decision against station's film-rental deductions. FCC's housing held FCC isn't getting its own headquarters building in forseeable future but it will improve its position considerably under plans approved by General Services Administration, housekeeping agency for federal government. Substantial portion of old Evening Star Building, at 11th and Pennsylvania Avenue, just block away from FCC's "borrowed" space in Post Office Building, has been allocated to FCC to enable it to consolidate its Washington operations in two neighboring locations instead of four scattered sites. Star Building, now being extensively remodeled, will be available by summer but commissioners' offices and hearing rooms will be retained at present Post Office location. GSA Administrator Bernard L. Boutin says new location provides "semi-permanent" measure to alleviate FCC's housing plight but it does not preclude eventual new headquarters building. FCC now occupies 163,000 sq. ft. and its projected requirements (1970) are for minimum of 200,000 sq. ft. GSA action comes almost coincidental with formation last month of committee under auspices of Federal Communications Bar Assn. to foster establishment of new headquarters building for FCC. Committee will hold its second meeting March 21. (Closed Circuit February 12.) Jerrold back in cable tv Jerrold Electronics Corp., Philadelphia, is re-entering catv. It plans to hook up group of small communities in California coastal area and Salinas, Calif., is one of them. Salinas is city which asked FCC for guidance on granting franchise and received FCC letter two weeks ago (At Deadline, Feb. 26). Jerrold, pioneer in catv operations — as well as equipment— sold its nine systems in 1960 for $5 million to H&B American Corp. Running scared? Is fear of the long-range consequences of the upcoming hearing causing some network officials to go soft in union negotiations? One midwest official of a minor technical union seems to think management is running scared over local "anti-labor" label. He was amazed last week to discover New York contacts seemed virtual push-overs for demands which he said were normally resisted stoutly. Published every Monday, 53rd issue (Yearbook Number) published in September, by Broadcasting Publications Inc., 1735 DeSales St., N. W., Washington 6, D. C. Second-class postage paid at Washington, D. C, and additional offices.