Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1962)

Late news breaks on this page and on page 10 AT Complete coverage of week begins on page 27 r\ \ House group hears deintermixture pros, cons BUT AS HEARING ENDS, MOST FAVOR ALL-CHANNEL LAW Pro and anti-deintermixture forces clashed Friday as House Commerce Committee wound up hearing on legislation to bar FCC for substituting uhf for existing vhf channels (see story, page 42). Legislation to require television-set manufacturers to build only all-channel receivers, also under consideration, received virtually unanimous endorsement of more than 20 witnesses. Robert Coe, ABC vice president for station relations, favored selective deintermixture, calling it essential to establishment of competitive, nation-wide television system. He said FCC's proposal to deintermix eight markets would, if implemented, provide four million viewers with full three-network service for first time. Lester Lindow, executive director of Assn. of Maximum Service Telecasters, countered with argument that selective deintermixture is "geographically impossible." It would lead to all-uhf television, he said, resulting in "tragic waste" of tv's potential. He urged enactment of legislation to protect public against deintermixture action by FCC. The Affirmative ■ Support for deintermixture was voiced by Rep. William H. Ayres (R-Ohio), concerned about WAKR-TV Akron; Mark Evans, vice president of Metromedia, Inc., owner of WTVP (TV) Decatur, 111.; John English, WSEE (TV) Erie, Pa.; and Gene Posner, WXIX (TV) Milwaukee. All are uhf outlets. Decatur and Erie stations would benefit from proposed deintermixture proceedings. Their views were opposed, however, by representatives of several vhf stations threatened with deintermixture: Paul W. Morency, president, WTICTV Hartford; Arthur M. Ingram, general manager, WICU-TV Erie, Pa.; Joseph M. Baish, vice president, WREX-TV Rockford, 111.; Ernest W. Jennes, counsel for WCIA (TV) Champaign, 111.; and Richard Shafto, president, WIS-TV Columbia, S. C. Lawrence H. Rogers II, executive vice president, Taft Broadcasting Co., also endorsed legislation to prohibit deintermixture. H. Walter Watts, RCA group executive vice president and director, endorsed all-channel set legislation as means of furthering development of uhf. He asked, however, that language be tightened so that regulatory author ity over set design could not extend beyond requirements for vhf and uhf tuners. He also suggested that excise tax on all-channel sets be eliminated to bring their cost to consumer in line with that of vhf-only sets. Committee in addition received delegations from South Carolina, including states attorney general, and Alabama. They pleaded for retention of vhf channels in their states that FCC has marked for deletion — ch. 10 Columbia, S. C, and ch. 12 Montgomery (WSFA-TV). Kennedy, Nixon, Minow laud Stanton President John F. Kennedy, former Vice President Richard M. Nixon and FCC Chairman Newton Minow sent congratulations to Radio & Tv Executives Society of New York and CBS Inc. president, Dr. Frank Stanton, on occasion of presentation of RTES gold medal award to Dr. Stanton (see story, page 63). President Kennedy paid tribute to Dr. Stanton for his "substantial accomplishments and contributions" to broadcasting and communications field. Mr. Nixon wired that "no man could be more deserving of your gold medal award." Mr. Minow, praising Dr. Stanton's leadership in broadcasting, said: "I'll bet NBC would trade Dr. Kildare and ABC would trade Dr. Ben Casey for Dr. Frank Stanton, at least tonight." Pay tv foes to appeal court's Hartford stand Joint Committee Against Toll Tv reported Friday (March 9) it will appeal — to U.S. Supreme Court — decision by U.S. District Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., which sustained FCC's authorization of pay tv experiment in Hartford (see story, page 44). Philip F. Harling, chairman of joint committee, said writ of certiorari to be filed with Supreme Court will seek to determine whether FCC can authorize test. Pabst, Melnor buy part of horse race classics Only one-quarter participation sponsorship remains unsold in CBS-TV's telecasts of horse racing's triple crown in May and June. Pabst Brewing Co., Chicago, through Kenyon & Eckhardt in that city, purchased half sponsorship. Quarter participation was bought by Melnor Industries, Brooklyn, lawn sprinkler manufacturer, through Smith/ Greenland, New York. Triple crown races are Kentucky Derby, May 15; Preakness, May 19, and Belmont Stakes, June 9. FCC warns stations on 'double billing' "Double billing" practices of broadcasting stations have reached such proportions that FCC issued warning Friday (March 9), it will institute "appropriate proceedings" when evidence is found that any licensee is engaging in this "reprehensible" practice. In its announcement, FCC said it has got complaints against station practice of submitting two bills to local advertiser. Second bill is larger than actual cost of spots aired and is sent on to manufacturer or national advertisers by local firm to support claim for cooperative reimbursement. FCC spokesman said "not many" complaints have been received — they are primarily from advertisers and newspaper associations — but agency itself has turned up several instances of double billing in station investigations. "The practice is widespread" in broadcasting, FCC said. Not so New ■ Another FCC official remarked that broadcasters did not in Merger for JFK? Some members of Radio-Tv Correspondents Assn. — to which broadcast newsmen accredited in Washington belong — are talking up merger of that association's annual black tie dinner with similar affairs sponsored by White House Correspondents Assn. and White House Photographers Assn. Reason: President Kennedy has let it be known he won't attend all three dinners each year. White House correspondents and photographers have already joined for single dinner which President is expected to attend April 27. Highest ranking official at Radio-Tv dinner Feb. 24 was Chief Justice Earl Warren. more AT DEADLINE page 10 9