Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1962)

THE MEDIA NAB SERIES OFF TO GOOD START Atlanta, New York sessions find station operating problems are biggest concern; Cox discussions felt most valuable The 1962 version of NAB's Fall Conference series took a new turn last week in Atlanta and New York — basic and sometimes heated discussions of station operating problems. A new lVi-day format at these first two of eight conferences provoked floor exchanges on editorializing, politics, codes and a wide range of FCC problems. At Atlanta the Monday-Tuesday conference featured a one-man FCC roundtable with Kenneth A. Cox, chief of the commission's Broadcast Bureau, in the middle. Broadcasters pelted him with queries about the way they should run their stations. He replied with explanations of commission requirements and also offered personal opinions on some of the touchy issues. Attendance at Atlanta set an all-time record for a southern NAB conference with 269 delegates registered. At Dallas last year the conference opener drew 197 registrations. The IVi-day format proved popular with many broadcasters. A number felt the frank question-answer exchanges with Mr. Cox were the most valuable part of the meeting. Broadcasters' questions were the practical rather than the policy type usually submitted to commission members at NAB's annual conventions. As the Atlanta meeting closed Frank Gaither, WSB Atlanta, proposed that the observations made by Mr. Cox, plus any similar exchanges later in the conference series, be packaged in the form of a sort of catechism. Vincent T. Wasilewski, NAB executive vice president, said some such plan is being considered. On to Chicago ■ The autumn conference series continues today (Oct. 22) at the Edgewater Beach Hotel, Chicago, and the first half of the series closes Oct. 25-26 at the Statler Hilton Hotel, Washington. The second round of four conferences starts Nov. 8-9 at the Sheraton-Dallas Hotel, in Dallas. In his Atlanta comments last week Mr. Cox said the FCC's new program forms, as now being considered, may specify that short promotional announcements for upcoming programs need not be logged as commercials even if the sponsor's name is mentioned, unless the promotions are part of the contract. He said the commission will need visual renditions of automatic logs for its internal use. As to the controversial rule dealing with signatures of executive officers in filings, he explained the commission desires signatures of those in final authority and whoever is responsible for broadcast operations where the licensee, for example, is a subsidiary company. He suggested a commonsense interpretation, noting there shouldn't be a question "if the topranking man signs the application." The FCC is concerned about the shape fm is taking, he said, noting the trend toward 100% musical programming with no news, public affairs or religious programming in some cases. He recalled some applications justify this format by explaining these programs are already available in the community. "We realize it's a lot cheaper just to program music," he said. Mr. Cox answered specific questions dealing with editorializing and politics. What NAB's Doing ■ NAB staff officials, led by President LeRoy Collins, described association activities. Gov. Collins was the principal speaker at the opening-day luncheons held in Atlanta and New York (see story page 76). The agenda format was based on staff presentations the first morning; Gov. Collins' speech; separate radio and tv sessions the first afternoon, with a chance for discussion; evening reception, and finally the editorializingpolitical panel and question-answer session the second morning. At the Atlanta meeting NAB Vice President John F. Meagher said he is getting tired of hearing the old saw, "The airways belong to the people." He based his answer on this premise, "No frequency is worth anything until a broadcaster puts a program on the air." Mr. Meagher discussed the radio over .to the adult KFMB RADIO audience! Big audience, attentive listenership close the sale for you. Pulse and Nielsen say KFMB has more adult listeners than any other station in the better part of Southern California. KFMB RADIO SAN DIEGO In Television: WSR-TV Buffalo Represented by |n Radio: KFMB & KFMB-FM San • WDAF-TV Kansas City • KFMB-TV ^"^Vp^iVc^T^ San Diego • KERO-TV Ba • WNEP-TV Scranton-Wilkes Ba. 380 MADISON AVENUE Diego • WDAF & WDAF-FM Kansas City • WGR & WSR-FM Buffalo NEW YORK 17, NEW YORK 72 BROADCASTING, October 22, 1962