Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1962)

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Veteran opponents When LeRoy Collins, NAB president, blasted cigarette advertising last week and was answered by George V. Allen, president of Tobacco Institute (see story page 24), it wasn't first time same men figured in same story. Gov. Collins and Mr. Allen were two finalists in NAB's search for president to succeed late Harold Fellows. Mr. Allen had served as director of U. S. Information Service (with status of career ambassador). In final interviews with NAB selection committee, Mr. Allen made no sales pitch; Gov. Collins submitted elaborate presentation. One selection committee member later explained why job went to former Florida governor: "He asked for the order." RAB-NAB smoke screen This week's meeting to blueprint closer cooperation between NAB and RAB (Closed Circuit, Nov. 19) is almost sure to get off onto topic not originally on agenda. That's NAB President LeRoy Collins' highly controversial statement last week on tobacco advertising. Though RAB has held its tongue so far as public's concerned, it's known that RAB President Kevin Sweeney has assured leading tobacco companies that Collins' view is not shared by radio stations (see page 24). Messrs. Collins and Sweeney are both scheduled to attend meeting, set for today (Nov. 26) in Washington. One vote shy FCC Commissioner Robert E. Lee lost by only one vote last week in his plan to restrict by rule the number of tv and radio commercials per time segment. On 4-3 vote, FCC refused to seek industry comments on proposal to adopt NAB codes on commercials as federal rules. Voting with Commissioner Lee were Chairman Newton N. Minow and Commissioner E. William Henry; voting against him were Commissioners Rosel H. Hyde, T. A. M. Craven, Robert T. Bartley and Frederick W. Ford. Idea for government restrictions has support of key FCC staff people, and plan might be put to vote again next year, especially if Commissioner Craven, after retirement, is succeeded by one in sympathy with government controls. Newspaper owners quizzed Staff of House Antitrust Subcommittee has been quizzing newspaper owners, by mail and in person, on various aspects of their industry in CLOSED CIRCUIT preparation for hearings on consolidation of ownership of communications media. Rep. Emanuel Celler (DN. Y.), subcommittee chairman, is primarily interested in newspapers and causes of their demise, but radio-tv is bound to become involved in inquiry. Principals of some companies with both newspaper and broadcasting interests reported to have been asked about advertising rate tie-ins. Staffers say investigation won't be aimed at uncovering illegal activities — though any evidence of such would be promptly turned over to Justice Dept. — but in uncovering trends in newspaper industry that are leading to monopoly control of media. Subcommittee said to be getting support from newspaper people who think investigation would held them diagnose industry's ailments. Subcommittee, however, doesn't expect wholehearted support from those wtih monopoly control of broadcast and newspaper interests. Hearings are expected to start in February. Fairness probe That planned FCC investigation of fairness of radio-tv coverage of Mississippi U. integration riots now is underway (Closed Circuit, Oct. 22). Investigation is being made in close liaison with Justice Dept. and was instituted, it is understood, at request of member of Congress. Bill Ray and John O'Malley of FCC staff (latter is acting assistant general counsel) were in Mississippi last week in effort to determine if stations presented both sides of dispute fairly. It was reported broadcast comments of some southern stations outside Mississippi also are under scrutiny. Bowl sponsorship Bowl football games are near sellout on NBC-TV. Network is telecasting eight games Dec. 15-Jan. 13, and has advertisers committed for all but one-half of one game — Liberty Bowl set for Dec. 15. Other seven: BlueGray and East-West on Dec. 29, National Football League pro championship on Dec. 30, Sugar, Rose, Senior and Pro Bowls, first two on Jan. 1 and other two on Jan. 5 and 13 respectively. Five out of eight bowls will be in color (Blue-Gray, East-West and NFL are exceptions). NFL on Dec. 30 has nine regional sponsors. Other networks' sponsorship scores on year-end football also look good. CBS-TV, for example, which has four games nearly sold out. These are Bluebonnet Bowl on Dec. 22, Gator Bowl on Dec. 29, Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1 and NFL's professional playoff bowl on Jan. 6. Latter is sold out, and only three-eights of Blubonnet and Vsth each of Gator and Cotton are still available. ABC-TV has one bowl (Orange on Jan. 1) and this is sponsored. Parking lot prices Indication of how value of Washington real estate has increased in recent years was reflected in NAB's acquistion of parking lot next to its present headquarters (Broadcasting, Nov. 12). In 1944 NAB board rejected recommendation of late J. Harold Ryan, then interim president on leave as senior vice president of Storer Broadcasting Co., and of late C. E. Arney Jr., then secretary-treasurer, that identical property of 6,900 square feet be purchased for $75,000. Which system lousiest? FCC may be riding tiger if comments of some Washington consulting engineers on latest report on New York uhf test (Broadcasting, Nov. 19) is criterion. Snarled one outspoken engineer: "All it shows is that uhf is just as lousy as vhf in some downtown Manhattan areas." Another expressed amazement that bulk of receivers (80%) were installed within 10 miles of Empire State Bldg. transmitters. Third pointed finger at extra fine receivers used in tests (receivers had noise factor of 10 db; standards adopted by FCC call for minimum of 18 db). Subject will be discussed at meeting of Assn. of Federal Communications Consulting Engineers on Dec. 6 when AFCCE is scheduled to hear Robert Kirby of National Bureau of Standards on plan which holds possibility of doubling present vhf allocation through use of short spacing, vertical polarization, directional antennas, etc. Erickson seeks stations Rodney Erickson, veteran agency and programming executive, is turning broadcaster. Just resigned from presidency of Filmways Inc. (producer of Beverly Hillbillies, Mr. Ed among other shows), Mr. Erickson is negotiating to buy several radio stations. New company in which his wife holds principal interest has taken over operation of newly acquired WQSR Solvay, N. Y., near Syracuse. Published every Monday, 53rd issue (Yearbook Number) published in November, by Broadcasting Publications Inc., 1735 DeSales St., N. W., Washington 6, D. C. Second-class postage paid at Washington, D. C, and additional offices.