Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1963)

CLOSED CIRCUIT Phoenix prelude On eve of NAB's winter board meeting in Phoenix which begins today (Jan. 14) word was leaked that NAB President LeRoy Collins is among those under consideration for chairmanship of new Space Communications Corp. Timing apparently was key since just three weeks earlier authoritative sources said Mr. Collins definitely had not been proposed. Since NAB board will consider Gov. Collins' future this week — after two years of brinkmanship — space appointment possibility is calculated to become factor in negotiations for extension or severance of his contract. Supporters of Gov. Collins are expected to argue that he should be given extension of his $75,000-plus contract perhaps for three years. If space job is offered {and Gov. Collins says he is unaware of it) he then could make decision. Space chairman's duties include arranging participation of foreign governments in space program; testifying before Congress, and handling overall public relations. President would be executive experienced in business or banking with emphasis on administration rather than politics. Chairman of incorporators of space corporation is Philip L. Graham, president and chief executive officer of Washington Post Company, close friend of Gov. Collins and prime mover in latter' s NAB appointment. Vhf drop-ins Staff-level premise at FCC seems to be that all-channel vhf-uhf receiver is only one element in push to get uhf established. Other actions talked: deintermix top 75 markets by making them all vhf, covering 90% of all tv viewers. This can be done, some say, by drop-ins even though some may involve short-separation. FCC won full congressional assent to all-channel set legislation by promising not to carry out proposals to deintermix eight cities, but this involved replacing sole existing "v" channel with uhf. Reverse strategy — to make these and other cities all vhf — is considered by staff lawyers as not breaking faith with Congress. Letter spree curbs FCC, disturbed by procedural delays as well as censorship implications of letters written by staff to stations seeking license renewals, is considering procedure to limit staff's authority. Proposal would let staff lawyers write initial prototype letter seeking information under redefined instruc tions. But commission itself would have to okay follow-up letters. Commission hopes proposed procedure, which Broadcast Bureau has been instructed to put in draft form, would clarify situation. Sales good despite strike Newspapers can expect no solace from study currently in works at TvB and due for wide distribution shortly. It reportedly has found that despite strike which has shut down all major New York newspapers since early December, leading many advertisers to experiment with, or expand in, tv and radio, retail sales have been affected insignificantly, if at all. Overpopulation aftermath Here's curbstone opinion on what FCC will do on radio station overpopulation issue in wake of last week's proceedings (story page 29): Tighten up engineering standards where needed; closer scrutiny of financial responsibility of applicants, particularly in areas now having service; less stringent financial requirements in "white" areas where no present service exists; closer scrutiny of compliance with engineering standards, particularly where directional antennas are authorized. Goelet revival? Revival of National Audience Board, which suspended operations last fall for economic reasons, is being considered by its president and founder, Peter Goelet of New York. Mr. Goelet last week confirmed report that considerable support has generated from public, broadcasternetwork and government sources and that he has under consideration reorganization that would permit him to resume its service in programming field, possibly with outside funds. Decision may be made within next month. Not ready for action While NAB's directors discuss future of Gov. LeRoy Collins at Phoenix, it's unlikely they will act on basic problems of cigarette commercials and tv, which drew nationwide publicity after Collins denunciation last November. Special three-man tv code subcommittee expected to report it doesn't feel qualified to study scientific and moral aspects of problem and isn't sure NAB itself is competent. Basic element of cigarette problem, subcommittee feels, is fact that advertising is not directed at pre-teenage group and that impact is purely indirect. Unusual aspect of subcommittee report is that it will be made directly to tv board and not to subordinate tv code board. Chairman is William B. Pabst, KTVU (TV) Oakland, Calif., also chairman of tv code board, who will be at Phoenix meeting. TIO's future Not on agenda, but expected to arise at NAB winter board meeting in Phoenix this week, is future of Television Information Office which derives its support from tv station and network members but functions in conjunction with NAB. Move has been revived for absorption of TIO functions within NAB public relations activities, but reportedly is opposed by number of tv board members, including Joint Board Chairman Clair R. McCollough. TIO's income is understood to be in excess of $500,000 while NAB annual return is about $1.7 million. CBS News move CBS has exercised option for purchase of Army Times' building in midtown Washington for its news operations and hopes to occupy structure, after remodeling, during first half of 1964. CBS News now occupies space in Broadcast House, where Washington Post-Newsweek stations (WTOPAM-FM-TV) are housed. Army Times' building, two-story structure plus parking area at 2020 M Street, N.W., will be designed to accommodate CBS News' long-term needs. ABC last month moved its Washington news operations from Evening 5/or-WMAL studios at upper Connecticut Avenue to its own building opposite Mayflower Hotel. Collins there first While NAB President LeRoy Collins will not appear at FCC hearing in Omaha on local tv programming (see page 72), he plans to beat FCC to Nebraska by five days with attack on agency's citywide programming investigations. Gov. Collins will speak to Nebraska Broadcasters Assn. in Lincoln Jan. 23 and is expected to expand on his position that such hearings are unfair to stations involved. Cold cash cold Insiders in financial-brokerage field report insurance companies and banks have gone "cold" on newspaper financing and ascribe it to crippling strikes in New York and Cleveland, along with track record of past few years. 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