Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr-Jun 1963)

Indianapolis, and WMPS Memphis, the latter for concise coverage of the campus riots at the U. of Mississippi. NBC-TV newsman Frank McGee received a medal for outstanding tv network newscasting. He became the second man in the history of the awards to become a winner in both radio and tv newscasting. The other was Edward R. Murrow, who won awards in both categories at CBS. Mr. McGee won the network radio newscasting award in 1958. ASCAP members suing International Good Music A suit has been filed by members of the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers in the U. S. District Court in Bellingham, Wash., seeking minimum damages of $18,000 for copyright infringement, from International Good Music Inc. and that company's owner, Rogan Jones. The suit stems from alleged performances without authorization of 72 different compositions over KGMI Bellingham, Wash., one of the International Good Music stations. Other IGM stations are KGMJ (FM) Seattle; KFMU (FM) Los Angeles; WBAY (FM) San Francisco; KFMW (FM) San Bernardino and KGMG (FM) Portland. ASCAP members have brought two otner copyright suits against IGM recently, involving minimum damages of $16,250. This, however, is the first time that Mr. Jones has been named individually by ASCAP as a defendent. Students disagree with Nielsen ratings An informal poll of 223 students at the U. of Judaism, Los Angeles, shows that 25% did not care for the programs rated by A. C. Nielsen Co. as the top 10 in the nation. The survey, taken to ascertain the television habits and preferences of a diversified segment of the student body, was under the supervision of Saul Rubin, director of development for the school. Asked to rate the top ten shows, regardless of whether they liked them, the respondents put Ben Casey (ranked fifth by Nielsen) at the top of the list, with 20% favoring it. The top rated Nielsen show Beverly Hillbillies rated fifth with the students, getting 10%; Andy Griffith, rated second by Nielsen, was tied for eighth by the students (2%). In answering questions about the type of show preferred, the students chose news, drama and motion pictures in that order. Asked what they would like to see more of, they specified drama, educational programs and good movies. The study was primarily designed to assist the university's radio-tv department in preparation of one of its television series, Ethics, shown over KNBC (TV) Los Angeles. While the survey does not claim scientific validity or completeness, a copy has been forwarded to Rep. Oren Harris (D-Ark.) whose House subcommittee has been conducting the five-week old ratings hearing. $50,000 fire destroys WXUR studio building A lend-lease program took place in the Philadelphia area following a fire which destroyed the studios of WXURAM-FM Media, Pa. Damage, in the fire of undetermined origin, was estimated at over $50,000. The helping hand came from WPBS (FM) Philadelphia, owned by the Philadelphia Bulletin, which supplied 80 albums to the WXUR transmitter, and followed with tape recorders, tapes, microphones and amplifiers. WXUR remained on the air broadcasting from the transmitter. The stations went on the air within a few months of each other in 1962. EQUIPMENT & ENGINEERING WIIC(TV) builds 'do-it-yourself camera boom A do-it-yourself boom camera is now in operation at WIIC (TV) Pittsburgh. It cost about $400 compared to a regular boom camera's price of some $8,000. Behind the homemade equipment's development, a story: An electrically driven "Big Joe" warehouse-type fork lift has been in use at WIIC for the past several years as a camera position for local telecasts. But it had its limitations: the cameraman had to stand and the camera panned only 90 degrees. Shelton Weaver, production and operations manager, worked out the homemade version (see picture) by designing a swivel wood base for a chair that allows camera panning at least 270 degrees, and by mounting the camera on the swivel base the camera can come within 20 inches of the floor compared to a previous 53 inches. 98 Cordless microphone developed by Woodard A cordless microphone which requires no attached antenna and with a power output so low that it avoids necessity of FCC licensing has gone on display in New York. Application of the microphone to broadcasting, a spokesman said, could be made in such events as political conventions or audience participation shows where a speaker's mobility is necessary. The "Tally-Ho," developed and produced by Woodard Research Corp., a small firm in Herndon, Va., was designed specifically for public speakers who desire the mobility of a portable mike without the resulting inconvenience of trailing cords. It is available in three styles — a clip-on lavalier-type microphone, a head-phone type, and a closeup mike which eliminates any sounds farther than an inch away from the microphone. Acting as an antenna is a thin wire loop which may cover up to 500 square feet and is placed near the normal microphone input receptacle. The speaker must remain within the wire loop area. The "Tally-Ho" employs a nineounce transmitter which may fit into the speaker's pocket, and it is inductively coupled to the receiver to pre BROADCASTING, April 8, 1963