Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1963)

broadcasters and ASCAP have been engaged in such a court proceeding for almost two years. The TV case is still in litigation. At an ASCAP membership meeting in New York last Wednesday President Stanley Adams, apparently referring to the talks that set up this week's negotiating meeting, reported that discussion had already started "and we hope to have some results shortly." Other ASCAP officials told the society's membership that efforts also were being made to work out a mutually satisfactory basis for licensing educational TV stations to use ASCAP music. License terms for community antenna TV systems also are under study, they indicated. Pay TV postponed 4th time Kcto(tv), a pay-TV test station on channel 2 in Denver, has been granted another one-month extension of its deadline for trials. Last week's FCC action was the fourth extension granted the station, owned by Channel 2 Corp., and moved the deadline back to Dec. 3. Kcto's third extension (Broadcasting, Oct. 7) was also for one month, although the firm handling the station's programing had originally wanted the TV subscription company to ask for nine months. Commissioner Robert T. Bartley abstained. JFK and Goldwater favor '64 debates Televised debates between the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates in 1964 seem assured following statements last week by Senator Barry Goldwater (R-Ariz.), a leading unannounced contender for the GOP nomination, and President Kennedy. Sen. Goldwater, answering a question at an appearance before the Women's National Press Club in Washington, Oct. 31, said that he would debate President Kennedy if he is the GOP candidate next fall. "Yes, I would enjoy that very much. We spent years arguing with each other and I kind of miss it," he said. Senator Goldwater and then Senator Kennedy were fellow members of the Senate Labor and Public Welfare Committee. At his news conference on the same day, President Kennedy answered a similar question with these words: "I have already indicated that I am going to debate if nominated." There have been reports that President Kennedy in recent months had turned cool to debating the Republican candidate on television. Last week's comments set those rumors to rest. New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller and former Vice President Richard Nixon, both considered con AVE RADIO AND TV FFECTIVE Mm Mm BOTH REPRESENTED BY THE KATZ AGENCY (Antique type from the Robinsore-Pforzheimer Collection.) tenders for the Republican nomination, have implied at various times that they favored a debate between the two major candidates for the Presidency. Several weeks ago, Governor Rockefeller challenged Senator Goldwater to debate Republican issues that divide them. The Arizona Republican refused on the grounds it might divide the GOP. Section 315 Suspension ■ Meanwhile, suspension of the equal time provisions of Section 315 of the Communications Act for presidential candidates next year is still pending in Congress. H J Res 247 has passed both houses of Congress. The Senate, however, limited the suspension to the 60 days before election day. The House put the deadline at 75 days. The Senate also amended the House bill to simplify reports required to be submitted to Congress by the FCC on the performance of stations under the suspension. House action on whether to accept the amended bill has been delayed because, it is thought, of the heavy schedule of business before the House Commerce Committee and the absence in Geneva of the committee's chairman, Representative Oren Harris (D-Ark.). If the House committee accepts the Senate version, it will recommend that the House accede. If it does not, then conferees will be named to meet with Senate colleagues to iron out their differences. WGAW members approve 5-year dues increase A move to increase the dues of Writers Guild of America West from the basic $10 a year plus 1% of each member's gross income by adding $15 a year plus XA of 1 % for the next five years was voted into effect by an overwhelming majority at a special membership meeting held Tuesday (Oct. 29). The increased payments will go to underwrite the cost of changing the system of royalty payments to writers of TV filmed programs from stipulated payments for each of six domestic reruns, with no further payments, to royalties based on a percentage of the gross income from all broadcasts throughout the world in perpetuity called for in the agreement negotiated by WGA with the Alliance of Television Film Producers in 1960 (Broadcasting, June 26, 1960). Under this plan, the writer of a filmed TV show will receive a minimum of 4% of the producer's gross income (minus an allowance for distribution costs) for all broadcasts of the program in any part of the world at any time. The Writer's Guild of America East proposal would add only the $15 to the present $10 dues, making it $25 plus 1% annually. This must still be approved by the membership. BROADCASTING, November 4, 1963