Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1963)

Attack launched on renewal log jam FCC WORKS ON TV PROGRAM FORM, EARLIER DATE FOR APPLICATIONS The FCC began moving ahead on several fronts last week in an effort to reduce the agency's staggering backlog of deferred license-renewal applications. With the backlog total hovering near the 600-mark, some commissioners feel the problem has reached emergency proportions (Broadcasting, Oct. 21). In their efforts to find a solution, the commissioners: Reportedly made considerable progress Thursday (Oct. 31) in completing work on a revised television program reporting form. The commission feels an updated form providing data not available from the present form would eliminate the need for letters to licensees — a practice that leads to delays and adds to the backlog. Instructed the staff to draft a proposed revision in renewal procedures under which licensees would file their applications six months in advance of renewal date instead of three, as at present. The feeling is that the additional time would enable the staff to straighten out problems with broadcasters before their renewal date passes and their applications wind up on the deferred list. New Guide Lines ■ In addition, the commission is expected to consider this week proposals for liberalizing the guidelines under which the staff operates in deciding whether to grant a renewal application or bring it to the commission's attention. Programing questions are primarily involved. Most commissioners are said to agree that existing procedures have resulted in too much "nitpicking" on the part of the staff. They reportedly feel the guidelines should be "loosened up" to allow the staff greater discretion in granting renewals. One source said the staff is already working on guideline revisions. The commission this week is also expected to consider proposed revision of the program reporting form for radio. Although the television reporting form has monopolized the attention of the commission and the industry, the bulk of the applications on deferred status involve radio stations. Moreover, some commissioners feel this would be a simpler project than the TV reporting form. Commissioner Frederick W. Ford has already suggested a revision (Closed Circuit, Sept. 16), which, reportedly, has attracted the support of Commissioner Rosel H. Hyde and Lee Loevinger. TV Form ■ Work on the proposed TV reporting form reached the point Thursday where it was turned over to the staff with instructions to redraft it along lines laid down by the commission. Some differences remain to be settled, but a considerable amount of agreement was reached. The basis of the commission's consideration were proposals advanced by a three-member committee, composed of Commissioners Robert T. Bartley, Kenneth A. Cox and Ford, which has been working on the form for months. Basically, the form would require an applicant to report what he has done to survey community needs and interests, to evaluate those needs and interests, and to report programs he intends to carry to meet those needs. The programing, which would be re Part of General Outdoor now flies Metromedia colors Metromedia Inc., which recently acquired radio and TV properties in Los Angeles, which is awaiting FCC approval of the purchase of a radio station in Baltimore, and which is selling its Stockton, Calif., TV station, made another move last week in its expansion program — but this one was in the outdoor advertising field. The company is negotiating the purchase for more than $13 million cash of the plants and facilities of the General Outdoor Advertising Co. in New York and Chicago. The New York and Chicago outdoor advertising units will become branches of Metromedia-owned Foster & Kleiser Co. Foster & Kleiser is one of the largest outdoor advertising units on the West Coast. General Outdoor is one of the largest in the country. Funds for the outdoor purchase will be provided by banks, John W. Kluge, chairman and president of Metromedia, emphasized. No equity financing is involved, he noted. In the advertising field, Metromedia annnounced in September that it had acquired the franchise for all advertising on Los Angeles transit company. Earlier in the year, Metromedia acquired the world famous Ice Capades ice show, its first move into the nonbroadcast entertainment field. And two weeks ago, Mr. Kluge in response to a reporter's question, implied that Metromedia would not be averse to getting into the publishing field — newspapers, magazines or business publications. It all is soundly logical to Mr. Kluge. "Metromedia is in the media business," he said last week. "And the media business, means not only stations, but advertising and publishing too." "In today's business world," Mr. Kluge said, "you've got to diversify to make sense. And we do have an affinity to the press. It's a logical area for us to grow into." In fact, Mr. Kluge added, "I can see the time when broadcasting may be only 20% of our business." At the moment there is no publishing acquisition under consideration, Mr. Kluge stated. 'However, we're looking." Metromedia paid $10,390,000 for kttv(tv) Los Angeles and $4.5 million for klac-am-fm there. It has bought wcbm-am-fm Baltimore for $2 million, and is selling kovr(tv) Stockton, Calif., for $7,650,000 to McClatchy Newspapers. The Baltimore purchase is still awaiting FCC approval; the kovr transaction has not been submitted to the FCC. In two registrations filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington last week, outstanding stock options were listed as follows: John W. Kluge, 65,000 shares at $19,169; Robert A. Dreyer, 7,000 shares at $18; Richard L. Geismer, 5,000 shares at $17,325; Mark Evans, 1,500 shares at $17,666. All directors and executives have options for a total of 82,500 shares at an average $18,569 a share. Options run from May 11, 1964, to Nov. 13. 1972. The registrations were filed for 250,000 shares of common to be offered under a profit sharing plan for nonunion employes, and 173,013 shares of common to be offered under the restricted stock option plans. 76 BROADCASTING, November 4, 1963