Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1963)

3, newspapers from other cities for comparison. Anyone active in politics would be disqualified because he would be unable to appraise a newspapers performance objectively. People of retirement age, whose intellectual interests are still lively, would seem best qualified, he said, although younger persons would not necessarily be excluded. Mr. Bingham said the creation of public trust "is the only permanent protection against censorship, against governmental control, against any of the other outside influences we dread." The annual convention, the biggest in Sigma Delta Chi's history, had an attendance of 650 professional and undergraduate members. Theodore F. Koop, CBS Washington vice president was elected president of the society (see Week's Headliners, page 10). AM-FM DUPLICATION Supporters argue it actually helps in growth of medium Owners of AM-FM stations continue to defend the desirability of having FM stations duplicate the programing of the AM outlet, using the argument of the National Association of FM Broadcasters, the arch opponent of duplication, for support of their own views. This latest exchange on the duplication question came in reply comments to the FCC's proposed rulemaking to revise its AM allocations policy and provide for a future integrated AM-FM service. The latter provision contains a clause that would restrict FM duplication of AM programing to 50% if the stations are located in cities with a population of 100,000 or more. There was also projected as a long-range goal for separation of the common ownership of AM-FM stations in the same market. When comments were originally filed last September and support for the rulemaking was small — comments argued the population principle proposed by the commission for AM allocations was too inflexible and that the facets involving FM would be unjust to the AM broadcasters who have suported the development of FM (Broadcasting, Sept. 16, 23). Storer Broadcasting Co. last week turned its argument on the comments of NAFMB. Storer attacked the FM association's comments on the ground that they refuted themselves. NAFMB claims that duplication of AM programing has deterred the development of FM and cited the situation in New York as an example. NAFMB said that because of duplication New York has only four independent FM stations. Storer turned the gauntlet by saying that although there are few independents, there is the highest percent of FM receiver ownership in New York. If anything, Storer claimed, this shows duplication has promoted FM growth. Begging To Differ ■ Storer also challenged NAFMB's comparison of Chicago FM with that of New York. Storer said NAFMB put the average revenue of the four independent New York FM stations at $48,084 in 1961, while 15 independent stations in Chicago earned an average of $50,805 (NAFMB's reply comments placed the figures at $51,905 and $77,870, respectively). Storer said these figures, presumably the ones it quoted, don't justify NAFMB's conclusion that the greater number of Chicago independents has led to corresponding increases in revenue. "It is submitted that the real problem facing the FM service is to retain audience support with programing that is a suitable vehicle for advertising," Storer concluded. Storer suggested that nonduplication is not the answer, but did not suggest an answer. In its reply the NAFMB said that broadcaster claims (notably the National Association of Broadcasters) that FM provides an indispensable support to AM coverage merely show FM as a superior service, and separate programing is the way to demonstrate its superiority. The association said the sharp increase in receiver sales over the last three years can be attributed to partial separation of programing of some AM-FM stations. Stereo broadcasting is another reason, it said, and AM cannot provide this service. The NAFMB said that if separate programing becomes a reality the increased revenues would be taken from television, not from AM. The Real Matter ■ The Association on Broadcasting Standards, criticized the majority of comments on the rulemaking with concerning themselves too much with the FM problem and failing to grasp the real intent of this rulemaking— that is to work out a new allocations standards for AM. ABS said the problem of adjacent channel and co-channel interference with AM broadcasting "is perhaps the most crucial one facing" the industry. However, ABS noted that its "review of the comments of other parties indicates little, if any, attention has been given to the realities of interference phenomena." The ABS urged the FCC to hold an en banc hearing on the allocations matter. The association said that it is made necessary by the weight of the commission's proposed abandonment of its policy of acting on applications according to need, in favor of establishing definite population criteria. ABS would also like to see formed a 62 (THE MEDIA) BROADCASTING, November 11, 1963