Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1963)

Save that check charge One check can cover a multitude of filing fees, the FCC ruled last week. The commission's schedule of filing fees will take effect Jan. 1, and the agency had been asked if one check or money order could be submitted with a number of applications rather than individual payments for each application. In ruling that one lump sum will suffice, the FCC said that multiple applications accompanied by one remittance should contain an itemized list detailing the exact amount of money alloted to each of the applications. books altogether (S 1696) won new support in the Senate as six Democratic colleagues joined him as co-sponsors. Broadcast ratings, briefly scrutinized by Congress in 1957-58 got a thorough inspection from investigators on the staff of Representative Harris's Special Subcommittee on Investigations. Their work culminated in hearings early this spring that rocked the raters and some broadcasters. Despite revelations that a few small research firms weren't doing everything they claimed (or broadcasters claimed for them), there were brave hints that the hearing fuss would blow over once the A. C. Nielsen Co., once considered the standard of broadcasting research, stood up to the investigators. Nielsen stood up, but not as well as had been expected. After 10 days of testifying company witnesses failed to impress the subcommittee, which charged the firm with attempting a "snow job." Three former Nielsen employes said some fellow workers could not, and did not follow rigid procedures that the company had said they did. They also showed how Nielsen meters could be gimmicked. The performance left doubts that even Nielsen's ratings were as accurate as claimed. Although the subcommittee has issued no report on its findings, members have said publicly that it's apparent much was wrong in the research field and broadcasters would have to be responsible for initiating reforms. The FCC and the Federal Trade Commission followed through with statements on this theme. The NAB and Radio Advertising Bureau have pledged plans for improvement and have agreed to sponsor a study of research methodology. They also were to report to the subcommittee on their progress before the end of 1963. And Other Developments ■ Representative Celler's hearing on media ownership concentration was developing a record on monopoly and concentration trends in the newspaper business, and he had just about started pointing his finger at newspaper-owned broadcasting stations when the civil rights issue was dropped in his lap. He has some work left on that score, but has since promised a prompt return to the media ownership hearing. Also on the subject of broadcasting ownership, this magazine bi-yearly report on congressmen showed 23 of them or their relatives held ownership in stations (Broadcasting, May 6). A proposal by Senator William Proxmire (D-Wis.) to prohibit the FCC from taking official notice of such own ership when considering applicants is still before the Senate Commerce Committee (Broadcasting, Dec. 9). The FCC reported that Democrats told them they spent $12 million in 1962 general and primary elections; the Republicans reported $7.5 million (Broadcasting, June 10, et seq). Broadcasters seeking camera and microphone access to House committee hearings enlisted Representative Harris's support, but despite their combined plea, the proposal was pigeonholed by the House Rules Committee (Broadcasting, March 11). The FCC, which requested $16.5 million for fiscal 1964 operations, ended up with $15.6 million, which was still $650,000 more than it had in fiscal 1963 (Broadcasting, Dec. 16). The Senate, after hearings were conducted by its Commerce Committee, approved President Kennedy's nominations of Kenneth A. Cox and Lee Loevinger to the FCC (Broadcasting, March 18, June 10). The Senate Internal Security Subcommittee conducted closed door hearings on the Pacifica Foundation, licensee of listener-supported FM stations in California and New York, probing for possible "Communist infiltration" (Broadcasting, Jan. 28, 14). The FCC has since continued to hold up renewals of the station licenses. Changing hands ANNOUNCED ■ The following sale of station interests was reported last week subject to FCC approval: ■ Kbak-tv Bakersfield, Calif.: Sold by Reeves Broadcasting Corp. to Harriscope Inc. for sum reported in excess of $1.5 million. Harriscope, composed of Burt I Harris, Irving B. Harris and Donald P. Nathanson, owns 70% of kfbb-am-tv Great Falls, Mont.; 60% of ktwo-am-tv Caspar, Wyo.; 100% of Best Wishes for a Happy and Prosperous New Year BLACKBURN & Company, Inc. RADIO • TV • CATV • NEWSPAPER BROKERS NEGOTIATIONS • FINANCING • APPRAISALS WASH., D. C. CHICAGO ATLANTA BEVERLY HILLS Jtm« W Blackburn H. W. Cassill Clifford B. Marshall Colin M. Selph lack V. Harvey William B. Ryan Stanley Whitaker C. Bennett Larson Joseph M. Sitrick Hub (ackson |ohn C. Williams Bank of America Bldg. RCA Building 333 N. Michigan Ave. Gerard F. Hurley 9465 Wilshire Blvd. FEderal 3-9270 Chicago, Illinois 1102 Healey Bldg. Beverly Hills, Calif. Financial 6-6460 lAckson 5-1576 CRestview 4-8151 34 (THE MEDIA) BROADCASTING, December 30, 1963