Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1952)

FCC POSTPONES MM lack t is ting FILM HEARING Explains Indefinite Delay As Due to Pressures'' of Other Business WASHlhGTON: The Federal Coiiimuniciations Commission has postponed to an indefinite date its hearings on the allocation of exclusive channels for theatre television purposes. The commission’s announcement said a new (late for the motion picture industry hearings would be set “as soon as possible.” Its explanation for the newest and, presumably, lengthy delay was that it is occasioned by the “pressure of other business.” The hearings had been set for May 5 after several previous postponements. It is now believed that the commission will not get around to the film industry’s bid for channels until next fall. Merits Not Affected James Fly, television attorney for the Motion Picture Association of America, who helped draw up the industry brief, this week described the postponement as “a procedural necessity.” He said the delay did not affect the merits of the motion picture industry’s case. FCC spokesmen emphasized that the new delay should not be interpreted as “killing” the film and theatre industry hearings on exclusive channels or as any reflection whatever on the merits of the industry’s case. They insisted that the only reason for the delay is that the commission is far behind in its work and is anxious to get caught up before going ahead with the extended and important motion picture hearings for which many parties have indicated they wish to appear in person as witnesses and furnish testimony. Paul Porter, FCC chairman, said in Chicago last week in a speech before the National Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters that he hoped the freeze on new^ television stations would be lifted within tw'o w'eeks, but he warned not to expect quick action after that. He said the FCC would allow three months for the filing of additional applications for stations and said that this would bring the FCC up to midJuly. At that point, he explainecl, lengthy hearings would be necessary and the commission, short-staffed as is, will not be able to proceed wdth any speed. “The FCC seems destined to be a bottleneck,” he told the association. Speculate on Reasons There was some conjecture here that the postponement might have been occasioned by the impending lifting of the FCC’s freeze. Others speculated that a considerable volume of w'ork involving radio and common-carriers is pending before the commission and that it may wish to clear up those and other TV NOW FACING ECONOMIC CRISIS With costs rising steadily and sponsor cancellations mounting, television today finds itself at the edge of economic crisis and is taking stringent measures to meet the emergency. A network survey undertaken last week by The Wall Street Journal says the situation can be blamed partly on advertiser doubts that the living room is the best place to sell their products. A number of big and important sponsors, like Esso, Toni and Admiral, are dropping shows, and others are debating whether to continue on an everyweek basis. Network service to affiliates is being cut also. matters before embarking on the lengthy film and theatre hearings. In any event, it was apparent that the decision to delay the hearings indefinitely was arrived at only after bitter opposition within the Commission. The Paramount hearings, which have dragged on for 11 weeks, are now recessed. In the course of testimony given, several statements damaging to the interests of theatre television were made. 96 British Films to TV Atlantic Television Corporation has acquired 96 British pictures for release to television. None of them have ever been released in this country. Negatives of the first 13 films are now in this country and will be rented as a series. The entire package will be available June 1. CIVIL DEFENSE SHOW FOR THEATRE TV The Civil Defense Authority will launch the first series of off-hour "non-entertainment” theatre television programs in late May or early June in the midwest, it was learned this week. The deal, initiated by United Paramount Theatres, will be open to other TV-equipped houses, pending on the news of CD officials. Present plans call for the telecasts to be held once a month for a length of time yet to be agreed upon. The projected telecasts will be the first of their kind in the midwest. Two similar closed-circuit experiments were held by Civil Defense in the east last fall. On Air Hit Before FCC The controversial issue of blacklisting in radio and television broadcasting was placed before the Federal Communications Commission Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union, which filed a complaint against four major networks and two individual stations. The ACLU asserted that blacklisting of writers, artists and performers is against the public interest and that radio-TV broadcasters who exercise or condone it should be disqualified as licensees of stations. The Union demanded a general investigation of the practice and regulations to end it. Named as defendants were the National Broadcasting Company, the American Broadcasting Company, the DuMont Television Network, the Columbia Broadcasting Co., station WPIX in New York and radio station KOWL of Santa Monica, Cal. ABC was cited for possibly barring two outspoken anti-Communists from a radio show and a specific investigation was urged in this case. Other defendants were accused of refusing to give employment to persons allegedly proCommunist. The complaint was prepared by James Lawrence Fly, former FCC chairman and member of the ACLU board of directors, John F. Finerty, ACLU board member, and Herbert Monte Levy, ACLU staff counsel. The action was based on an exhaustive report made for ACLU by Merle Miller, author of the book “The Judges and the Judged” and a board member of the organization. The ACLU action said blacklisting was against the public interest because it “denied the public the right to see or hear artists or their work-products because of irrelevant consideration.” Propose House Commi’H’ee To Study Radio-TV Morals WASHINGTON : The House Rules Committee has approved a resolution to set up a special 15-man House Committee to investigate whether radio and television programs contain “immoral or otherwise offensive matter or place improper emphasis on crime, violence and corruption.” The resolution, which still must pass the House, would direct the com.mittee to determine the adequacy of existing legislation to handle any problem and to recommend any additional legislation needed. Books, especially pocketsized, also would be included in the scope of the committee’s investigation. Delay Freeze Lifting WASHINGTON: The Federal Communications Commission has delayed lifting of the television station freeze until mid-April. Originally it had been hoped the freeze could be lifted by the end of March. 22 MOTION PICTURE HERALD. APRIL 12. 1952