NAB reports (Mar-Dec 1933)

“Times such as these demand an attitude of realism. If our old formulas do not meet the demands of today’s emergency, we should have the courage to devise and try new formulas. In such an era of new methods and new ideas the trade association stands pre¬ eminent as the one type of organization by which business may advance itself while advancing the public interest.” RMA MEETS AT CHICAGO JUNE 6 Industry stabilization and promotion with definite and construc¬ tive projects submitted, will be developed at the Ninth Annual Convention of the Radio Manufacturers’ Association to be held at Stevens Hotel, Chicago, Ill., June 6. On June S preceding the mem¬ bership meeting there will be a final meeting of the present Board of Directors. On the evening of June 6 there will be held an in¬ formal dinner for RMA members and guests. Paul B. Klugh of Chicago has been appointed chairman of the committee on ar¬ rangements for the dinner. RADIO EDUCATION’S FUTURE IS TOPIC The future of educational broadcasting in the United States will be the general subject of the Third Annual Assembly of the National Advisory Council on Radio in Education to be held at the WaldorfAstoria, New York, May 19. The report of Director Levering Tyson and reports of committees will be received during the morning session. The topics to be discussed during the meeting include: How can educational programs be financed ; the present trend in the regulation of broadcasting; the land grant station; what we actually know about the listening audience; the air as an open forum; what does the listener think of broadcasting? programs for children; radio as a social force; group listening; engineering crisis in American broadcasting; the Madrid and the Mexico City conferences, the Canadian broadcasting system. REMOVES BAN ON SERVICE BANDS Thousands of listener protests led Secretary of the Navy Swanson this week to overrule the ban previously placed on the Navy and Marine bands by former Secretary of the Navy Adams and these government musical organizations will broadcast again in the near future. Former "Secretary Adams prohibited broadcasting of the service band concerts upon protest of musician unions. CANADIAN CRITICISES ADVERTISING “The increasing tide of dissatisfaction aroused as a result of the lengths to which some advertisers go in their efforts to force sales threatens to seriously impair the efficiency of radio even as an ad¬ vertising medium,” E. A. Weir, director of programs for the Cana¬ dian Radio Broadcasting Commission told the Institute for Educa¬ tion by Radio which closed its sessions at Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, today (May 6). “It is not merely a question of whether we shall have good programs or poor programs, whether we shall increase the turn¬ over of our industries and add so many millions to our trade balance, but whether the inherent genius of the scattered population that we are trying to mould into one united people shall have opportunity to express itself,” he said. Radio instruction is still in its infancy, C. M. Koon, of the U. S. Office of Education, told the Institute Friday afternoon. “The art of teaching,” he said, “has been studied in this country ever since the first private normal school was established 110 years ago. After all the research and investigation that have been made, much remains to be learned about the subject. “Years of scientific research and experimentation will be needed to solve the numerous educational and broadcasting problems in¬ volved in teaching by radio.” An “Audit Bureau of Circulation” for radio broadcasting was suggested by Herman S. Hettinger, instructor of merchandising at the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce, University of Pennsylvania, in his talk Thursday morning. Such an audit agency, Hettinger said, could make field intensity measurements, conduct listener research, and determine the popu¬ larity of specific programs and stations. He pointed out that the development of listener research has been comparatively recent, starting about 1928. “The comparative recency explains the wide disparity of methods and fundamental concepts which exist in that field. The remarkable thing is not the different methods which have been employed, but the degree to which the results attained by these methods are in agreement,” Hettinger stated. “This agreement points to the fact that listener research is emerging from the experimental field and that the time has come for an evaluation and probably greater standardization of methods.” “Radio offers such a limitless and interesting field for extensive research that, measured against theoretical ideals, we have as yet only taken the first steps,” John J. Karol, director of market re¬ search for the Columbia Broadcasting System, told the Institute Thursday morning. Since the introduction of the radio, farm families no longer “go to bed with the chickens,” Frank E. Mullen, National Broadcasting Company agriculture director, told the Institute Thursday afternoon. According to Mullen, radio surveys show that rural set owners are staying up later at night than formerly. “It is commonly sup¬ posed that the farmer retires at 9 o’clock sharp, but we found that a goodly percentage of our farm friends used their radio sets as late as 11,” he said. “A few grumbled at the necessity of staying up so late to hear some of their favorite programs, but the fact remains that radio has pushed the farmers’ bedtime back at least a few nights a week.” HOME ECONOMICS BROADCAST SURVEY The United States Office of Education is collaborating with the American Home Economics Association in making a survey of series of home economics broadcasts since September 1, 1932. The prin¬ cipal purpose of this study will be to make available present prac¬ tices as a means of promoting mutually helpful relations between radio stations and home economics agencies, according to Miss Bess Goodykoontz, Assistant Commissioner of Education. A summary of the survey will be presented at the annual meeting of the American Home Economics Association in Minneapolis in June and copies of the reports will be sent to all stations sending in material. Members of the NAB are requested to assist the Office of Educa¬ tion in conducting the survey by sending in the information sought. RMA AGAINST NEW YORK SHOW Members of the Radio Manufacturers Association have been advised that their Board of Directors has carefully considered the proposed electrical and radio public show scheduled September 22-30 next at Madison Square Garden and has voted unanimously against sponsoring or supporting the Madison Square Garden show. RMA members individually, however, are left to their own decision in the matter. FEDERAL RADIO COMMISSION ACTION TENTATIVE HEARING CALENDAR (The dates shown are tentative and subject to change.) May 16, 1933 NEW — Charles W. Phelan, d/b as Casco Bay Broadcasting Co., Portland, Me. — Construction permit, S00 watts, unlimited time, 1340 kc. NEW — Portland, Maine, Publishing Co., Portland, Me. — Con¬ struction permit, S00 watts, unlimited time, 1340 kc. WQDM — A. J. St. Antoine and E. J. Regan, St. Albans, Vt. — Con¬ struction permit, 1 KW, specified hours, 1340 kc. WRDO — WRDO, Inc., Augusta, Me. — Construction permit to move transmitter and studio to Portland, Me., 1370 kc., 100 watts. WFEA — New Hampshire Broadcasting Co., Manchester, N. H. — Modification of construction permit to use 1340 kc., 500 watts. May 18, 1933 WJBK — James F. Hopkins, Inc., Detroit, Mich. — Modification of license to increase day power from 50 watts to 100 watts. Page 36