NAB reports (Mar-Dec 1933)

It is as yet too early to predict the results of the conference and whether or not a total or partial reallocation in the United States may be necessary as a corollary to the conference. Nor can it be predicted at this time whether or not a basis for agreement can be found although the heads of both the American and Mexican delegation in their addresses to the meeting stressed the necessity for an agreement. While the first session was open to invitees, working sessions of the conference are to be closed. James W. Baldwin, who is representing the National Association of Broadcasters, will send in periodic reports on the progress of the sessions and such information as is obtainable will be sent to members through the medium of the NAB Reports. SPOT BROADCASTING ORDER APPROVED The Board of Directors of the NAB has approved the Standard Order Blank for Spot Broadcasting which has been developed in cooperation with the American Association of Advertising Agencies. The order is now being printed and will be available for distribu¬ tion within the next week. The Standard Order Blank for Spot Broadcasting is similar to the Standard Order Blank for Publications in use since 1920. So far as possible the conditions governing the placing of spot broadcasting conform to those governing contracts and orders for publications. Points of similarity include: 1. Terms of payment reading in part: “The agency personally agrees to pay, and the broadcasting station agrees to hold the agency solely liable for payment.” This is a clarification of the position taken by media owners and agencies and corresponds with a similar paragraph in the recently announced revised publication order blank. 2. Rates are guaranteed to be the lowest in effect and all shall be published. 3. A new clause in which the agency agrees that it will not rebate to its client any part of the commission allowed by the station, is identical with a new clause in the publication form. There are naturally many points of difference due to the difference in handling between the broadcasting and the printed advertising medium. Among the special broadcasting provisions are the fol¬ lowing: 1. Contract may be terminated on two weeks’ notice. 2. In case of substitution of sustaining program, with notice to agency less than two weeks in advance of broadcast, the station will reimburse the agency any non-cancellable cost of live talent. The purpose of the Standard Order Blank is to facilitate placing of spot broadcast advertising and the handling of it by stations under uniform conditions. The greatest benefit of the form will come from the widest use of it. Both associations plan to promote adoption of the new form which will be available to all bona fide advertising agencies whether members of the A. A. A. A. or not. July 7, 1933. PROGRAM CLEARING HOUSE BEGINS WORK Following the announcement of its establishment in last week’s bulletin, the Program Clearing House immediately began opera¬ tion. As a result it is able to announce the first group of programs available to member stations. The following conditions should be clearly understood with re¬ gard to the operation of the Program Clearing House. (1) The service is available only to members of the NAB. (2) Offers of programs to member stations are subject to such conditions as the offerer may prescribe. (3) The NAB acts merely as a clearing house. It does not guarantee the quality, originality or any other aspect of programs offered. It does not handle continuities, con¬ fining its activities merely to the publication of program summaries and the transmission of inquiries to the offering station. When making inquiries stations are requested to refer to programs by their classification number. Programs offered by stations at the present time are: (D7:l) “Tragedies of Today.” Two to four voices, men and women. A fifteen-minute program emphasizing in dramatic form the dangers of dirty windshields, bad brakes and other automobile faults. Sponsors, one or more garages. (Hl:l) “Beauty Club.” Two voices, women. A five-minute program in which the operator of a “beauty club” converses with her secretary, telling her where she sent certain women for beauty aids. Sponsors, beauty parlors, reducing establishments, ladies’ ready-to-wear shops, shoe stores. (H3:l) “Pantry Shelf.” Four characters. Doubling on char¬ acters is possible. Continuity can be made to run from five to fifteen minutes. Characters are “help” in homes, indulging in do¬ mestic gossip and citing where to go for the best groceries in various parts of the city. Sponsors, a number of non-competing grocery stores, delicatessens and meat markets. (D 7 :2) “Used Car Skits.” Two voices. Two-minute pro¬ gram, emphasizing the desirability of owning a car. Sponsor, used car dealer. (D7:3) “Bank Blackouts.” Two voices, varied. Two-minute program emphasizing the desirability of using a bank. Sponsor, bank. (D 7 :4) “Realty Skit.” Two to four voices, varied. Con¬ versation in a family or other group, containing as part of the conversation, a description and selling talk for some property or development. Sponsor, realtor. (D 7:5) “Rent-A-Car Skit.” Two to four voices, varied. Conversation leads to the recommendation that a car be rented from the sponsor, the sale talk being incorporated in the program. Sponsor, garage. REQUESTS FOR PROGRAM AND SALE INFORMATION A member station desires to secure information as to the success achieved by stations in broadcasting programs or announcements advertising articles used in households or on farms for repairs, maintenance of equipment and similar purposes. The type of product in mind includes commodities such as hardware, solder and like goods. Any experience which stations may contribute as to successful programs and sales results achieved on programs of this type will be greatly appreciated. Please send your infor¬ mation to the NAB office. Another NAB member is desirous of securing information as to the station which is broadcasting a program entitled “Tom Quiz and the Professor.” The program advertises an electric refrigerator. PATENT CLAIMS OF WIRED RADIO, INC. Wired Radio, Inc., 60 Broadway, New York City, which owns outright 1150 patents and applications in the communications field, has sent notices of patent infringements to Si broadcasting stations. Some of these stations are members of the National Association of Broadcasters and for this reason efforts have been made to clarify the situation. The National Association of Broadcasters is informed by the Graybar Electric Company and the Western Electric Company that purchasers of Western Electric radio broadcasting transmitting apparatus will be defended against infringement suits under the terms and conditions of the sales agreements with such purchasers. The Radio Corporation of America has furnished similar informa¬ tion verbally. Owners of RCA or Western Electric transmitters who may be confronted with infringement claims filed by Wired Radio, Inc., should therefore refer the claims to the vendor. The owner of a composite transmitter or a transmitter of other than RCA or Western Electric manufacture may be liable for infringement of Wired Radio patents if any of the patents are used. Nearly every broadcasting station operates under an A. T. & T. or RCA patent licence agreement. The National Association of Broadcasters is informed that such license authorizes the use of circuits and apparatus for the specific purpose of broadcasting but that the licensee is not held immune from infringement liability as a result of conflicting patent claims of other parties. Most of the Wired Radio patents of which we have knowledge and which are pertinent to broadcasting transmitters cover crystal control circuits and devices such as may be used in frequency con¬ trol circuits in radio transmitters and in frequency monitors. Own¬ ers of frequency monitors manufactured by the General Radio Company, the RCA-Victor Comoany or the Western Electric Com¬ pany should, if faced with infringement proceedings because of use of such apparatus, consult the manufacturer of the equipment used. The list of 102 patents attached to the notices of infringement filed by Wired Radio, Inc., contains 16 patents which may be perti¬ nent to circuits or apparatus commonly employed in conventional broadcasting transmitters. A list of the 16 patents with brief de¬ scriptions of the claims is appended. The National Association of Broadcasters is assured by Wired Radio, Inc., that while they are taking the necessary steps to pro¬ tect their patents, they do not wish to take a dog-in-the-manger attitude or to be unreasonable in any way. No objection is offered to the use of their patents for space radio broadcasting purposes provided those stations actually infringing pay a small license fee. This seems to be a reasonable attitude inasmuch as ownership of patents requires that rights be defended against infringers, other¬ wise the rights may be forfeited. So far as is known the validity of the Wired Radio patents re • Page 86 •