NAB reports (Mar-Dec 1933)

EUROPEAN CENSORSHIP OF POLITICAL BROADCASTING Censorship of political and controversial broadcasting over government owned and operated radio broadcasting systems in Europe seems to be continuing without interruption. The supervisory authority for Swiss broadcasting issued in February of this year a number of provisions under which all controversial broadcasts, whether referring to political, economic or religious questions, will cease to be permissible. Having observed that owners of receiving sets were abusing their rights by disseminating political communications broadcast by foreign stations whcih were considered unlawful, the Minister of Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones of Czechoslovakia has im¬ posed drastic restrictions against the reception of foreign programs and their being made available to groups of listeners by the owners of receiving sets. This measure is aimed primarily at broadcasts by Russian stations. EUROPE GOES HIGH POWER Reports from European countries indicate a definite trend to¬ ward an increase in the number of super-power stations. German stations at Muhlacker, Langenberg and Munich are each to be raised to 100 kilowatts in power before the end of 1933. The German broadcasting administration has reserved the right, in addition, to augment to 100 kilowatts if necessary, the power of the transmitters at Berlin, Hamburg, Breslau, and Heilsberg. Austria opened a new high-power transmitter at Bisamberg, near Vienna, on May 28. The station has a power rating of 100,000 watts. Hungary has in mind the bringing into service a new 20,000 watt transmitter, in addition to a 120 kilowatt station now in process of construction. The contemplated transmitter will eventually be raised to 60,000 watts in power. Turkey has ex¬ pressed its intention of building a ISO kilowatts station, while Finland is also increasing the power of its stations. GERMAN BROADCASTING PROGRAMS The proportion of total hours devoted to various types of pro¬ grams by the German broadcasting system in 1932: Music . 57.9% Conferences . 14.4% Literature . 5.0% News . 9.6% Miscellaneus . 9.5% Time signals . 3.6% Total . 100.0% Conferences are largely dialogues presenting adult educational programs, though there is some entertainment included in the item. The proportion of time devoted to music is a very small fraction less than in the United States, while other types of pro¬ grams seem to be somewhat less in variety of interests embodied in them. SOVIET RUSSIA TAXES RECEIVING SETS A decree of the Council of People’s Commissaries has created a subscription fee for a wireless receiving set in the U. S. S. R. “With a view to strengthening the financial basis of broadcasting and ensuring its further development,” says the decree, “the Council of People’s Commissaries has decided to introduce from and after January 1, 1933, a subscription fee for the use of a receiving set.” Under the provisions of the decree a crystal set is taxed three roubles. Tube sets operated on alternating current pay 24 roubles a year; those employing direct current 18 roubles; those intended for public use 50 roubles; and those intended for collective use, 36 roubles. The Commissary for Postal and Electric Communications collects the tax and receives 7% of the revenue derived from it for so doing. FEDERAL RADIO COMMISSION ACTION HEARING CALENDAR July 24, 1933 WJBK — James F. Hopkins, Inc., Detroit, Mich. — Modification of license to change from specified hours to unlimited time; 1370 kc., 50 watts. WIBM— WIBM, Inc., Jackson, Mich. — Modification of license to change from specified hours to unlimited time. July 28, 1933 KMLB — Liner’s Broadcasting Station, Monroe, La. — Construction permit to change from 1200 kc., 100 watts, unlimited time, to 590 kc., 250 watts, specified hours. APPLICATIONS GRANTED First Zone WINS — American Radio News Corp., New York City — Granted license covering move of transmitter from Astoria, N. Y., to Carlstadt, N. J.; 1180 kc., 500 watts, limited time. WMIL — Arthur Faske, Brooklyn, N. Y. — Granted modification of construction permit to extend completion date to Oct. 1. WAGM — Aroostook Broadcasting Corp., Presque Isle, Maine — Granted modification of license to reduce specified hours from daily 9 a. m. to 1 p. m. and 3 to 7 p. m., EST, to 11 a. m. to 1 p. m. and 4 to 7 p. m. daily. WJZ — National Broadcasting Co., Inc., New York City — Granted extension of special experimental authority to operate \yith 50 KW power for period of 6 months from Aug. 1. Second Zone WLVA — Lynchburg Broadcasting Corp., Lynchburg, Va. — Granted extension of special authority which expires July 22, for an indefinite period, to operate without plate voltmeter pending repair. WHDF — Upper Michigan Broadcasting Co., Calumet, Mich. — Granted special temporary authority to operate from 9:30 to 11:30 a. m., CST, July 26. WWVA — West Virginia Broadcasting Corp., Wheeling, W. Va.— Granted special temporary authorization to operate simul¬ taneously during daytime with WOWO, subject to such action as the Commission may take on lidensee’s pending application for renewal of license. Third Zone WBHS — Radio Station WBHS, Inc., Huntsville, Ala. — Granted authority to remain silent until Sept. 1, 1933, pending re¬ building of studios destroyed by fire. KGKB — East Texas Broadcasting Co., Tyler, Texas — Granted con¬ struction permit to make changes in equipment and move transmitter within building. WODX — Mobile Broadcasting Corp., Springhill, Ala. — Granted authority to remain silent from July 20 or as soon there¬ after as possible, until Sept. 10, in order to work on equip¬ ment. Fourth Zone WKBF — Indianapolis Broadcasting, Inc., Indianapolis, Ind. — Granted 30-day extension of special authority from July 18 to operate transmitter at new location pending decision on applications filed. KFJB — Marshall Electric Co., Inc., Marshalltown, Iowa — Granted temporary authority to operate from 9 a. m. to 12 p. m., CST, July 22, 1933. WKBF — Indianapolis Broadcasting, Inc., Indianapolis, Ind. — Granted modification of construction permit to change loca¬ tion of transmitter locally near Indianapolis, and granted license covering same; 1400 kc., 500 watts, specified hours. Also granted authority to install automatic frequency control. KICK — Red Oak Radio Corp., Carter Lake, Iowa — Granted license covering removal of station from Red Oak to Carter Lake, Iowa; 1420 kc., 100 watts, unlimited time. WIND — Johnson-Kennedy Radio Corp., Gary, Ind. — Granted license covering change in equipment and reduction in day¬ time power ; 560 kc., 1 KW, unlimited time. WCFL — Chicago Federation of Labor, Chicago, Ill. — Granted re¬ newal of special experimental authority to operate unlimited time experimentally on 970 kc., for period of 6 months from August 1. WJJD — WJJD, Inc., Mooseheart, Ill. — Granted renewal of special authority to begin operation at 5:30 a. m., CST, on account of daylight savings time. WOWO — The Main Auto Supply Co., Fort Wayne, Ind. — Granted special temporary authorization to operate simultaneously during daytime with WWVA, subject to such action as the Page 93