NAB reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

mental relationship between the total amount of informa¬ tion which may be transmitted over a transmission system of limited band with the time required.” Dr. Goldmark’s citation reads “. . . his contributions to the development of television systems, particularly in the field of color.” Programming NAB COOPERATING WITH OWMR IN CLEARANCES FOR GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS President Truman recently appointed a Media Program¬ ming Division under the jurisdiction of the Office of War Mobilization and Reconversion to take over many of the functions formerly carried on by the Domestic Radio Branch of the OWI. Under this plan, the OWM and R Media Programming Division screens requests from within government for radio time and assigns a priority to each request in accord¬ ance with the importance of the subjects. After this has been done, the NAB will publish this list in the Reports at least one week before the allocations are requested. This is followed by a mailing to all stations from OWM and R of fact sheets, and suggested spot announcements. This information will be useful in tieups in commercial copy and on sponsored programs also. While commitments for allocations of time, of course, may be given only by the station licensee, Ed Kirby, NAB Public Relations Counsellor, points out the opportunity here provided for rendering service in the public interest and in maintaining in peacetime the outstanding record achieved by radio and advertisers in wartime. Below are published the priorities for the month of February as determined by OWM and R: Housing . A priority Economic Stabilization . A priority Rent Clothing Durable Goods Red Cross Drive . A priority Help for Hospitals . B priority Savings Bonds and Stamps . C priority Merchant Marine Recruiting . C priority Veterans' Assets . C priority Housing Shortage One of the most pressing current problems, says OWMR, is the acute housing shortage. The seriousness of this problem merits nationwide attention. Therefore, the Media Programming Division of OWMR has assigned it a top priority. OWMR will soon forward to stations copies of suggested spot announcements dealing with the housing shortage. If the announcements are not used verbatim, OWMR is keenly desirous that the Basic Facts presented in the fact sheets which accompany the spots be followed closely. Undoubtedly the builders, bankers, labor unions and veterans of your community are vitally interested parties. Anti-Inflation Campaign The spot announcements from the Office of Price Ad¬ ministration on anti-inflation have been received by most stations. This program also carries top priority. Income Tax Time Reminders Also forthcoming are announcements from the Bureau of Internal Revenue, reminders of the March 15 deadline for filing Federal Income Tax reports. This campaign should receive attention during the weeks of February 25th and March 4th, according to OWMR. Hospitals Need Help Broadcasters will note that the “Help for Hospitals” campaign is on the priority list. The nationwide need for hospital personnel is acute. Any local help would mate¬ rially aid this situation. Requests for help probably will be forthcoming from local hospitals. Community health is vital and the subject makes excellent programming material. NAVY MAN SUGGESTS CONTINUANCE SIGN-OFF NATIONAL ANTHEM Gentlemen : I wonder if the NAB would not want to consider recom¬ mending to its member stations the continued use of the National Anthem in connection with sign offs. I do not think this should be considered a wartime measure and discontinued now that hostilities have ceased. Rather, I think it is a matter of national pride — one step up from overworked “patriotism.” To my mind, WSB, Atlanta, has an excellent sign off— a melody appropriate to the local (“Dixie” in their case) with a civic “pep talk,” not hurried and not overdone, followed by the National Anthem. I certainly do not think the Anthem connotes to any (Continued on next page) DISTRICT MEETINGS AHEAD 14th District Jan. 28-29 Brown Palace Denver, Colo. 13th District Jan. 31-Feb. 1 Baker Hotel Dallas, Texas 12th District Feb. 4-5 Tulsa Hotel Tulsa, Okla. 6th District Feb. 7-8 Peabody Hotel Memphis, Tenn. 11th District March 18-19 Radisson Hotel Minneapolis, Minn. 8th District March 21-22 Pantlind Hotel Grand Rapids, Mich. 9th District March 25-26 Palmer House Chicago, Illinois 7th District March 28-29 Gibson Hotel Cincinnati, Ohio 4th District April 11-12 Cavalier Hotel Virginia Beach, Va. OTHERS TO BE HELD IN APRIL-MAY JANUARY 28, 1948-55