NBC Transmitter (Jan 1943-Sept 1944)

FEBRUARY 1943 13 139 STATIONS ATTEND NBC 1943 WAR CLINICS • NEW YORK— NBC’s 1943 War Clinicopened in New York, January 28, and closed nearly three weeks later in Los Angeles after holding sessions in Richmond, Cincinnati. Chicago, New Orleans and Houston. At each of the tour’s stops, representatives of the network’s affiliates gathered to meet NBC’s top executives and listen to their discussions of the company’s operations. All speakers emphasized plans now being carried out by the network to coordinate its activities fullv with the war effort. Part of each day’s session was set aside for a general discussion of the network’s relations with affiliates. Through these forums, NBC officials became acquainted with the special problems faced by the affiliates in each of the seven districts. The station representatives, in turn, had an opportunity to inquire into phases of network operation which affect the conduct of their outlets. In speaking on “An Enlightened Public Relations Policy for Broadcasting Stations,’’ Vice-President William S. Hedges contended that “the broadcaster must take his place alongside the newspaper publisher as a community leader. To take that place requires a public consciousness which can view broadcasting as a longlived industry, not as a means of turning a quick dollar.” In discussing sales with the Clinic’s guests in the seven cities, Vice-President Roy C. Witmer predicted that 1943 business would equal the 1942 total which, he revealed, was 7 per cent ahead of 1941 despite war time conditions. Witmer also called attention to what he termed the “great phenomenon of 1942.” which he defined as “the way in which so many advertisers have used their time and programs to slow dow'n the sale of their products to the ordinary citizens and otherw ise give the war effort the right of way over their own advertising interests.” Vice-President Clarence L. Menser emphasized that “the first imperative in programming is to serve the war effort and yet insure a program structure which w ill hold the listener.” He added that the network had sent out to affiliated stations more than 740 hours of war effort programs including 6,000 announcements for war bonds, recruiting, and similar aims. A SWELLED CAST FOR A SWELL SERIES ff'SM, Nashville, Tennessee, launched its 17 -year-old “ Grand Ole Opry ” series with the two-man cast shown on the right. The photo above shows the current cast. A halfhour of each week's 4-hour fFSM broadcast is carried over an NBC hook-up. Broadcasting and its relations to the “Washington Scene” were pictured b\ Vice-President Frank M. Russell in a talk which carried predictions that many of the important legislative controversial subjects would be settled favorably. Other speakers during each two-day meeting were President Niles Trammell who discussed problems common to network and affiliates; Charles B. Brown, director of advertising and promotion, who used elaborate charts to explain the results of NBC’s 412-Countv Survey of night-time and daytime listening; VicePresident John F. Royal on “International Broadcasting ”; Noran E. Kersta on “Post-War Television,” and John McKav, press department manager, who outlined the scope of the department's activities. Dr. James Rowland Angell. NBC public service counselor, was the speaker at each banquet with a talk on “My Six Years in Radioland.” WEST COAST INSTITUTE (Continued from page 11) programs. Lectures, studio and control room work. Programs w ill be rehearsed, produced and transcribed for analysis and criticism. INSTRUCTOR— Ned Tollinger. director. NBC Western division. Graduate University of Nebraska and Minnesota Art Institute. Director of hit shows. PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAMS -A study of the administration, planning, production, direction and utilization of public service, educational and war programs. Intended especialh for station educational directors, radio chairmen of educational service organizations, teachers and club executives. INSTRUCTOR — Jennings Pierce, manager of public service and station relations. NBC Western division. Graduate L niversitj of California.