Radio daily (Oct-Dec 1949)

Monday, October 31, 1949 RADIO DAILY 5 intwccr IN UN Day Saluted By AL JAEGGIN T3E corner stone laying ceremonies of the new United Nations quarters in New York City in which President Truman and high ranking U. S. and world dignataries participated was given wide coverage by both radio and television. It was estimated that an audience of 50,000,000 people throughout the world heard the broadcast. The program was aired by 2,000 stations in the United States and staff members of the U. N. radio division described the ceremonies in 26 languages for broadcast via shortwave around the world. . . . Skytop Lodge at Skytop, Pa. was the scene last week of a two-day session for over 100 broadcasters from the Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland areas to attend the Third District NAB meet, called by George D. Coleman, general manager of WGBI, Scranton, district chairman. The sessions differed somewhat from previous NAB district meetings in that they did not adhere strictly to the "off the record" procedure advised by NAB executives in Washington. A survey of members attending the meetings indicated that commercial sales this year were holding up well and in many instances running higher than last year. . . . The final session of the NAB Third District meeting at Skytop brought forth criticism from many of the NAB members with regard to an increasing demand for free air time for non-political broadcasts by Senators and Representatives in Washington. The consensus of opinion seemed to be that the requests for such free time comes under the classification of commercial time and should be paid for at prevailing station commercial rates. According to reports, the trend does not only apply to political parties, but to servicemen's organizations, labor organizations and others, who seek free time under the guise of public service programming. . . . President Harry S. Truman and Charles E. Wilson, president of the General Electric Company broadcast addresses over the major networks yesterday, launching the "Religion in American Life" Campaign. The program originated with CBS studios in New York, with the exception of the President's speech, which was heard direct from Washington. . . . The Dolcin Corporation completed one of the largest contracts ever signed in New England for radio with the Yankee Network for twelve quarter-hours a week, the program being aired for the first time yesterday. The 52-week program on WNAC and the complete Yankee net included six different programs for morning, afternoon and evening listening. . . . Joseph H. McConnell, new president of NBC, met the press during the week at a luncheon held in the Flamingo Room of the Waldorf-Astoria. Invites to Gov't Witness Bolsters BMB As Income-Tax Suit Opens (Continued from Page 1) under subpoena. H i s testimony, which ended the long courtroom session, was more damaging to the government's case than otherwise. After oral testimony for both sides concluded on Friday, each was given 45 days to submit briefs. One of the main points of the government's case, as stated by the special attorney of the Internal Revenue Bureau, Sheldon V. Ekman, is an allegation that BMB was formed to carry out functions now performed by private groups operating for profit, and that the Bureau is performing functions ordinarilly done for profit. Crux of BMB's defense, as stated by its attorney, Lawrence F. Casey, is that the Bureau was organized not for profit "but to improve business conditions in broadcasting and advertising." Thus, according to Casey, BMB has had "neither net income nor gross income." All BMB Testimony Similar The testimony of Ryan, Gamble, Allen, Miller, and Feltis, as brought forth in direct examination and cross examination, followed this general line. Ryan, testifying first, said that the original subscriber contracts drawn up by the Bureau for Study No. 1 provided for an "adjustment" if the study cost more or less than anticipated. Enlarging on this, he said it was understood that a refund would be made to subscribers if a cash surplus remained after completion of the study, and that an additional charge of up to 25 per cent would be levied if it cost more than anticipated. The government attorney's objection to that interpretation of "adjustment," which he raised at intervals during the hearing, was overruled by the presiding judge, Samuel B. Hill. Ryan denied the government's suggestion that BMB was doing business in competition with private groups such as the Hooper and Nielsen firms — a denial that was echoed by the other BMB witnesses in turn, and finally by Hooper himself. In tracing the origins of BMB, Ryan described the "chaotic" conditions in radio before the Bureau's formation, which conditions he attributed to the wide conflict in station coverage claims and measurement methods. This point was simi larly stressed by the other defense witnesses. Joseph Allen , the Bristol-Myers executive who is the ANA representative in BMB, declared that the Bureau was set up with the purpose of providing industry-wide benefits, and not for the interests of any special group or segment of the three industry associations which created BMB— the NAB, ANA, and AAAA. Asked to explain his interest as an advertiser in broadcasting, he said: "Advertisers are interested in all forms of media. . . . No other medium covers an audience as well as radio ... a peculiarly powerful medium." Judge Miller Heard Fred Gamble, the 4-A president, testifying next, made substantially the same points, from the standpoint of the agency rather than the advertiser. Judge Miller, following Gamble to the stand, presented the broadcasters' viewpoint as to BMB's functions and worth, and denied a series of questions by the government attorney seeking to show that BMB was operated from profit motives and to serve certain segments rather than the industry as a whole. Hugh Feltis, who was BMB's first president, traced for the court the steps leading up to the Bureau's birth, from the time in 1944 when he, as chairman of an NAB research committee, presided over a meeting which explored the problem of finding a uniform yardstick for station coverage membership. "Customer," Says Hooper Final witness of the day was C. E. Hooper, called by the government attorney. Asked by the latter, "Do you consider BMB a competitor?", Hooper replied: "Actually, if you looked in our books, you'd find they are a customer." Conversely, he said, "BMB measurements have been used as a source by us." The general effect of his testimony was to refute suggestions by the government attorney that Hooper and BMB measure the same things, or that their measurements are roughly comparable. Asked in conclusion by the Internal Revenue Bureau's attorney if he had any idea that BMB might constitute competition for him in the future, Hooper replied: "It's nothing I'm lying awake at night worrying about." new Business WGN-TV, Chicago: Ford Dealers of Chicago will sponsor "Big Ten" football for a half-hour on Fridays, 7:30 to 8 p.m., with Wilfred Smith predicting the next week's gridiron scores. The contract began Sept. 23. and continues for 10 weeks. J. Walter Thompson Co. is the agency. Burke Motor Sales Company, Chicago, sponsoring the musical show, "Sunday Night Date," on Sundays from 6:45 to 7 p.m., on WGN-TV for 13 weeks. It began Sept. 25. Continental Clothing Company is sponsoring "'Continental's Date Night," on WGN-TV, for 52 weeks, from Sept. 28. Jones-Frankel, Chicago, is the agency. WGN, Chicago: William Wise Company, New York, will sponsor "Get More Out of Life" Monday thru Friday 10: 15 to 10:30 a. m. and Sunday 10:45 to 11:00 p. m. for 13 weeks, beginning this week. Thwing and Altman, Inc., New York, is the agency. The Chicago Tribune has renewed "Interesting Facts," on Sundays from 10:15 to 10:30 a. m. beginning immediately for 52 weeks. George H. Hartman Company, Chicago, handles the account. meet McConnell brought out the key men of the wire services, trade and daily papers. . . . Despite the FCC's refusal to permit WNYC, New York, to remain on the air beyond its present sign-off time of 10 p.m., on election eve, November 8, the station's director, Seymour Siegel announced plans whereby the station will make its most extensive coverage in its 25-year history for the gathering of election night returns. Siegel said that the station would make its unique coverage facilities at City Hall available to other local stations as a public service. . . . NBC's director of research. Hugh M. Beville, Jr., told the 8th annual luncheon meeting of the Pulse, Inc., held at the Hotel Biltmore in New York that the industry can no longer afford to ignore the out-of-home radio audience, because it is "substantially greater than generally surmised" and because overall radio listening both in and out of home, "will come back into its own side by side with television viewing" as the novelty of the newest medium wears off. . . , WQXR, New York: Vim Electric Co., operating 21 appliance stores in the metropolitan area, will sponsor Pru Devon's "Nights in Latin America," Monday and Friday, 10:0510:30 p.m., starting Oct. 24. The 52week contract was placed through Sternfield-Godley, Inc. Gambarelli and Davitto has renewed for the 12th consecutive year of its contract for "Music to Remember," a program of recorded light concert melodies. The one-year contract, effective Oct. 26, covers the 6:05-6:28 p.m. period, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Platt-Forbes, Inc. is the agency. Electric Co. Sponsoring New ET Series In Canada Montreal — A new radio program, sponsored by Northern Electric Company. Ltd., Montreal, and produced with a view to "reaching" the Canadian housewife, will be given its official premiere in Vancouver, B. C, early next month, it was announced here by E. H. Woodley, advertising manager of the company. The program, named "The Northernaires" will be broadcast v i a transcription, three times weekly and will be of 15 minutes duration. It is planned to stage the shows during the morning. Will Represent WSKB The Friedenburg Agency has just been appointed national representative for radio station WSKB, McComb, Miss., a 5,000-watt station with studios in New Orleans and Jackson, Miss. It is one of the oldest stations in the state, a station that started with 100 watts and is now up to 5.000 watts.