Radio daily (Oct-Dec 1949)

Friday, December 9, 1949 RADIO DAILY: FCC's Edict On STA's Stands, 5 Outlets Told (Continued from Page 1) plications for new stations should be granted. The stations argued that this position is inconsistent with the earlier reasoning. The Commissioner said yesterday that: "We are of the opinion, however, that petitioners have misconstrued the import of the Commission's argument in the Easton case, and that no such inconsistency exists. The argument in the Easton case was not that FM stations were too unimportant to be considered in making a determination as to the proper allocation of AM stations. The argument was, rather, that the technical differences between AM and FM, together with the different histories of the two services with respect to the allocation of stations among the several states and communities, was such that a fairer distribution of both AM and FM stations could be achieved by considering each type of station separately, and by giving weight to the possible existence of FM stations in considering AM applications only where the AM facilities in the communities being compared where equal or approximately equal. Points To Court-Upheld Contention "The contention of the Commission was upheld by the Court of Appeals in its decision in the Easton case, where it held that the Commission was not required to treat the two types of stations alike in considering applications for either service. But the fact that the Commission felt that it would be unwise to consider FM assignments as equivalent to AM assignments in attempting to make an equitable distribtion of AM facilities, and that it would have been similarly unwise to allocate and assign stations in the new FM service on the basis of the . existing assignment of AM stations, is not determinative of the question of whether or not the existence of FM stations, authorized to operate full time, should affect the policy of the Commission in issuing special temporary authorizations for AM stations authorized to operate regularly in the daytime only." Public In'erest Conside ed The Commission said too, that it ,"is fully aware of the interest of the public in securing nighttime service and particularly service offerp ang programs of special local interest and significance in communities which presently do not have stations authorized to broadcast at .night. The Commission has made • considerable efforts in recent years jto increase the number of full time [[facilities to the extent that such exIpansion is consistent with the mainjjtenance of adequate overall service. (While the value of individual projgrams in some specific instances may jloutweigh the effects of degradation of the basic allocation scheme, we jmust reiterate our belief that any system by which the basic determinlation that a channel is not available Radio Spots Selling TV Sets In Key Video-Serviced Cities (Continued day. Campaigns have been intensified in such cities as New York, Chicago and Los Angeles and the techniques employed indicate the highly competitive nature of the TV receiver sales among the merchants. Among the leaders who have been using radio are Admiral, RCA, Motorola, Philco and Muntz. Some of the radio advertising is confined to spots and to programs where announcers work at high pitch to get demonstration sets installed in homes. Typical of the technique being used to get a TV receiver into a home is the programming for Dynamic stores in New York which features the Admiral line. Called an "ad lib pitch" the announcer goes into a fast invitation spiel. A sample of the script as heard on WMCA, New York, follows: "Would you like to have television in your home tonight? If you live in New York telephone Murray Hill 2-7720— in New Jersey call Market 2-3191 and Dynamic stores will have television operating in your home tonight without a penny's cost or obligation to you. I have just 35 sets for free home demonstrations so you'd better phone now if you want to be among the lucky ones. It's not just any ordinary television, mind you — not a small table model nor an unknown brand, but the new, amazing Admiral wonder set, the smartest console television ever built, with the big size 62-inch picture that the whole family can watch from Page 1) in comfort. Stations pop right in, automatically, at the turn of a dial. Pictures are clear, steady, brilliant — thank's to Admiral's famous superpowered chassis — works perfectly on its own synchronized antenna — no installation is required — you don't need your landlord's permission. And its guaranteed, doubly guaranteed by the two top names in television, Admiral and Dynamic stores so you're sure of lasting satisfaction." Prizes Offered for Leads The same method of lining up demonstration prospects has been used by Muntz and another dealer, Sunset stores, has been offering merchandise prizes to TV viewers who will furnish them with the name of sales prospects. Sunset features the RCA line. Stations accepting the business have been told by agency executives that radio announcements have been more effective in producing sales prospects than TV broadcasts. They argue that most radio listeners are potential TV buyers while those viewing a television set in their homes are already sold on the sight and sound media. Dog Arrives In New York To Get Giveaway Prizes (Continued from Page 1) the press. Cocktails and "solid refreshments" were served. The event, dreamed up by Benton & Bowles, was thoroughly covered by the press of radio, newspapers, magazines, trade papers, TV and newsreels. Gambling Reminscing In preparation for the celebration of his 25th year at WOR on March 8, 1950, John B. Gambling has asked listeners to supply him with any early anecdotal material relative to his early A.M. music and chatter programs. He says he can't remember all the high spots of the past 25 years and wonders what little things have amused his audience most. for nighttime operation in a given community may be periodically set aside can only result in the eventual complete breakdown of the entire allocation system upon which any adequate radio service necessarily depends." In addition to WNYC, the stations were WOI, Ames, la; WNAD, Norman, Oka.; WKAR, Lansing, Mich., and WHCU, Ithaca. N. Y. Freedom Foundation To Honor L. A. Weiss An honor medal for activity and speeches on the American Way of Life will be presented in February to Lewis Allen Weiss, Chairman of the Board of the Don Lee Broadcasting System, by Freedoms Foundation, Inc., Valley Forge, Pa. An announcement of the distingushed award was received by Weiss yesterday in a telegram from Don Belding, E. F. Hutton and Kenneth Dallee Wells, trustees of the foundation. Freedom Foundation is a national organization to provide recognition to American citizens who do the most outstanding job of bringing about a better understanding of the American Way of Life. Weiss for years has been an outspoken advocate of the Free Enterprise system in the United States and is regarded as an exceptionally able speaker. WEISS AMERICANS SPEAK UP! 10:45 1 1:00 P.M. MONDAY A series of inspiring, informative talks by prominent Americans. These excellent public service programs are available for sponsorship on WINS. Variety says: "Commercial Possibilities Are Good." r WINS L, 50KW NEW YORK/