Sponsor (1964)

SPONSOR WEEK NAFBRAT Files Complaint over Ripper' Showing Los Angeles — Is "Jack the Ripper" fit television fare? The National Assn. for Better Radio and Television (NAFBRAT) doesn't think so and has filed a complaint with Federal Communications Commission charging KHJ-TV, an RKO General outlet, with "reckless disregard for the welfare of its juvenile audiences" by televising the film eight times over a oneweek period in July. NAFBRAT's complaint also protested the showing of "Pretty Boy Floyd" on KHJ-TV at a later date, asking the FCC to consider these showings in light of the commission's obligation to ascertain that each station operates within the public interest. "Both of these films are without redeeming elements," declared Clara S. Logan, NAFBRAT president, adding that they are not even fit for adult viewing. When contacted by Sponsor, Malcolm C. Klein, manager of the station, said it was the first he had heard of the complaint, indicatng that it would be more constructive if NAFBRAT. or other organizations concerned, would come directly to the station with complaints. He said he was completely in favor of NAFBRAT's stated purpose. It was the means used to achieve it that bothered the station head. While he declined to answer NAFBRAT directly. Klein pointed out that certain sequences in "Jack the Ripper" were actually edited out where it seemed to be violence for the sake of violence. Of the many criticisms leveled at tv. said Klein, the must justified is that the medium has "not provided enough programing material for the discriminating, selective and mature viewer." Attacks like that of NAFBRAT. Klein indicated, prevent tv from doing this. "Television, in order to perform its most vital role in our society," he said, "cannot be at all times appealing to everyone." Klein pointed out that KHJ-TV does present films in which the subject matter might be shocking, but the test is in the quality of treatment. " 'Jack the Ripper' was a good movie," he argued. Ironically, KHJ-TV won NAFBRAT's award as the outstand ing entertainment program last year for its presentation of a special Gershwin show. NBC Beefing Up Emphasis' With Roster of News Names New York — NBC Radio is trotting out the network's big guns for its new, revamped Emphasis series. Beginning yesterday, top NBC personalities are being featured in regularly scheduled fiveminute broadcasts on the Mondaythrough-Friday series. The Emphasis roster includes Frank McGce, Chet Huntley. Arlenc Francis. Nancy Dickerson, Howard Whitman, Frank Blair and Lindsey Nelson. The programs are scheduled on the half-hour, starting at 9:30 a.m. (NYT). According to William K. McDaniel. executive vice president in charge of NBC Radio, "each specializes in a specific area of interest, with comments on people, places and events." Sales pitch for the new series stresses the promotability of the names involved, the fact that each personality is heard at the same time daily and that the broadcasts are fed on a clock-hour basis en abling the sponsor to advertise within the same local time period simultaneously in every time zone NBC has signed its first sponsor for the series. Accent. Also station acceptance is reported to bf extremely high. Basically, the new format follows the pattern of CBS Radio' successful Dimension series, whicl also features regularly schedulec five-minute broadcasts, showcase top network names. With 63 seg ments aired a week, the networl reports the series is "almost con tinually sold out." As a special Labor Day week end feature. CBS devoted al 27 editions of Dimension to th automobile and its place in th world. The special series co\cre< the whole spectrum of the ante mobile in our society — its bene1 tits, dangers and its impact on ir dustry. labor and government. AcJ cording to CBS. the special serfc sold out early last week. I Frank McGce Chet Huntley Arlene Francis Howard Whitman Nancy D:ckerson Lindsey Nelson Frank Blair 20 SPONSC