U. S. Radio (Jan-Dec 1961)

Changes in Farm Radio As [arm radio keeps pace with growing technology ..ml the m bit ini Revealed in Third Survey aspects ol [arming, ii is in the process ol adjusting ik programming con tent. Diversification in programming is being aimed ;n offering the farmer more information, especially on markets and al appealing to .1 wider range oi farm listeners (the housewife, the young farmer). These changes are among the many that arc revealed in 1 ,s. u mho's third annual survey of ihis specialized medium (sec Farm Radio Keeps Pace, p. 17). Impact of "Great Debates" Reflected The cooperative efforts ol the foui networks in bringing the "Greal I)' In Nielsen Rating Index Change bates," between Presideni John F. Kennedy and Vim Presideni Richard M. Nixon, to the American radio audience marked an unusual departure in broadcast public service programming. The Nielsen Radio Index has surveyed the national in-home audiences reached by the "(ireai Del). lies'' as a combined four-network broadcast. For the first of the debates (Monday, Sept. 26, 9:30-10:30 p.m. FS'F) Nielsen reports the total audience as 1,879,000 homes. The Nielsen average audience was 1,434,000 homes and die share of the audience was 51.8 percent. Radio Set Sales for 1961 Expected to The general upswing in listener acceptance is reflected in increased set Better Last Year's Sales Increase sales for the past year. With the sale of fm sets nearing its all-time record and the overall industry sales topping previous records, the Electronics Industries Association is looking forward with optimism. Says L. Berkley Davis, president of the association, "Radio sales are substantially ahead of last year with auto radios up perhaps as much as 15 percent. Radios containing fm tuners continued to glow in popularity and to increase fm's share ol the radio market." NAB Slogan and Material Set "Radio . . . the Best Sound Around" has been chosen b) the National For National Radio Month in May Association of Broadcasters as the theme for National Radio Month this coming May. For the third consecutive year, Faillace Productions, Inc., New York has been signed to prepare a new series of jingles for the event. Survey Indicates Public Reliance The on-the-spot survey made by the Radio Advertising lime. hi during Upon Radio During Disaster Events the recent airliner crash in New York indicated public faith in the sound medium's ability to disseminate information at the time of a major dis aster. The survey, which covered 596 households, revealed that 56.2 percent of those aware of the crash, first heard the news on radio. BPA Selects New York Site The 1961 Broadcasters Promotion Association Convention has been set For Fifth Annual Convention for November 6, 7 and 8. Meeting will be held at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York. BPA President John F. Hurlbut has appointed Han Belhis, director of advertising and promotion for Transcontinental Television Corp., as program chairman for the convention. Arrangements chairman will be James Mullen, promotion manager of WCBS New York. Farm Radio Adjusts to New Report from WJAG Norfolk, Neb., reveals a major trend which farm Rural-Urban Interdependence radio programming is adjusting to. "Growing interdependence be tween the rural businessman and the town businessman" is the theme of a program that will be kicked off at a local Chamber of Commerce banquet early in February. Concept behind the program is to insure greater prosperity of both farmer and city businessmen through rural-urban area development. U. S. RADIO • January 1961 7