Variety (January 1962)

Washington, Jan. 30.. ” Up to this point in 1 the draimatic confrontation of. News < a ‘ton Minow and his FCC “eonfreres and the. television net -work ‘executives. in: -the. resumption: ‘of . hearings; ‘into. tv network’ practices, avhat particularly emerges :is a: full dimensional portrait of. a group ‘of. men | ‘representing ‘\in . a ‘the order. of their. appearance)’ both CBS: and NBC, ‘who. . are gifted: with an acute sense of responsibility: .. ; If nothing else conies out of the protracted: siftings ‘and ‘probings -into’ television ‘network practices (and <atthis wees ‘stage there's no telling. the extent. of. the regulations, ‘if: any, to be.imposed), the fact is: that: the hearings have . | ‘served to throw.into sharp focus. -the type ‘of maturity. and’ aggressive leadership: with which the key. functien~. ’ aries in network tv are endowed. . Standing out above all else in the first week: Of. hear-. ings was the CBS leader—corporate.: ‘prexy Frank Stan- ton, with the status of -‘‘a man for all tv ‘seasons” as he. bore the brunt of this responsibility. .And. if NBC board. © . chairman Robert Sarnoff’s testimony. (charging that the °. FCC was seéking to regulate the. tv rietworks) set off the .. ‘hearings’ first major ‘pyrotechnic: display; ‘it’:also” demi _enstrated,: for all the roughing-up that Sarnoff took, ‘that. here, too, along. with. ‘responsibility, were. ‘men of. resolution and ‘determination... oo architects was being enhanced to a-considerable degree, It could well be that when all the: findings. are caré-"*,-"“about. this. since: he opposed network legislation Of. any. °° fully evaluated .and appraised, the FCC may decide that some infractions and .misdemeanors .are..in need. of : remedy; that existing ‘network: ‘concepts are’ in’ some... of his sense -of ‘decorum, was: obviously: irked over ia: eases af variance with the precepts ; and: behavior -patternis: vf ‘.as gleaned through FCC eyes. .The closing ‘stages’ of the ° CBS examination:.gave strong hint ‘of network ‘regulation’. . ‘Turking ‘in .the background. It’s conceivable ° that thé ‘Gov-. erument agency: may even throw the book at the networks. ue Yet: for all that. ‘Minow. and: his brethren. ‘iust inev itably. _ concede the high style and -class’.of theexecutive man-power that tv has incubated as. Was: -$O. forcefully : illus trated last week: Certainly television’s aiiministrative | “counterpart . is a gt far cry from the ‘salad. days .of : -Fadio’-when | management... was. too frequently linked with. fugitives’ from ‘a. service.:: _ station or garage. If. all. of. this assumes major importance, it's because. of. what it portends for ‘the’ future: -of.-an.. ine. : dustry too. Jong. held in. disrepute: ‘ —_ Stanton ‘Spark’ The manner in which CBS’ Corporate ’ ‘pr coy Frank Stan— ton sparked. his ‘11-man executive’ team, confronting the. what) was ian object lesson in heads-up..éxecutive “field: ‘play.. Here was a team with a cumulative. .200-vear ‘track: record in broadcasting. But far -more ‘meaningful w as the : direction: this. experience has taken. :". -It's for this reason that.one can applaud’ the total. eXx-. posure’ given the FCC: hearings, particularly in the. three-. __ Sunday -network displays on NBC-TV’ ‘and in the full hour. “recap on WNEW-FV~ Sunday. night. and more fab; that they. would pack ‘a far greater Nielsen”. wallop if the programs hadthe benefit ; -of a.Bud Collyer. ° to ask: “Will the real Newton: ‘Minaw stand: up?” ‘Never-". theless, even this:simple. nationwide exposure of -tv’s .ex= * ecutive: manpower with: all cerebral. cylinders. clicking can -help immeasurably in restoring “public” -confidence ° in. a smediam subjected to brickbats .andD.C: prat-falls:.. ' The Sarnoff Tuneup For NEC . ‘Like Stanton, Sarnoff. ‘took. the position. that fesulation. aoe of ty networks is unnecessary, unwise. and unworkable as-. ° & practical matter. “We cannot,” said: Sarnoff, accept. the’. premise that. the public: interest demands the: repulation.: of networks, and. that all that remains: is ‘to: decide “just... . : how they should be. regulated, (In the. resultant: question noes fee wot and-answer period ‘see separate” box). .the. Fcc had some | ” different arguménts on the subject). ' Pointing out that :the development, of audience interest is a process of “gradual evolution that sets: its own. pace,”. the NBC chieftain emphasized that ‘the artificial -stimu-‘lation .of Government ‘prodding: of broadcasters. AViIT Tot | speed viewers. to change their tastes.” As to “how. should the. public ‘interest .be™ ‘represented in broadcasting?” . Sarnoff ‘testified: ~“The: answer, I° submitted. is’ by the -public-itself.”’. adding: that. ‘the: para-.~ -Moutit idea. of the democratic . process: is “that: “people = themselves, given: opportunity for choice, ‘can. ‘Rest ‘choose. for themselves.” “Such a conception, ” Sarnoff ‘aid. “applies” ‘with: pat". : teular force. to the ‘area of. personal taste “and: ‘to the. Media of éxpression which, like: broadcasting; .dépend: for. their existence on their ability to satisfy public. tastes ‘and ©. interests. Broadcasting, more than Government .or any © / other. American institution, affords the ‘public .direct,.:." swift and telling means’ of: making its own decisions and registering its own preferénces on..aday-to-day—indeed, : hour-to-hour—basis. And there ‘is no type of -program: to. .¥ which the public is aot given Teasonable. and consistent... “opportunity to respond. | _ “Against this remarkably effective ‘system. Of. free. choice, some would impose the centralized authority... of * ‘Government to. determine what is. good for the: public to . see and hear. Ido not believe the ‘public has delegated. ° that right to any group. Certainly the Commissian is ‘not . empowered. to act:as an agent for the public in this. area, to speak for what the public should. get: Rather, it is. the. .Commission’s role: to -see. to it that. broadcasters Keep ‘in . touch .with their atidiences so that they can gauge: the’... public’s response. to what they offer, ‘and: can. “build” on. that response.” . Sarnoff expressed ‘the “view. that. “programming. goals ~ of responsible broadcasters are “no lower: ‘than’ those the. Granted,” Where: ” the general public’is concerned,.it all adds up: ta “gab ai sronoe. ‘ROSEN: ree is Shategy et ‘Washington, Jan. 30." “The ‘Hunting season got: ‘under: way ‘Monday. (29) ; ‘* at week: late—at' the. FCC’s programming inquiry.’ Rob-. "ert Sarnoff, NBC: board: ‘chairman, ‘was. declared, fair... ar “game. we Sarnoff had. ‘not. even: “completed. fits ‘prepared: statement when the ‘eoiimissioners. began peeling off ‘their: . kid: gloves and network’ ‘study chief: Ashbrook Bryant... took out. his: harpoon .gun.:.| . "Sarnoff, leading ‘off NBC's preseritation, ‘first “was . “pounced on: ‘by: ‘Commiésioner: Frederick. Ford: ‘while: :” 2 Still ‘reading. his: statement. (Stanton. was: uninterrupted .. wy _ during ‘his. _prepared: testimony).. -Ford challenged . the -"NBC. topper on his ‘allegation’ the’ Commission is. trying < to regulate programming. ‘There was nothing in. FCC's. ‘actions to indicate. ‘anything: ‘of the kind, .he: ‘snapped. . The whole Sarnoff statement. appeared: to, be: “not per. tirient, * Ford declared: or ‘backed ‘network regulation ‘bill and the tv reformists .. . championing’. the ‘move: Minow ‘was provoked to make’ .. the. ‘threat “that” unless ‘the. industry comes’ wp. with some: -substitute’ legislative : -propésals to. ‘ameliorate: ’ the problem’ of: pr -ogramming responsibility, the Com: : mission might: be’ ‘obljged:fo abandon ‘ “wrist:slapping” a «in favor’ of tougher: ‘disciplinary means. S Aeainst. broad”... “casters. . 7 i ‘Sarnoff. said he ‘did. hot: ‘now. what. the’ “could: do: a ~_kind.. ' . Ford, awhto ‘rarely. léts his ‘Emotions. get. ihe ‘better’ ; Suggestion by. Sarhoff. that. -the100-plus.¢ivic clubs ete.” who assailed .tvin. the. 1959-60 hearings wanted to. inie . ‘pose their’ peculiar tv: tastes-4 on the rest. of the people. “implication '.that.-the-sheer.-w eight. of: the criticisin, : . dignified by.being’ ‘Tevelled ‘during. ‘an: official: FCC. ‘. proceeding, “might. bend: -broadecasters Of. ‘Drograny’. to. * please, semeoneé..elge beside. their audience.” “-..!-.! +. .-“*¥ou ‘are® Saying that ‘all: this is speculation on. ‘Your’: we ‘part—these chargesyou are imaking: against ‘the ‘coms ‘Inission?”. Ford.-queried -héatedly. :: if And: Bryant; “who “had-:-an air’ of. being: unleashed: _ ‘asked’. With’ sone ‘sarcasm: -“What* you" did here was’: foe setup a). straw. man’ ‘eensorshipy: and. Knock: it. Sowing . ‘Wasn't. it?” ; ‘No, ‘averred Sarnoif,: i Booval ar "Same. observers. ‘saw: little: or no. difference: in, the” FCC asa unit with impeccable Swiss-movement : preci--. basi philosophies outlined. by. “Sarnoff and ‘Stanton, ‘sion and timing, was ‘a revelation. Watching. Stanton: take :"--~ ‘the. ball and. alternately toss’ it to tyv-prez Jim‘Aubrey, “or | ‘News president Dick Salant. or to .anOscar Katz, or ae “ :’ Mike. Dann, or a Tom Fisher, ora: Joe Ream, :or:a\Bill ~”: Lodge, or ‘a Bill Hylan. tdepending -on. who -was’ asking * they ‘both -ran counter. to that of Minow: -& Co... “The. difference was. in‘ the:.tenor ‘and: ‘phraséology., i Sarnoff didn't’ ‘mince his. ‘words: and Stanton wielded. “eloquent, ploys to-win hhortors’ for ‘his’ “witnessmanship:’ f1,.° Commissioners. “might! ‘personally: hold out, " What: is” “at issue, hé..said, ‘is. the. method; degree’ and, ‘Speed * with-- Whieh such goals. ean dé; achieved. “as ‘agreater, volume: ° and. ‘Variety of serjous,. enriching. and: informative: _ProBos, _-gtamming.” me “The -: :only. effective method: for’ “witintag: ‘these goals: Securely,” | he’ Said, :.“is' the ‘method conscientious: broad-* “casters now ‘follow: -to: ‘apply, patience, ~skilland _ resource-~ “fulness in‘ exposing viewers’ ‘to: ‘programs’ ‘of this ‘kind that.” “will whet their taste for more. This “is the art of wooing — van audience, and like -other forms of: courtshi) p. it depends : ; on. the ‘consent. of the wooed,” ‘The audience ‘must. be tape: tivatéd—notqhade captive: by. Government. dictate. Ins’: deed, nobody ever: took. an audience by. force; nobody-ean _ make. people watch. television programs they’do. hot, want * : tions or the: ‘advertisers,’ Mee oy aig Not Brickbats BY JAY (LEWIs= , :, -Washingten,. ‘Jan. 30". “the ‘fight fans’ were’ »disappainted: wher: the. top-billed antagonists, in ‘the: -opening‘round ofthe “Great. Confronta~* tion” ‘at Federal Cominunications Commission: lobbed bean-': 7 bags: instead ‘of brickbats... <-. CBS. ‘president. Frank ‘Stanton had ‘laid “down: ‘the gaurite : Net, but-there was-no infante’ terrible. to pick. it up. . ‘Only a self-effacing; : ‘soft-spoken young’ man maned New: ton’: Minow. Aimiableof ‘visage ‘and. voice; he ‘offerred: no ‘serious. challenge. -to Stanton’s: plan ‘or oft-repeated: enune. ‘eiation of /a ‘broadcast philosophy ; directly . antithetical: “to ‘Minowism” ‘and ‘itsbelief in.:‘the ° ‘wasteland. :syndreme.: *: The heavy i in the first week ‘of: the netivork programming | Angquiry’: § close-out: phasé turned ‘out. ‘to. be—in the eyés of ‘the’ industry—~Ashbraok. P:: ‘Bryant, . -head of. the: network. _ study -Staff. and acting -D:A. ‘in. the. ‘proceedings. In. a pon. “derous. baritorie. which seemed: to ‘stop the clock in ‘the: big’ Interstate Commerce’ Commission hearing. room’ ‘borrow ed... for the occasion, Bryant. spread out a heavy mire’ of. gues"tioning for “Stanton ‘and histop. lieutenants. It took some | ‘wading, but. the CBS. hierarchy. managed. to, slog” through, ‘and score: “points: too. * ~ : Moreover; despite the. goading;. ‘Stanton showed: signs: of: “bristling. only. once during the :course ‘of: ‘Bryant's: onerous: * queries;, which verged. often on: ‘the. leading” ‘and loaded: ~ The. current NBC: inning , and: ‘ABC's : ‘turn ‘next . ‘week. © *. should indiéate whether Minow. is actually. trying.-to shed™: ‘his: angry young “Eagle Scout image or. whether ‘ he’ was: . : “simply holding off and stoking up his’fires to seorch-NBC, _ : ABC. or. both:. Whatever: ‘his: motive;,. the: -charige ‘of aspect .marks Minow as: ¢apable: of“role ‘Switehés—from. a-beard= : “less Jehovah-type, ful: ‘of righteous weath;. 5 to. a-subdued, ' fledgling public servant anxious to learn. from: his elders, ‘The abiltiy to aceommodate:.and ° ‘change tack as the Witids “shift ‘is. alomst 3 a Prerequisite £ for. Sukvival here where the. 7 ee wae _ . Comniijssion® ‘Chairman: Newton: ‘Minow, almost: ret. ot “ a cent. ith: Stanton’ last week, found. his ‘tongue. and... _ For what perhaps is most illuminating ‘of all-is ‘the kind °:, Joined’ in the*'sport:* Sarnoff’ bluntly: challénged the~’ of executive whe is ‘currently .revealing. his ‘skills and |’ : Washington ‘regulatory ‘trend’ (particularly: the FCC: ‘ knowledge. before’ Minow. & Co.—-men who,. whether thé ..~:FCC is willing to concede the Boint: or not,. are inscribirig:® into the FCC archives, -both in their prepared Statements. : . and in response ‘to questioning, .anenlightening, updated . primer on the. why-what-when-and-hew of-television; From, * Minow on down,. the’. august. FCC body last week may -not — have batted an eyelash, yet it was abundantly evident that . ‘their education in the arts and skills .of:tv by. responsible : ' -. Minow and Bryant’ ‘similarly :took umbrage: ‘at: Sarnoff’ oa ; to: ‘see—neither. the Government, ‘the: networks,’ ‘ther ‘stat ° TTI tear onegperegewewrer oe Ss cep are wo oe _ aiiswerving: disappeat juiekly. off, thi: deen €26, and the = nee OPportunists thrive." : Da. Sagrada UBF. ‘The: ‘Bolution?. S Z ‘One. ofthe ‘mast significant: uuttetances. of the. first week. Was .Minow’s ‘off-hand: remark ‘just before the ‘end. of: the . CBS ‘testimony:. He ‘told ‘Stanton,. that, miaybe after: all, 90% of the: program’ problem under’ discussion, was soluble. . ‘by expanding | tv. into: UHF: The. channel ‘shortage, of.* . course,..is not “an issue. at: the: hearing.: So the question is : » Taised; ‘why the. big. production,~ the “Commission. sitting ao “en: ‘bane, the. advance. -ballyhoo and Minow’s call ‘for: full: ” publicity. ‘of the, three-week. ‘proceedings; ‘when: a: ‘develop-". ° " «Ment. outsidé their ‘scope. could. largely. make the. whole deal meet?’ ‘And; bearing. on. ”Minow’s relations: with: the : networks, what’ s-one-tenth. of a ‘problem. between. friends? * . Commissioner Frederick .W. ‘Fora: added’ to. the puzzle: ment’ ‘of those: ‘who wondered what they ‘were: ‘daing® ‘there “by. pointing ‘out ‘that_the. option time issue: was. inextricably. _ interwined . with: just: about every. aspect. of network | pro-" _.. gramming, yet. had never.éven. been. mentioned, much less . “Sexplored: Option time, because -it-is pending for Cominis* sion decision, is unspeakable, said: Broadcast Bureau. head. Kenneth. Cox, so Ford. dropped the ‘subject. But with. two.issues, UHF and. option. time, ignored: bit’: /Mntegral to -any. solution. tothe programming. ‘problem—. * wees o . according. to: the: Commissioners’. -qwn: adniission, the ‘in-" ; -quiry’ takes: on the aspect of “a phantom. ‘chase, full.. of: : soundand-.somefury and. ending: with: a huge. report SiB-: no “Unifying. not. much‘at ‘all.: However;. there -is stil ‘the’ ‘matter ‘of public: ‘image. ‘and: *-points. “to. be. scored.’ Arid ‘no'matter how:.one kept. ‘score, CBS was. -clear. winner of-the first round, The.classy | articu| Jate Stanton ‘managed to put.CBS on the offerisive in .a. “Situation wherein. he ‘and. his brass. were: called fo, ansW er : complaints,: not -mdke. them::. : : Moreover, Stanton, although: “abig’. “sisted” by, Joseph” ‘Ream, _programimingpractices v.p., -“Richatd ‘Salarit; Presi-. a .dent-.ef CBS News:and. others, carried. miost: of--thé attack. . 2 singlehandedly. “And :on’ occasion; he stepped’ in resources. : fully wheri‘one of his: subordinates had heen: saught i in a oe : Fhetorical, cul-de-sacs.. Pog By. ‘Bones: of Conitention’ a _ ers “Here | ‘are. -game: of ‘the. big: ‘bones. of: ‘éontention: Of. the” titst. week of the. inquiry, “andhow. they ‘were ‘picked:: Céensorhip.or. the: “drift.toward progiamiming: ‘control _ ws ~"Stanton’s -Prepar edstatement; couched in .able: prose; Was © “Spviously‘not éalculatedtoAppear’ ‘freeswinging assault: On. Minow. and .the: Conimissioners .-who“frame’ and: ‘effect. ‘the’ ‘stiffened: ‘regulatory posture: toward. ‘the: prograniming | Yesponsibilities: of: ‘licensees.. But, a-‘deft: pensmah:can. hurl” an/ insult, -carriéd “on. ‘such: inngeuous-sounding” pit ases, “as” to: be: ‘Unrécégnizable for. Ww hat itis: ©. .a -The only’ péersdn.to object: to the. following line’ W as. ‘Ashe: tne 2 etl ~ Brook: Bryant, Either’ Minow. didn't think ‘it: Was. directed. : at. ‘him; ‘or he. chose to. ighore ity “At any: Fate, no: “general: ~ umbrage was taken.. mt or ; a “Stanton said: “In this: ‘connection irefért ring to. the. urge. to force others.” > to: ‘see. the’ light. as. you see it), F “eonfess . ‘that there . fas: oveurred | ‘to-me the. possibility’ that. the. moré sophiticated : Ww ho aré. ‘restless vith: the“type of: entertainment ' that" ape oe. ve “peals’ to :others. thay need. ‘a. ‘rededication. ‘of: daith in’ that * hopeful’ experiment that: is our: democracy.** less With. ‘present-day ty fare.: Also, he-is a: ‘liberal, of the... Stéverisonian: ‘school, and, when, one’ “stops. to: ponder. -It,. “to: insinuate. in'so.manywords that. the dedicated perennial coeds ° ‘and: others out to: reform tv: are anti-democratic“ is. a: “high. iagnitude: insult. ° “ : Bryant: showed: reactidit to Stanton’ 5 statenien é iy: ques: = wo! ‘tioning the ‘CBS’ exec: sabout.a’ segment ‘of. the: so-called’. ‘Wriston’ Report. which’ Tapped: the. ‘quality of tv programe. Ming. ‘Bryant, wanted’ ‘to. ‘Khew: W hether the ‘panel .of ‘no-. ‘tables: who ‘signed’ the report. and: thereby. endorsed the :eriticism, ‘of tv ‘were, -in Stanton’s pinion, in need. Of a" refrésher course: in democracy: « _ lv ebvi ious ‘pique over the. leading: nature of the guéstion,-" Stanton -snapped, back to: Bryant that’ he’ believed ‘in’ex-: : . ae .., posing. the. Public’ to. varied: fare: But, He: addeéd: “7 don’t". . think we should: ran ‘it down ‘their throats.’ Fe lal, A few ‘questions Jater, he. reiterated in: some: ‘at. si¥ong: er language the. philosophy ‘outlined -in. his opening states -. Ment by’. telling. ‘Commissioner: Robert: ‘Bartley:: ‘Ido not’: “it wouldn't. be: unreasonable: to. assume: ‘this. Was: “aimed: ‘at ‘Mitiow, ixho ‘Is. admittedly both. sophisticated. and. Test-._ mo " . ". . wy na an Pye oo. welt oetot . TET esto 1 gram te heey peer : _— ot tee fee, . a rs : Soe ol mane gare apg opr app mimics “believe :we have.thé responsibility -of ‘taking one. particu ° pepe: Qe | dar field and: cramming. it.down:their throats.” °.° ‘ Commissioner Frederick, ‘W.. Ford told Stanton he. was” ‘. -“somewhat | ‘shocked’* to” hear: the ‘Jatter -testify ‘that: -the. * “'Conimission’s ‘July, 1966,Programming -.Report: harbored’ -: -séeds of: censorship. Ford assured-the. CBS. ‘prexy that this. ° just “wasn’t .so,: that.the report simply: sought’ ‘to. require . a broadéasters. to make an:-effort to. determine. the: needs of “their: communities. -AS’ long’ as the: ‘effort was done seriously, . ‘and in ‘good:" faith, the. ‘Commission. Would be ‘satisfied. ' Stanton;. told the. Conimissioner he. was Brélieved". to ‘hear’. this interpretation Of the’ ‘Téport.: >Minow-did: not contest. with any degree of vigor Stanton’ a. ‘Jaissez-faire ‘programniing philosophy. tet ie The. Chairman : maintained. the’: tenor | of: hig. “opening” “statement: which’ averred: “Neither this. “inquiry, ‘Nor our . poliéy. statement of. July 1960, nor‘any: of .our’ recommendations::‘to the Congress, contemplate: any invasion. by: ‘the: Commision of. the: programming: ‘fuinetions of. the. broad: | east. ‘and: ‘this. isthe way it: should ‘be in: a fiee Society: We are. ., determined. that it shall ‘so:remain: ..". ” ». (We are. -equaly. -detérmined ‘that ‘every. broadcaster: to . -whom. we ‘issue. 2. ‘license. Shall make: an: honest? ‘sincere _ effort. ‘to: serve: ‘the -piblie‘interest—and. .in these Fiearings *. we. ‘seek | “Ways to. assure that every broadcastershall. be" able: ‘to fulfil this .Brave responsibility.” “Minow: followed’ up_ with. this. praise ‘for. ‘broa dexter et vethis: “inquiry: has: been ‘an: ‘Outstanding. example. of" coop-"eration ‘between industry -and government oe aa Mt . The. ‘“DoerferPlan”. ‘and _Pubaffairs—In Fesponsifo: «Continued: jon” page: 3, “ “The. Coriritinications: ‘Net. “wisely. forbids: “eensorship, : 7