Variety (May 1946)

42 RADIO Wednesday, May 1, 1946 French Radio Seeking Exchange With U. S. on Ideas, Programs in Amity Move In a move to strengthen French- American relations, Robert Lange, director of the North American Service of Radiodiffu.sion Francaise. is negotiating with network and indie executives for an exchange ol programs between American broadcasters arid the state-owned French radio. Lange, recently ar- rived from Paris, has already con- tacted the heads of all the major chains with his proposition and, while no deal has as=yet been set, he has met a favorable reaction. At present a number of news shows and special events are being beamed to France under auspices of the U. S. State Dept. with the French shortwaving a list of pro- grams v designed for this country. Lange's plan is to extend this ac- tivity to the interchange of program ideas between the two nations with the best of France's air shows be- ing translated and adapted for re- broadcast here and France doing likewise with American programs. Lange is interested in getting re- broadcast .rights to American musi- cal, comedy and dramatic shows, and special events programs devoted to American history, especially to states like Louisiana and Vermont where French is still spoken. The arrangement with American broad- casters would Imply no difficulties with union officials since only pro- gram ideas would be exchanged with native personnel being used exclusively on both sides of the ocean. Pointing out the reason for total state ownership of the French air- waves'since the liberation, Lange said it was caused by the wide- spread destruction of transmitters during the war and the fact that maintenance of a national hookup depended upon the planned use of available privately-owned broadcast equipment. The French radio is now operated under the jurisdic tion of the Ministry of Information with semi-autonomy in running the network given to a sub-bureau of professional radio technicians and producers. A tax of 300 francs a year (about $2.50) is levied on the country's 5|000,000 receiving set owners! San Antonio—New 13-minulc pro- gram containing news effecting vet eran and man in service will make up format of new show to debut this Sunday (5) over KABC. Program will be sponsored by Sol. Frank Co; Rintoul, Yocum,Franco Head Firm Bidding For New Station in Albany Albany, April 30. Stephen Rintoul, Trel Yocum, and Carlos Franco are among the prin- cipal stockholders and officers of a new firm chartered here as an ap- plicant for a new Albany radio sta- tion. Firm is Champlain Valley Broad- casting Corp., which is seeking a license from the FCC to operate a 10,000.^att station, with unlimited time, on 850kc. Rintoul, formerly owner of WSRR (now WSTC); Stamford, is prexy- treasurer of the new outfit. Yocum is veepec; he is former executive veepee for the Compton agency, and is now chairman of the board of Ridgway, Ferry & Yocum agency. Franco, manager of station relations for Young & Rubicam, is named as Lake Champlain's secretary. Four companies, Albany, Fort Orange, Van Curler and Patroon, 'arc shooting for the 1540kc. wave- length held since 1931 by WOKO. The . latter is operating under a tem- porary license, pending U. S. Su- preme court, review of the PCC or- der refusing a renewal' on the ground that WOKO allegedly con- cealed a 26% common stock inter- est held by Sam Pickard and Mrs. Pickard. WLIB'S 24-HR. WRAPOP OF FOOD CAVALCADE WLIB, N. Y„ has \inei up a list of top personalities for "Lest Millions Die," all-day food appeal to be broadcast Sunday (5). Throughout the day, beginning with the morning sign-on, all programs will be aimed at presenting listeners with a pic- ture of the world's food crisis and an outline of the part America must play in order to feed Europe and Asia. Among those who will make the pitch to conserve and ship food overseas are F. H. LaGuardia, James A. Farley, Gertrude Lawrence, Oscar Lange, Ralph Bellamy, Charles Poletti, Ruth Hussey, Dr. Earl F. Adams, Sidar J. J. Singh, Noel Toy, Carlton Young, Helen Gahagan Douglas,: Jackson Lcighter and others. Appeals made over WLIB will be transcribed and flown to the Coast for airing over KYA, San Francisco, and KLAC, Los Angeles. CKNW's Public Service New Westminster, B. C, April 30. CKNW, here, has just completed a noteworthy public service, in a drive to buy complete clothing outfits for 1.000 children in 10 orphanages on Vancouver Island and the mainland Station, In existence less than two years, also raised enough funds to provide kids with playground equip mcnt, and radio sets and loud speak- ers for their buildings. ...it's not what we THINK, about RURAL You can't "guess" when it comes to rural audiences-. You can't "think" lha farmer and hit family like this or that program. You have to know I And lha fact that WLW does know is dem- onstrated by the 1945 Variety award to WLW for "Contributing To The Nation's Breadbasket." For years, WLW has intensively studied rural listening in the great 4-siate market ■that is WLW-land. 1 Six Years Ago lha WLW Cost Alloca- tion Study provided, among other things, the first sound estimate of the extent and nature of rural listening. L Thro Yean Age WLW underwrote the . first rural coincidental telephone survey •ver made by C. E. Hooper, Inc. 3. Last Yaai The Nation's Station, continu- ing to pioneer, became the first radio station to subscribe to the. Nielsen Radio - Index, lor factual measurement ol all listening... . . rural as well u metropolitan. i. This Year another yardstick is in use- a consumer panel of 3000 radio homes, properly stratified, called The People's Advisory Council. These various studies and services have guided us through the years in our proi- gramming for tha audience beyond the city limits. We have found out when they listen to WLW, and to what extent. Result; A bigger, more loyal rural audi- ence... an audience overwhelmingly sat- isfied because it is intelligently served. WLW THE NATION'S MOST MERCHANDISE-ABLE STATION B asters Offered Coast Fix Houses In Studio Snarl Hollywood, April 30. Dearth of radio studio space has hypoed Music Hall theatres into of- fering their Hawaii and Marcal houses for part time use for audi, ence programs. Ad agency inquiries into, availability and facilities has further encouraged Al Galston and . Jay Sutton, operators, who decided thus week to make serious pitch to industry. Houses would be made available to radio shows on the off hours prior to noon opening and after regular clos- ing. Interested persons have re- portedly commented favorably on physical convenience to center of radio activities . (Hollywood and Vine). They are also said to be im- pressed favorably with acoustics and "warmth" of the houses in compari- son to "chilly" typical studios. Hawaii was for a time origination point for "Queen For a Day" pro- gram, -That planted germ with the exhibitors who now see a lucrative side line in the added avenue. UAYWIO Attacks WKRCs License Washington, April 30. The United Automobile Workers (CIO) renewed efforts at FCC last week to have station WKRC. Cin- cinnati, yanked oft the air for al- leged "acts of censorship", in viola- tion of the Communications Act. At issue is station's cancellation of a Dec. 2 broadcast, entitled "Rights of Labor," one of- a series of shows originally contracted for by (lie Cincinnati Industrial Council under the -auspices of the city's-• Catholic Archdiocese. Union first complained to FCC last January, but commission has not laken any formal action on that complaint. The WKRC time can- cellation followed shortly after out- break of the UAW's strike at Gen- eral Motors. The latest UAW petition, calling for FCC lo turn down a license re- newal lo the station, declares: "Tha action ol station WKRC, in censor- ing this p log rain and penalizing the Archdiocese of the Catholic 'Church, constitutes a restraint upon freedom of speech, exceeds the power ' and authority of station management, and. constitutes a violation of the Communications Act." According to the union, the sta- tion falls short on several other counts. The UAW claims that WKRC has Riven insufficient time to .programs on controversial issues, has carried too few susta'iners, faila lo make use of local talent, and is guilty of over-commercialization. The station is owned and operated by llulbert Tafl. son or Republican Sim. Robert Taft. Mutual Gives Glamor Show Coast Net Test, Sees 'Find' in Setup Mutual is now testing on the Coast a new show willi several -".unusual angles,' pinning high hopes on "it- Show, titled "Lady Be Beautiful.'' is- a glamor program giving women in- , side authoritative info on making themselves more attractive. ■ Fivc-day-a-wcckcr has Max Faclnr discussing makeup on Mondays; Renee. RKO expert, on fashions Tuesdays: Joscfy, hat designer. Wednesdays; Helen Rogers. RKO hair cxpeil, Thursdays; and Dr, Davis, psychologist. Fridays. Show, set up in February by Phillips Car- lin, MtrluaVs veepec in charge of programs, was put on Don Lee net- work for four weeks' trial, with full Mutual use planned it okay. Program would "be first glamor show' to come out of Hollywood, according lo Carlin, who says audi- ence response on le^t shows ha» been line. Carlin also thinks he has a find in the emcee, Ben Alexander. Show, now on at 11:30 A.M., Coast tiirie, would likely be carried al 3::>(> P.M.. across-the-board on the full net.