Variety (Jul 1946)

W«lo«Mlay, July 31, 1946 RABIO 35 'Backward'BBC Panned by Amer. Exec in London London, July 23. -BBC Is so utterly reactionary, even under the Labor Government, that American labor and those Americans who kick against the U S networks and 'excessive com- mercialism' would shudder if they knew how labor, progressive politics and artistic experimentation fare under the British system." That's the conclusion voiced here last week by an American com- munications executive who has just re-visited England after spending several war years here studying the BBC system. . ■ ■ The exec has written an analysis of BBC which approaches the sys- tem from the top down, going into its Board of Governors, and show- ing that broadcasting management of that kind in the U. S. would never be tolerated. Only a handful of copies of the analysis has been circulated among the analyst's clos- est friends, who are trying to de- cide whether It's good tact to make the document public. The teller, Of course, for obvious reasons, doesn't want his identity known. According to the analyst, Prime Minister Clement Attlee, who has appointed five members to the BBC directorate, went out of his way to choose people who range from con- servative to reactionary. Attlee, presumably, made his appointments as an appeasement to conservative elements in Britain as well as to make sure that BBC-would be pre- vented from taking a political line critical of his anti-Russian attitude. The five directors appointed by Attlee are: Barbara Ward, foreign editor of The Economist, described as "the moving member of the Sword of the Spirit Movement." Air Marshal Sir Richard Peck, a professional soldier, formerly with the Royal Air Force. Geoffrey Lloyd, Petroleum Minis- ter .during the war, a member of the group of Birmingham 'Tories" licked in the last general election, and now chairman of the Birming- ham Conservative Assn. The Dowager Marchioness, Lady Reading, described as a "professional do-gooder who retains her amateur status only by virtue of her title and money." Ernest Whitfield, a blind profes- sional musician. Chairman of the board of BBC is Sir Alan Powell, chairman and man- aging director of Briggs Motor Bodies, and former Tory mayor of Kensington.' Deputy Chairman is Capt C. H. G. Millis, who is also managing director of Baring Bros, and described, like Sir Alan, as "no conspicuous friend of labor." "It's not only that the programs are dull and stodgy," said the Ameri- can, "that makes us dislike BBC. It's also because its top management Is of a type we would never toler- ate in the United States. Imagine what a howl would go up if the FCC at home were packed with isolation- ists or southern Bourbons, with a handful of starry-eyed social work- ers and a couple of generals thrown in for good measure. "Actually, labor has less of a chance to express itself on BBC than it has at home. Our networks have run, and still run, shows sponsored by the AFL and CIO. As a matter of fact, even Communists have had access to our air. But here, the top management chokes off all kinds of programs that we, at home, take too much for granted. "Sure, BBC can boast of its lack of commercialism. Btit our com- mercial radio finds it good business to be fair to all sides on any prob- lem. Here, they don't have to'-have balance—all they need is the con- trol from the top. "People at home forget that, as a matter of law, the Postmaster Gen- eral here has the power to veto any program he chooses to veto on BBC. Furthermore, the military arm can cut ,off any program if they decide it interferes with their broadcasts. Finally, any government department can send over scripts marked 'must' j-and BBC docs not have to identify 'must' scripts, of that type as orig- inating from an official government agency. "I feci that Americans who look at BBC as if that was the kind of radio they'd like to have ought not , only to listen to the broadcasts here —but also look into the top, policy- making group. They'd change .their minds fast enough." AFRA Sets Coast Scale For Terps Announcers Hollywood, July 30. Regular scale for announcers working in local ballrooms has been set up by American Federation of Radio Artists. Union will send out notices to terperies that, effective Aug. 1, its new systematized pay- ment for remote music introes will replace former hit-and-miss remun- eration. Decision was made July 26 when operators rebuffed the union, failing to respond to its call for a meeting at Screen Actors Guild offices. Some 40 notices were sent out, and only three, the reps of Earl Carroll's, Aragon and Palladium, showed to discuss the matter with Claude Mc- Cue, exec secretary of AFRA. In consequence, the union will simply issue the new order and rate—and police it strictly through station logs. The ukase" is applicable to all an- nouncers who work where musical remotes originate, and it affects in- die and network gabbers. The latter are excepted when on network assignment since the AFRA con- tract with nets permits their working on such outsicie tasks so long as it is employer-assigned. However, the new ruling will apply to net an- nouncers who operate on a freelance basis iri-ballrooms, etc. Amer. Youth Brings Radio, Newspapers Together Unusual switch of newspapers going all out for radio is seen in promotion by American Newspaper Publishers Assn. and member papers this week with the 876 radio stations carrying U.S. Treasury's transcribed "Treasury Salute" plug- ging bond sales. All have combined on promoting current episode, "Report On Youth." Program, which features Robert Waldrop, author-commertator, sa- lutes American, newsboys, and is pitched for increased participation in newsboys savings stamps clubs. Wise. Institute Opens Madison, Wise, July 30. Prominent leaders in radio are among the speakers at the second annual Public Service Radio Insti- tute which opened here yesterday (29) for a two-week run. Institute is being conducted by Harold L. Mc- Carty, director of WHA. Among the speakers scheduled are FCC Commissioner Clifford J. Durr, engineer C. M. Jansky, Harold W. Kent of Chicago, Walter B. Emery son of Cleveland, Walter B. Emery of Washington, and Morris Novik of New York. COAST CO. QUITS NBC, RCA IN WAX SNARL Hollywood, July 30. Surprise move by Standard Radio Transcriptions has all recording and processing work yanked from NBC and RCA and turned over to Colum- bia Records. Wirewax company toppers stated that the move was a result of dis- satisfaction with the work and serv- ice, although the possibility of Capi- tol's entry into the transcription field, and its close work with RCA, may have some bearing on the situa- tion. All of which may be inter- preted as the initial step in a fight to a finish between the two Coast musical library firms. City of Montreal-CBC Fight Over Bldg. Site Gets House Airing Montreal, July 30. Fight between city of Montreal and CBC, over the radio body'* changing its mind about a free sit* granted by the city to build head- quarters here, had its echo at the House Radio Committee Friday (26) with . the announcement by Dr. Augustin Frigon,. CBC general mgr., that CBC had an option on another piece of land in a more swank sec- tor of town to build a 'Radio City' costing $2,500,000. Frigon, answering charges, said Until Capitol's entry Standard! lhe si , te nad been acquired by the virtually had the Coast tied up but the former firm is reportedly offer- ing more coin now in addition to pulling many of its own straight radio artists. Warren, O.—The FCC has ap- proved engineering specifications for an FM station here, operating on 104.3 megacycles with power of 340 watts, but construction plans are in- definite, according to Frank T. Neid and Perry Stevens, owners of WRRN, Warren. Latter station has asked for an increase in power from 250 to 5,000 watts. city nine years before it was offered to CBC and the city had done nothing with it. War intervened after CBC accepted the site cufttt and no building could be done. He said everything was hunky- dory now, since the CBC had al- ready cast its eye on the new site and agreement was being made with the city to take back the property. Question came up when Roland Beaudry, member for the district where CBC was originally supposed to build, asked why CBC had backed out, claiming the city had al- ready lost $17,000 in taxes. Comics... balloons... parties... peanut butter... these are some of the things that go far in making life more enjoyable for kids everywhere. It is natural that famous "funnies," cleverly presented over Chicago's best known station, make a real hit* Harold Isbell and Harry Creighton present WGN's Funny Paper Party each Sunday morning at 11:00. The Nash-Urtderwood Company, makers of the famous Donald Duck peanut butter, follow this sure-fire formula for successful commercial radio: a good show at the right time on Chicago's outstanding station. They have sponsored the Funny Paper Party over WGN continuously since 1944. A Clear Channel Station ...... Serving the Middle West CHICAGO 11 ILLINOIS 30,000 WatU 720 . 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