Variety (June 1950)

RADIO PfSSIEff Wednesday, June 21, 1950 as 1. as NBC had some fresh ammuni- f tlon to toss into the competitive race with CBS for audience su- premacy. coming up with final re- turns from Broadcast Measure- ment Bureau’s $1,000,000 industry- financed Study No. 2. Here’s the gist of the NBC Story, based on the BMB survey. On daytime listening, NBC en- joys a weekly margin of 1,500,000 homes. (30,771,450 NBC homes; 29,169,880 CBS homes). On nighttime listening, NBC has a weekly margin of 2,500,000 homes. (32,772,490 NBC homes; 30,245,000 CBS homes). CBS has rushed in with counter claims, asserting leadership day- time and nighttime, via the Niel- sens. and accenting that the CBS figures are “up to date,” The CBS story reads: Daytime: CBS, 30,443,600, •gkinst NBC’s 28,774,900. Nighttime, . CBS! 30,972,700, against NBC’s 30,077,300. It’s been NBC's argument that, so far as advertiser acceptance goes, it’s the BMB network Cover- age data that cuts any kind of ice with the radio time-buyers, and to buhvark its BMB revelations, NBC is ready to promote to the hilt the results of a survey conducted by an academic researcher. showing that 90% of the time-buyers use BMB as their best Source of in- formation for web coverage; that only 10% prefer using some other measurement (Hooper, Nielsen, et * 1 .). CBS still points to its 16 out of Nielsen’s Top 20 during the height of the past broadcasting season. So far as Columbia’s concerned, that’s top dog on anybody’s kilo- cycles, BMB or no BMB. As far as the trade’s concerned, tlie Nielseri-Hooper rating picture appears to be one of confusion. With Hooper out of the national rating picture, the Nielsen sample, it’s argued by many, while per- haps more representative of a cross-pattern of U. S. listening, is still too small. Noted within the trade, too, is the fact the agency- network hepsters aren’t as “Pocket- piece-happy” as in the days of the green-cover Hooper book: A lot of people say they’re unable to in- terpret the Nielsen charts. Robt Coe to WPTR Albany, June 20. Robert Coe, formerly with WPIX, New York, has been ap- pointed general manager of WPTR, 150,000-watt station controlled by • the Schine interests. Russell David, vice-president in charge , of engi- neering, doubled as general man- ager since March, when Fred R. Ripley resigned. HARRY SALTER MUSICAL DIRECTOR Stop th« Mutic^-ABC Chicago, June 20. Conrad Jones has been named media director at MacFarland, Aveyard & Co. He succeeds Chandler Bates, who has resigned to join Pathfinder sales staff. Washington, June 20. Status of package advertising deals involving compulsory or vol- untary combination rates may hinge on the outcome of the Jus- tice Dept.’s anti-trust suit filed last week against thie Times-Picayune Publishing Co., owners of the New Orleans (morning) Times-Picayune, the States (evening), and the Pica- yune and States (Sunday). The ac- tion was filed in the U. S. district court for the eastern district of Louisiana against the company and L. K. Nicholson, president, and other officers as individuals. The department’s . complaint charges the company with acquir- ing a competitive newspaper (the States), combining the Sunday is- sues of both into the Times-Pica- yune and States, refusing to sell advertising in the morning and evening papers separately, requir- ing advertisers to purchase space in the Picayune and States as a unit at combination rates, and other practices. The Tim^s-Picayune case may well involve its radio station, WTPS (and WTPS-FM), whose li- cense, in view of the Justice ac- tion, may be put on temporary status pending the court’s deter- mination. FCC, it will be recalled, has placed a large number of sta- tions licensed to anti-trust viola- tors on “temporary” until it has de- termined whether it should adopt a uniform policy respecting the (Continued on page 34) Sponsors . of commercial pro- grams on WQXR, N. Y.J will have their airers broadcast cuffo on 11 stations of the Rural Radio Net- work when the upstate New York web starts carrying the station’s nighttime and Sunday shows on July 1.. Programs such, as RCA-Victor’s “Showcase,” heard twice weekly on WQXR, will be aired as is, plugs and all. However, commercial spot announcements on the indie will be dropped for the RRN, with its in- dividual stations substituting local announcements, commercial or oth- erwise. The RRN outlets Will be free to leave in public service spots or to substitute others, as they choose. The stations will also carry (Continued on page 34) ABC’s Contract With Don NO OLD GOLD, SO CBS WNBC SETS EVENING Wife and the Kiddies Radio will be around for at least another two decades, says ABC, which this week signed Don Mc- Neill, “Breakfast Club” emcee, to a 20-year contract. ABC has Mc- Neill tied up for teevee too, with a commitment for the ’50-’51 season in art hour-long show on Wednes- days at 9 p.m. Swift, Philco and General Mills! which back the “Breakfast Club,” have options on the video stanza. ABC, which had to fight off CBS and NBC to keep the performer who has been on the web for 17 years, gave McNeill the A-l plush carpet treatment in N. Y. McNeill is in Gotham u this week before leaving Friday (23) on a six-week trip to Europe, The new contract also covers •McNeill’s wife and three sons. Latter will make occasional appear- ances On the show. In addition to boosting his take, the new pact gives the emcee more time off. He’ll originate from Chicago nine months of the year, from N. Y. two weeks and on tour two weeks, with two months off each year. “Tex & Jinx Digest,” comprising excerpts from the Tex McCrary- Jinx Falkenburg early morning “Hi Jinx” shows during the last four Shears, has been set by WNBC, NBC’s flagship, to take over the 6:30 to 6:45 p. m. slot Cross-the board. Show, which is taped and which consists mainly of interviews with guest celebs conducted by the husband and wife team,^replaces the Henry Morgan show. Beach Haven Realty of Brook- lyn, meanwhile, has picked up the tab on the McCrarys’ Sunday sho\v, aired from noon to 12:30 p. m. With the exception of the new “Di- gest,” consequently, they are now completely sponsored by WNBC. Despite the much-publicized hous- ing shortage. Beach Haven will plug a new 1,800-apartinent hous- oreh. It preems June 30 and the .1 ink development ii% Brooklyn. “Di following week goes on as an AM-, gest” is being sold on a participate TV simulcast. ing basis. Washington, June 20, Strong opposition to a proposal to stop trafficking in frequencies by revoking permits where con- tracts to sell are entered into be- fore the station is ready for pro- gram tests,. was made before the FCC yesterday (19). Arguments against the restriction . were pre- sented by the Federal Communica- tions Bar Assn, and several lawyers representing individual stations. The NAB, Which had filed a brief opposing the ban, waived appear- ance at the hearing, Vernon Wilkinson, of the firm of Haley, McKenna & Wilkinson, ap- pearing as a friend of the court, told the Commission it is propos- ing to do by rule what Congress} has refused- to do by statute. The ! • . . ‘I problem of preventing trafficking in permits, he thought, does not lend itself to an absolute rule. He cited various situations beyond the control of a permittee where a, transfer is necessary and desirable while the station is still in the con- struction stage. Wilkinson is a for- mer FCC assistant general counsel. Vernon C. ;Kohlhaas u of Pierson & Ball, representing KOB of Tuc- Son, Ariz., and a number of other stations, argued against the pro- posal on the ground it might dis- courage venture capital from the radio-television field. •ye ■ ' t. ♦. No matter what the plight of the networks bn nighttime avail- abilities, the rush of major spon- sors into daytime network radio continues unabated. It poses a problem for the webs, notably NBC and CBS, both of whom will go into the ’50-’51 semester in the fall holding full skeds, so far as morning and afternoon time is con- ceited. The question uppermost in the minds of the web sales execs is how to recapture additional seg- ments from the stations. The net- works are reconciled to the fact that the going won’t be easy, for the lush coin 4 , so far as the major affiliates go, comes from local cli- ents on stationrtime programming* CBS has already asked the affili- ates to “go netwbfk” at 10 in the morning on the heels of Lever Bros, buying the extra 15-minutes of Arthur Godfrey, and while the response from the affiliates has thus far been heartening, the net- work realizes that capturing addi- tional time won’t be that easy. Both NBC and CBS report that they are getting, repeated inquiries from bigtime clients who want to embrace daytime fadio for the first time. To satisfy them^and the webs are obviously reluctant to turn down any new biz—the bur- den of finding the additional time falls on the sales boys. In NBC, the pre-lO a, m. and noon to 2 p. m. segments are “station time,” but the affiliates are riding the lo- cal gravy train at those periods. Ditto in the case of CBS, where it’s a case of recapturing before 10 a. m. and 4 to 6 in the afternoon. CBS is settling for a new sus- tainer for the Friday night 9 to 10 time, which the web had hoped to reserve for the Old Gold-sponsored “Original Amateur Hour.” In- stead, OG picked up its ABC Thursday night period for a 13- week renewal, meanwhile setting its sights on a NBC switchover in the fall. New CBS show is the hour-long Tin Pan Alley talent showcase called “Songs for Sale,” starring Jan Murray, with Ray Bloch’s Problem for NBC; Star ‘DRAGNET’ BACKING BY Continued sponsorship of “Drag- net” by Liggett & Myers on behalf of its Fatima king-sized cigaret appears to be in doubt. The Thursday night NBC-pack- aged cops-and-robbers series was one of the first to be sold in the network’s counter-maneuvering to stem the CBS program tide via low-cost programming to sponsors. However, it’s understood the cli- ent hasn’t been too elated with the rating of late. NBC is.in a peculiar dilemma with the success of its Red Foley show, cross-the-board at 9 a.m, The slot., which has long been used for a hillbilly music stanza, fed to a limited network, had been picked jnp by only 10-15 stations. However, with the recent skedding of Red Foiey from WSM, Nashville, and the national upbeat In rustic rhythm, there are'pow 93 stations 1 taking the stanza. This has led the network to make a sales pitch on the show. However, since Foley is exclusive- ly tied to Camel eigaret.s, the “Grand Ole Opry” personality will have to be taken out of the 9 a.m. show if it goes commercial. Hank Williams and Cowboy Copas are being mulled for the stint. Series With Don Ameche Chicago, June 20. Pabst Brewing Co, has picked up 13 weekly half-hour periods on NBC to air the Saturday feature - races from Arlington and Washing ton Parks here. Don Ameche has been pacted to emcee the bangtail series which bows July 8, 5:30-6 p. m. Actor will handle the color and interviews with Jack Drees calling the races. . Ameche, With a busy summer in radio ahead of him, takes over on ABC’s “Breakfast Club” Monday -f20) during Don McNeill’s six- ; week vacation. , Eulogy to a B’casting Pioneer Linus Travers, exec veepee and general manager of the Yankee Network, last week went on WNAC, Boston, to pay the following tribute to the late John Shepard, 3d, fourtdef of the station and ihe Yankee Network, while funeral services were being held in Brookline, Mass.: “John Shepard wasrtruly a pioneer in radio, not only in Boston < but in the entire country. From The beginning, his enterprise and his courage combined to make him a leader in the growth of radio and in its development along a path of soundness and dignity. “Everywhere that broadcasters gathered, the name of John Shep- ard was respected and admired. Not as a professional greeter, or as an industry charlatan but as a man of integrity and sound prin- ciples. A catalog of his accomplishments would indicate his influ- ence reached every phase of the' business—-management, codes of practice, guardianship of free speech, independent operation, pro- grams, talent and techniques. There is hardly an accepted prac- tice in current broadcasting whose inception had not been influ- enced 'to some degree by the constructive thinking of John Shepard. “Here in New England we are particularly indebted to him for his contributions to radio broadcasting. I’m sure that all our fel- low broadcasters would join me in saying that he did more thaii any other in the formative days to stabilize the medium and es- tablish it as indispensable part of our daily lives. “In building WNAC and the Yankee Network, he introduced countless Ideas designed to bring greater enjoyment to the radio families in our area. In. the realm of sports broadcasting, news gathering and distribution, interviews and special events, his name will forever appear in the history of radio as an. originator and pioneer. He was. the first to do moSt / of them; “Mr. Shepard has gone. But whenever a microphone is opened and a transmitter sends out sound, this scientific miracle will for- ever be a witness to his contributions to its progress and its power.” Studios Nix Mock On Hollywood, June 20. Basic major studio policy of nix- ing all tape recordings for pro- grams emanating outside of Los Angeles, put a crimp in Martin Block’s plans to tape-record inter- views with top name pic stars dur- ing his sojourn here. WNEW disk jock is concentrating on freelance thesps. Studios decided on the ban Sev- eral years ago because it was im- possible to control programs out- side Los Angeles and because prac- tice led to a deluge of requests for taping that inundated the majors. Policy is not aimed at Block, regarded as a topper in liis field-, nor will it affect his taping of pro- grams with name stars not under firm studio Contracts. N.Y. SYMPH REPACTED BY CBS FOR SUNDAYS CBS last week signed a new contract for another season’s pick- tip of the New York Philharmonic concerts on Sunday afternoons. Previously there had been re- ports that the web and the syniph, which has been carried on a sus- taining basis for the past few sea- sons, may come to a parting of the ways-after an affiliation of many years. . The web sales boys are trying to pitch it up for sponsorship. Peddler’s Showcase of ABC’s three special broadcasts on salesmanship will be aired Friday (23) at 10 p.m., dis- cussing the advertising peddler. ' Taking part will be Thomas D’ A. Brophy, Kenyon & Eckhardt chair- man; Benjamin 1L Namm, of Namm’s dept store, Brooklyn; Lee H. Bristol, Bristol-Myers Co. prez; and Clay Buckhout, Life mag ad manager. Robert F. Moore, of Columbia U., will moderate. as In First Atlass Move Chicago, June 20. The appointment of Mike Henry I to fill the general manager slot at. WKOW,> Madison, Wise., replacing Ralph Amnions last week, is the first shakeup at the. station since the Atlass family move-in June 3. ‘ At that time the Monona Broad- casting Co., WKOW owner, signed a five-year pact giving the new ly- ; formed Atiass Amusement Co. man- j agerial and advisory authority, j Titular head of the management j outfit is Les Atlass, Jr., WIND pro- gram director and son of Les At- lass, CBS central division veepee. J'Otm Carey, WIND commercial manager, is veepee. Henry exits the general manager post at WWXL, Peoria* Hi., to take . over at the Madison station. Prior 1 to the Peoria assignment he had 1 been a WBBM account exec here.