Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1960)

Record Details:

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2 MAY 16, 1960 Networks should be required to file ownership reports and descriptions of their "operational policies, practices & activities," FCC suggested, proposing also that alien stockholdings be sharply limited, that network violations of law & rules be controlled through "affirmative orders" or cease & desist orders. There's no intent to lessen station responsibility, FCC said, even though it wants to keep closer control over networks. "The strength of our broadcasting system imder the Communications Act," it stated, "rests upon the responsibility and hence the freedom of the local broadcaster to program in the public interest." Commission had little quarrel with station-trafficking provisions of Harris measure tightening up FCC machinery for license transfers. FCC said it "is in full accord with the objectives of the bill in this respect and, with few reservations, recommends its enactment." Harris bill's rigid requirements for public hearings in transfer cases — particularly those developing within 3 years of licensing — aren't necessary and could become administratively burdensome. Commission said. "For example, take the case of a licensee who becomes physically disabled shortly after taking over control of the station." Commission agreed that required hearings should be rule rather than exception, but argued it should have discretion to take "probative evidence" in such cases, avoiding red tape & delays of field proceedings. FCC also said pro forma applications for transfers of licenses held more than 3 years should be handled in routine. Revised language for Harris bill suggested by FCC also made restrictions on less-than-3-year transfers applicable to CPs as well as to licenses. In a mild dissent, Comr. Bartley said he's for transfer-rule changes recommended by Commission, but thought his colleagues' statement "lays too great a stress on administrative problems." KTVU SALE — COMPLICATIONS A DELAYS: NBC's proposed station swaps & purchases were further complicated last week and, even if they're eventually approved, the date of approval has been pushed well into the future — perhaps for years. Here are the latest developments: (1) Justice Dept, informed Federal Dist. Court in Philadelphia that it has no objection to NBC's series of station swaps & purchases affecting Philadelphia, Boston, Washington & San Francisco (Vol. 16:19 plO), and that the deals don't violate consent decree governing NBC's acquisition of stations (Vol. 15:39 p3). (2) Westinghouse Bcstg. Co., whose WBZ-TV Boston is to lose NBC-TV affiliation when NBC acquires WNAC-TV, disagreed with Justice Dept., said decree is being violated, asked for permission to intervene. (3) KRON-TV San Francisco, also due to lose NBC-TV affiliation, told court same thing — and more. (4) Court set May 27 for argument on their petitions. (5) Chmn. Celler (D-N.Y.) of House Judiciary Committee shot fiery wire to Justice's anti-trust chief Robert Bicks, lambasting him for not objecting to San Francisco purchase. (6) President nominated Bicks to be Asst. Attorney General (instead of "acting," as he has been for a year), and Bicks is bound to get grilling during confirmation hearing by Senate Judiciary Committee (date not yet set). WBC told Court that NBC had given assurance that it wouldn't try to acquire a Boston station if Westinghouse would agree to swap its KYW-TV & KYW Philadelphia for NBC's Cleveland TV-radio properties. WBC said it agreed to the Philadelphia-Cleveland deal because NBC threatened to take affiliation from KYW-TV & KYW. Then, WBC said, after the consent decree ordered NBC to sell WRCV-TV & WRCV Philadelphia (call letters changed from KYW-TV & KYW), NBC told Westinghouse it wanted to buy a station in Boston, Pittsburgh or San Francisco. WBC declined to sell any of its stations in those cities, suggested instead that WBC & NBC reverse the Philadelphia-Cleveland svyap. But NBC rejected that. In brief, WBC accuses NBC of going back on its assurance that WBC's Boston NBC-TV affiliation was secure. WBC is particularly upset because CBS intends to affiliate with WHDH-TV Boston after NBC takes over WNAC-TV, now the CBS-TV affiliate. This would leave WBC & ABC-TV to each other, something WBC doesn't relish (Vol. 16:13 plO). WBC concludes that purpose of consent decree will be thwarted if NBC's plans go through. Decree's intent, it said, was to "terminate the alleged unlawful conspiracy of RCA & NBC to acquire TV stations in 5 of the 8 largest markets." . . . ^ : . , .