Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1961)

4 DECEMBER 18, 1961 Commission rejected view of its own Common Carrier Bureau, which with microwave grantee Carter Mountain Transmission Corp. had argued that denial of the microwave grants was "censorship." It's understood that even Comr. Craven, the most "censorship" shy of commissioners, voted against this argument. KWRB-TV had argued that 2 more out-of-town signals fed to CATV subscribers within its coverage area might so reduce its appeal & income that it would go under — thus eliminating service to rural viewers not reached by CATV. FCC concluded that its fears were justified. Upshot of all this: Very likely negotiation between KWRB-TV and CATV operator to make certain cable systems will carry KWRB-TV's signal, with good quality, and won't feed subscribers programs duplicating KWRB-TV's. This is basis of CATV-station settlements in many areas. FCC analysts don't visualize stations using new FCC policy to try to kill CATV's by asking Commission to revoke all microwaves bringing in big-city signals. FCC policy is to acknowledge value of multiple signals provided by CATV but not to the point where existence of local station is jeopardized. CURRENT CAPSULES NAB's Freedom of Information Committee, seeking meeting with President Kennedy, was surprised & delighted when he invited it to 1 Vi-hour lunch last week. Kennedy was made aware, evidently, that broadcasters have felt left out while he has been conducting tete-a-tetes with newspaper publishers. Committee Chmn. Frank Fogarty, Meredith stations, said that group plumped for greater access to govt, information, that more live broadcasts of presidential news conferences was urged and "we got no promises" — Kennedy leaving impression he's concerned about "over-exposure." Group also pushed for repeal of political equal -time Sec. 315 of Communications Act, asked for more advance notice on JFK's speeches outside D.C. ■ NAB Radio Code Board held the line last week, retaining standards covering commercial time practices, hard-liquor ban, personal products. Meeting in Washington under chairmanship of Cliff Gill, KEZY Anaheim, Cal., Board: (1) Kept rule of 18-min. maximum commercials per hour or 5 min. per 15-min. segment, provided weekly average isn't more than 14 min. per hour. (2) Reaffirmed flat ban on hard-liquor commercials or advertising of anything else which "could in their presentation induce the use of hard liquor." (3) Retained prohibition against commercials for "intimately personal products" which "might offend & embarrass." NAB Radio Code Dir. Charles M. Stone reported Code subscribers total record 1,460, up 14% since July 1. Under new monitoring system, he noted, 66 stations in 34 markets have been covered for 397 hours, with 91.2% of commercial time found to comply with Code time standards. Luncheon guests of Board, from FTC: Edward Downs, senior staff attorney; Sam Stowe, information dir. A "Public Affairs Editorializing Conference" in Washington March 1-2 was scheduled by NAB's Editorializing Committee, meeting in Washington last week under Chmn. Daniel Kops, WAVZ New Haven & WTRY Troy. Purposes: (1) Advise novices on "techniques, responsibility and legal problems." (2) Give examples of successful efforts to alert public on local problems. (3) Have govt, leaders give broadcasters background on national problems. Group lunched with FCC Chmn. Minow. ■ Short-spaced vhf drop-ins will be sought by educators as part of big plan providing long look ahead on ETV allocations, to be submitted to FCC. ETV's vhf aspirations are in addition to expected claim on large portion of uhf spectrum. FCC Chmn. Minow also likes ETV drop-in idea. He recently dissented when Commission declined to add drop-ins beyond the 8 it had proposed (Vol. 1:13 p4), saying he'd consider slipping Ch. 11 into Orlando, with coverage to include burgeoning Cape Canaveral area, which has "urgent needs" for ETV. ■ FCC's decision on option time, too early to predict so soon after big oral argument (Vol. 1:13 p3), is nonetheless headed in following direction currently, decision not likely before late Jan.: cut out option time for year or so, see what happens, reinstate it if year's experience bears out fears of networks & affiliates. ■ A Dept, of Consumers, as proposed in S-1688, shouldn't invade FCC's jurisdiction. That's gist of what Commission is considering commenting in report to Congress. FCC takes position that it has legal responsibility for weighing consumer complaints about phono & telegraph service and rates.