First annual report and ranking: The top 100 in electronic communications BroadcastingtaThe newsweekly of broadcasting and allied arts Our26 47th Year 1978 nI lN3mr- n w N Nr1 N0. -1 y..c_4"r Outstanding Host of a Talk, Service or Variety Series r CJ i7C_ Phil Donahue J+ 3D ti0 r.è G1A z mc1 Outstanding Talk, Service or Variety Series . Z. I1 r,n -i 1nr Executive Producer Producer >111N -i2'G Richard Mincer Patricia McMillen n n cr -4 O C Produced and Distributed by -s C1 T rrTirv-.c11, 'i G ÿ ®DÍÌÌ Q Multimedia Program Productions, Inc. V Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 4, r vd ,X) t; ^1 Cy C-, ru N ''.. J` That's the opinion of Don D. Wear, vice "Cox Data emerged president and general manager of our newest customer, WAPI Television and Rodio, Birmingham - which began using clearly a winner. Cox Data's television automation system June 26. As Mr. Wear explains, "Our decision was reached after minute comparisons with other types of television computer control systems, and Cox Dato emerged clearly o winner. We eagerly look forward to the many capabilities that your splendid system will render our station: We're not only attracting new customers to our list of 26, we're also retaining the confidence of stations we're already servicing. As D.C. Gale, president of Niagara Television Limited (Toronto -Hamilton, Ontario), states: "We wonted the BEST computer system available, and we believe the Cox Don D. Weor System is it: The Cox System is your Vice President computer. No more delays, revising proce- and General Monoger WAPI -TV and Radio dures or sharing time through o computer in onother city. Control. That's our guaran- tee. The Cox System. It's a better way. For more information, just colt (404) 256 -5200. a service of BroadcastingCOX GM( ddk I SOW-1CW) Suite 100 /Prado North /5600 Roswell Road /Atlanta, Georgia 30342 - 1ti . .' f ,p^"/ y _ .// ' Ì %:i /7L /7 . /) /7.1j // / ,. I[IIOFF'I" SUI'EPi Si%RS! the force that captures young audience ratings. Space ships, monsters, alien creatures and stars like Jim Nabors, Ruth Buzzi, Martha Raye. Johnny Whitaker, and Bob Denver are the perfect lead-in GOLD KEY ENTERTAINMENT to any family sit-corn. A Division of The Vidtronics Co., Inc. Here come the KROFFT SUPER STARS, 137 855 N. Cahuenga Blvd. action/comedy half -hours direct from network - Hollywood, Ca. 90038 (213) 46ó -9741 with a proven record - to first run syndication. Tower 53,159 W. 53rd St., KROFFT SUPER STARS includes "Land of the Lost" N.Y., N.Y 10019 (212) 486 -9116 (off NBC), "Lost Saucer" (off ABC), "Far Out Space Nuts" (off CBS), "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters" (off NBC) and more. Available beginning Fa11,1978. Lot the Krofi Super Stars shine on your stationl Professional Profiles: Dean L. Osmundson Dean Osnmtndson arrived in Memphis, Tennessee on innovation of the crucial factor - people - is what the first of January, 1958. After leaving his native makes the difference between an adequate state of Iowa on that same day he settled down to performance, and a superior one. He has used these stay for awhile ... twenty years so far. Over that philosophies in a diversity of positions in the period Dean has developed the gracious manner and broadcasting business. Front salesman to program warm smile of a "gentle county lawyer." But don't director to sales manager to general manager, he is let that disarming charm fool you. This man puts a at the helm of one of his city's finest radio facilities premium on keeping keenly competitive ... keeping and now a leading adult statitin. aware of every new development in the field of Dean is President of the Tennessee Association of effective marketing and continuously aware of the Broadcasters, Vice President and President -Elect for changing tastes and perceptions of the broadcast Sales and Marketing Executives International, a audience. Dean believes that basic integrity is the former AMA, "Marketing Man of the Year," primary qualification fOr success, but he realizes General Manager of Scripps- Howard WMC AM, that effective management information and careful Memphis ... and a valged client. The Research Group Audience Research for the Communications Industries 1 San Luis Obispo, California Broadcasting Jun 26 The Week in Brief REACTING TO THE REWRITE The NAB staff analyzes the HYPHENATES WIN n The Supreme Court rules in favor of Communications Act of 1978, says it is a "mixed bag" for the networks and producers, who contended writer - broadcasters and is no reason for altering the supervisors had been illegally restrained during a 1973 association's basically negative stance toward the strike by the Writers Guild of America West. PAGE 64. project. PAGE 21. TURNABOUT The FCC affirms the grant of channel 21 in Ala., to IT'S A BIRD, IT'S A PLANE, IT'S SILVERMAN! NBC-TV Birmingham, Chapman Radio & Television. It's the affiliates rally in New York in high spirits, buoyed by the culmination of a 13- year -old proceeding in which rival hopes that the new NBC president, Fred Silverman, would Birmingham Broadcasting was once the preferred applicant. PAGE 64. leap prime -time buildings in a single- season bound. Plus, they get a few gifts from the network. PAGE 21. As for SURVIVAL IN SACRAMENTO The FCC overturns an himself, Mr. Silverman has high hopes, including administrative law judge's ruling that would have denied a unexpected emphases on news and "quality" license renewal to KTXL(TV) on grounds of programing. PAGE 22. RCA President Griffiths says the misrepresentation. PAGE 64. whole company and its resources are behind Silverman, but cautions affiliates not to expect miracles -at least PTV IN BIG D A full agenda confronts the annual right away. PAGE 23. membership meeting of Public Broadcasting Service in Dallas. The Communications Act rewrite, the Public SEARCH PROTECTION Witnesses at a Bayh Broadcasting Funding Act and the Carnegie Commission subcommittee hearing urge enactment of legislation that research are among the topics. PAGE 65. would prohibit uncalled -for invasion of newsrooms by police. PAGE 23. NBC'S STRATEGY Head programer Klein briefs the affiliates on the whys and wherefores of the TV network's CABLE'S NEAR- BILLION YEAR The FCC reports CATV in schedule for fall. Simultaneously, the affiliates are given a 1976 had $999.8 million in revenues and pretax profits of complete list of specials in the offing. PAGE 68. $57.7 million. PAGE 25. CBS -TV LINE -UP ASSESSED Critics preview the network's fall schedule and have some questions about T,e 100 sex, the possibility of anti -Catholicism sentiments and COMPANIES ELECTRONIC the grouping of commercials in children's program. PAGE 70. THE BIG ONES A BROADCASTING special report offers a WARC WORRIES Senator Schmitt warns that the U.S. first -time look at the principal public companies doing delegations to the 1979 international meeting in Geneva business in or around electronic communications. From had better start doing some heavy homework. PAGE 71. top- ranked General Electric to number -100 Cowles Communications, each organization is presented in a ATTACK ON CLUTTER NBC -TV tells it affiliates it will: capsule summary that tells who it is, what it does and not increase the commercial load, it will trim promotional how well it is faring financially. PAGE 31. 45's, and that it supports a move for an ad limit in prime time. PAGE 72. DIESELING The backfiring from the wPixn -v) decision continues as the FCC majority and the dissenters fire off CHISELED IN STONE The FCC formally adopts rules separate and strongly worded statements. PAGE 63. prohibiting ex parte contacts in cable proceedings. PAGE 74. THIS WEEK IN TORONTO The NAB joint board meeting, PEN PAL His signature is appended to the many FCC once primarily intended to permit exchanges with its letters and documents that broadcasters receive but few Canadian counterpart, has a new focus. It happened with have met him face -to -face. He is William Tricarico, the the emergence of the rewrite legislation, and now the FCC secretary, whose nuts -and -bolts activities keep the meeting is shaping up as a key strategy huddle. PAGE 63. commission's functions on course. PAGE 97. Index to departments Changing Hands 66 Fates & Fortunes 76 Profile 97 Broadcast Advertising... 72 Closed Circuit 7 For the Record 81 Programing 68 Broadcast Journalism. 73 Datebook 12 Media 63 Special Report 31 Business Briefly 8 Editorials 98 Monday Memo 18 Stock Index 95 21 Cablecasting 74 Equip & Engineering 71 Playlist 75 Top of the Week Broadcasting is published 51 Mondays a year (combined issue at yearend) by Broadcasting Publications Inc. 1735 DeSales Street N.W Washington. D.C. 20036. Second -class postage paid at Washington. D.C. and additional offices. Single issue $1.50 except special issues S2.50. Subscriptions, U.S. and possessions: one year $35. tao years S65, three years $90 Canadian and other Yearbook international subscriptions add S 12 per year, U.S and possessions add S140 yearly for special delivery $90 for first class. Subscriber's occupation required. Annually: Broadcasting $37.50 Cable Sourcebook $20. The Thomson -CSF Laboratories Microcam" is the built -in battery pack. And for extended operation, lightest broadcast -quality portable color television a 4 lb. silver -cell battery belt operates Microcam 5 camera in the business. And if your business is cov- hours on a single charge. ering news, sports or special events, you want to With a two line vertical image enhancer and comb make sure it all gets covered. While other cameramen filter as standard equipment, Microcam will effec- are pausing for a breather,yoú re still going strong.