Broadcasting O Nov13
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Post -mortem on broadcasting in eventful election year Historic dissent breaks new ground for broadcast freedom o Nov13 BroadcastingThe newsweekly of broadcasting and allied arts Our 42nd Year 1972 Academy Award Winner! BEST SONG ( "Windmills Of My Mind ") ... Plus ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATION : BEST ORIGINAL SCORE The Thomas Crown Affair (Available after Network) "Excellent. A refreshingly different film, a crackerjack story." - VARIETY Just one of the 30 superb feature films for local telecasting in... UA Showcase 7 United Artists Television T,,,,,,,r,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,.,,,;.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.,, rikkt. "WGN? Well, I've lived in Chicago all my lifét. o I've kill of grown up with WGN...To me, it's as much a part of Chicago as I am:' WGN is Chicago Radio (NG N TdEvision NEW WGN Continental Broadcasting Conpa-iy BroadcastingoNov13 CLOSED CIRCUIT 5 FCC's Burch, FTC's Kirkpatrick have no moving plans. AT DEADLINE 6 OPEN MIKE 8 DATEBOOK 8 A case for avoiding that New York-Los Angeles syndrome in advertising. MONDAY MEMO 11 The Monday -after report on a tumultuous election year: Networks make the best of a foregone conclusion; two broadcasters win seats in House and Senate; Nixon outcollects, underspends McGovern in media; NAB, NCTA pony up political funds. LEAD STORY 13 Second- guessing on McGovern campaign favors a harder approach. 18 Good news of billing vs. bad news of regulation high on TVB's agenda. BROADCAST ADVERTISING 21 Fritz in for Martin in top -echelon reorganization at John Blair. 23 The FCC picks away at the renewal logjam. MEDIA 25 A moderate Nick Johnson sings what sounds like his swan song. 26 Promotion is the word for the week as BPA convenes in Boston. 28 CHANGING HANDS 30 Judge Bazelon issues proclamation of emancipation from the fairness doctrine in unexpected dissent to WXUR case. It's a ringing affirmation of what broadcasters have asked for years: Set our people free. PROGRAMING 32 They said it would never last : 14 years later, Bonanza's on the way out. 33 An angry Dick Salant takes after the Democrats for obstructing news. 36 MUSIC 36 CABLE 38 IBEW short -circuits CBS; Jets -Redskins coverage is sabotaged. EQUIPMENT & ENGINEERING 41 FINANCE 42 FATES & FORTUNES 45 FOR THE RECORD 47 Cecil Keftel, his own man at last, makes his move in broadcasting. PROFILE 57 EDITORIALS 58 Published 51 Mondays a year (combined Issue at yearend) by Broadcasting Publications Inc., 1735 DeSales Street, N.W., Washington 20036. Second-class postage paid at Washington and additional offices. Single issues SI. Subscriptions: one year $20, two years $37.50, three years $50. Add $52 yearly for special delivery, $65 for air mail, $4 for Canada, $6 for all other countries. Subscriber's occupation required. Annually: Broadcasting Yearbook $14.50, Cable Sourcebodk $6.50. NEW CITiZEN OF ATLANTA. CEORCIA. Most people are meeting him for the first time on WSB -TV. Meet a member of the Flames, Atlanta's brand new NHL hockey team. He's fast becoming a familiar face around town, thanks to the twenty season games we're televising this year. WSB -TV maintains its leadership as the "major" sports station in town by adding Flames to an already hot schedule. A Communications Service of Coo Broadcasting Corporation COX BROADCASTING CORPORATION STATION&. WSB AM.FM.TV Atlanta. WHIO AM -FM Dayton. WSOC AM -FM -TV Charlotte. WIOD AM WAIA-FM Miami, WIIGTV Pittsburgh, KTVU San Francisco Onklano. t osed Circ Rooms at the top? they have been increasin ,on, provide extensive live coverage of I own needs and indeed to -text moon flight. Problem is .partially Though FCC Chairman Dean .port market. On top of that, ,ver questions of editorial control of ma- nothing about his personal p ionalism" has led to volun' erial provided through government page 6), it's said on good aut n mandatory restrictions on agency; real question, though, is CPB's may he tapped for high post ,ortation. role in arrangements. Corporation, which nized Nixon administration. If has in past been catalyst for programing old Mr. Burch should leave Ft onvention pays but not program producer, is seen as manship he has held since ;. getting deeply into role of "programer" generally thought Richard Will tore than five months in advent on this one: Having worked out idea member since January, would b ext convention (March 25 -28) it with NASA, it's now polling stations on chairman. ngton, National Association of their reaction-bypassing Public Broad- Meanwhile, Chairman Bt _asters has completely booked its R casting Service, which has been decision ticketed for 10 -day trip to J2 space. Some 100 exhibitors ha n- maker on selection and scheduling of seminars on telecommunicatior tracted for 60,000 square feet 2 ole programs. and talks with Japanese ma at Sheraton Park and Shorehan els. Both PBS and National Association of ers about their impact on L At $6.00 per foot, it amounts tc zord Educational Broadcasters, accordingly, tronics market. Burch mission $360,000 in income. are fuming over what they regard as quest of U.S. Information Ager usurpation of power by CPB. PBS ex- to leave Nov. 30. (On separate Revival `' ecutive and operations committee -com- arranged by State Department, . f FCC's long-pending proceedings dealing posed of public -TV managers -has taken U.S. broadcasters is in Japan t' ek first initiative; it has protested to CPB as first half of exchange visit w pa- with license- renewal matters -they were be and asked for meeting over "this ap- nese broadcasters; see page 31) initiated in February 1971 -will parent off for another examination by shift in program responsibility ... dusted without prior consultation." Ownership, siphoning commissioners next month. Commission set Dec. 14 as date for consideration of FCC is taking cautious approach to re- proposed guidelines for determining when Didn't choose to run vamping rule barring crossownership of television station's service has earned Last Tuesday's defeat of Iowa Republican television stations and cable systems in "plus of major significance" that will aid Senator Jack Miller raises possibility seat same markets. At most, sources indicate, station in battle for renewal against chal- might have gone to FCC Commissioner commission will adopt some kind of lenger seeking its frequency. Guidelines Nicholas Johnson, if he had run for it as grandfather amendment to protect exist- consist of percentages of service in local, he toyed with doing. Early this year Mr. ing ownerships; rule now requires di- news and public- affairs programing, with Johnson made repeated trips to native vestiture by Aug. 10, 1973. But major percentages tailored to kind of station in- state to take political soundings after Rep- questions remain as to kinds of systems volved (UHF, big -city VHF affiliate, etc.). resentative John Culver (D -Iowa) de- that would qualify for grandfathering. Commission will have to decide first cided against seeking Democratic nomi- Must they have been fully operating by whether it will adopt concept it proposed, nation for Senate. Finally, at news con- particular date (when rule was adopted, then, if so, whether it agrees with me- ference he arranged at mother's Iowa in June 1970, for instance) or would chanics suggested in staff document City home, Mr. Johnson opted out -de- system substantially under construction drafted by Chairman Dean Burch's spe- crying need to "sell bits and pieces of or merely franchised qualify? FCC re- cial assistant, Henry Geller. Commission my integrity to raise the money" (BRoAn- turns to subject this week. on Dec. 15 is scheduled to consider pro- CASTING, March 27). Ultimate winner of In separate matter, commission indi- posed revisions in renewal procedures last week's election, Richard Clark, then cated last week it would approve pro- which are designed to facilitate public emerged from relative obscurity (aide to posals of Trans World Communications participation. Package is work of Dr. Representative Culver) to make Demo- to use telephone lines and of Columbia Barry Cole, consultant to FCC on its cratic race. Pictures to use business -radio channels renewal processes. At time he removed himself from Iowa to transmit movies to New York hotels. senatorial contest, Mr. Johnson said he But at same time, commission instructed Fingers in the wind was committed to serve full term on FCC, staff to draft rulemakings to resolve policy hut "no more" than that. Term ends questions those proposals raise. One BBDO and Carl Ally will be out with next June 30. Prospects are his commit- would be aimed at determining impact on their first public stock issues by end of ment won't be tested beyond original television and cable television of unre- this month. That's word from financial length. stricted use of new technologies, including sources close to both agencies -which multipoint distribution service, private had placed hold on plans to go public Getting ready microwave and telephone lires, to trans- because of sluggish stock market. Moves mit movies on unrestricted basis. could be scrubbed again, however, should National Association of Broadcasters' market reverse its current firming trend. task force on license -renewal legislation Export pinch "That's always the contingency," said is stirring in anticipation of Jan. 3 open- one principal underwriter. ing of new 93d Congress. Chairman Best current estimates of insiders is that Mark Evans, Metromedia, has called foreign sales of U.S. television program- First blood meeting of eight-member committee for ing will total about $85 million this year, Nov. 28 in Washington, hopes to set or about same as in 1971. Total ap- Those watching for first clash between schedule for moves by 60- member re- proached $100 million few years ago, Henry Loomis's revamped Corporation gional and state liaison organization that but since then overseas business has come for Public Broadcasting and other ele- would culminate in push to persuade under variety of pressures.