Change the Channel: WCVB-TV 1972–1982

JANUARY 12–MARCH 5, 2011 CURATED BY GARY FOGELSON & MICHAEL HUTCHERSON

‘Changing Signals in Boston’ ‘Some Say This Is America’s Best TV Station’ apexart By Arnold Reisman By Tony Schwartz 291 church street new york, ny 10013

First published in (MORE) Illustration: Sarina Bromberg, 1972 for (MORE) First published in The New York Times, t: 212.431.5270 f: 646.827.2487 A Journalism Review, April, 1972 Design: Fogelson-Lubliner February 15, 1981 [email protected] www.apexart.org If you’ve never heard of Boston’s Channel 5 fa- Another way to look at WHDH’s undo- Then again what you have got at BBI is a CAN a local commercial television station afford to Still, WCVB has begun to prove that local nett believes that the figure could reach 25 ble, wait. They’re bound to make it into a novel ing is by way of the diversification issue. The “slight demerit” from the powers that be for originate dozens of hours of its own shows, programming can be profitable. Because it is percent. The challenge to WCVB is not to lose or a movie or a Broadway musical or, at least, FCC has never been to keen on adding to a “its insufficiently supported proposal for local offer regular prime-time programs on health, privately owned, the station does not release its local identity in the process. “There is al- a mixed-media concert. Actually, right now it’s mass-media conglomerate, yet such thinking live programs.” Which is to say that in a fit of the law and minority issues, feature five sepa- revenue figures, but according to the most ways that risk,” says Mr. Bennett. “What we’ve the television industry’s longest-running soap seemed to go by the boards when WHDH profuse zeal BBI projected a local-origination rate newscasts a day and spend $500,000 on recent A.C. Nielsen ratings, WCVB currently tried on any project is to ask first, ‘Is this right opera. And it’s hard to believe that what’s been was initially granted permission for Channel budget of 36.3 per cent of its projected 160 a series of Saturday-morning children’s pro- commands a higher share of the audience than for our audience?’ Even our movie, ‘Summer going on really has been going on. It’s as if the 5. Maybe it didn’t come up because the com- ½ weekly hours. That would mean that they grams? any Boston station. Robert M. Bennett, presi- Solstice,’ grew out of a contest that was held script for this case study of the breakdown of mission was aware of the fact that the Herald- would be on the air about 23 hours a day, a Most television executives wouldn’t know dent and general manager of the station, says strictly among New England writers.” American bureaucracy had been devised by Traveler Corp. made little threat of monopoly, bit much for any city and overwhelming for whether to laugh or to cringe at the question. that its pre tax profits have increased tenfold The time slot in which WCVB has most Kurt Vonnegut. there being in Boston countless radio stations, Boston. However, by the time they publicly They’d point out that producing quality pro- since 1976 and that its rate of return is now consistently attempted its own programming Unless something unforeseen happened several TV channels and two other dailies — announced their actual programming, the to- grams is very expensive. They’d argue that the competitive with most major television sta- is “prime-time access” between 7:30 and 8 right after press time, Boston TV viewers both surpassing the Herald in circulation. But tal air time was down to 130 ½ weekly hours mass audience simply hasn’t evidenced much tions, a figure that Mr. Bennett puts at about p.m. Access is the period during which local flipped on Channel 5 Sunday morning, March from the middle of the ‘60s to the present, (including repeats). And about 90 per cent of interest in a series of programs on serious 35 percent of revenues. One broadcasting stations are not permitted to use network pro- 19, and found WCVB-TV, a locally owned and FCC judges and commissioners have made it their program prospectus filed with the FCC topics. And why, they might reasonably ask, source estimates that WCVB earned between gramming, a rule promulgated by the F.C.C. operated ABC affiliate. The catch is that up to quite clear that it’s easier to hand out a license failed to show up in this announcement (Feb- should they consider such unnecessary risks? $15 and $20 million last year before taxes, on in an effort to stimulate localism. Instead, that day, and for nearly 15 years, Channel 5 to him who has the least amount of fingers in ruary 24, 1972). Most local television stations turn a hefty revenues of approximately $45 million. most stations have simply purchased game was WHDH-TV, a locally owned and oper- media pies. And one hearing even saw the Her- profit by doing little more than shuffling tapes Mr. Bennett is the man most responsible shows from outside syndicators. WCVB initi- ated CBS affiliate. The switch is the result of ald chastised for withholding a story one day Back in November, 1970, H-T president Clancy of network and syndicated shows in and out at WCVB for balancing the profit motive with ated a group of its own access programs, but at a two-decade battle involving local applicants from WHDH so the newspaper could have its said that the loss of the station would have of cassette machines. The typical local station a concern for quality programming. “Bob has first the ratings were miniscule. “Partly I think for the station’s license, the federal courts scoop. “a very bad financial effect” on the paper is affiliated with one of the national networks to be the best local broadcaster in the nation,” the marketplace wasn’t ready for it, and partly and the FCC. In particular, it is the result of As irony of ironies would have it, however, but would not force it to close down. A year (ABC, CBS or NBC) and thus has available to says Norman Lear, the producer, who worked we just didn’t do it well,” says Mr. Bennett. a nine-year war between the Boston Herald- the FCC may diversify the Herald-Traveler out later, however, his new tune was sounding it that network’s entire schedule of programs. with Mr. Bennett on syndicating “The Bax- Today, WCVB’s lineup in access ranges Traveler Corp. (owner of the morning daily, of existence by pulling WHDH off Channel 5. something like a dirge. The H-T Corp., which But there is at least one major television ters” to dozens of other stations last season. from “Miller’s Court,” the program on law, WHDH-TV and two radio stations, WHDH- The H-T Corp. January 11, 1972, sent a let- does not break down financial statements station with a different vision. Since shortly “Bob is unusually concerned with program- to “Big Money,” a show pegged to the Mas- AM & FM) and Boston Broadcasters Inc. ter to the FCC contending that the newspaper on its individual interests, reported for 1969 after it was founded nine years ago, WCVB, ming that can illuminate issues for the pub- sachusetts lottery, to “The Baxters.” None of (owner of WCVB-TV, call letters in search of could “not survive the loss of the television a net profit of $2.8 million, for 1970 a net the privately owned ABC affiliate in Boston, lic,” Mr. Lear adds. “It’s a lot easier for station the shows finish first in the ratings, but Mr. a station), of a game of musical chairs among revenues.” However, on February 16, refusing profit of $2 million and for 1971 a net loss has been winning awards and accolades for executives to push a button than develop new Bennett doesn’t seem fazed. FCC chairmen, of rules that change with the to stay WHDH’s execution, the FCC claimed of $300,000. That’s what happened before its programming. The quality, quantity and material. If WCVB is winning in the numbers, “If we wanted to go purely for ratings, we weather, of legal and extra-legal shenanigans. that the H-T Corp. had not shown it would any elimination of TV revenues. The follow- diversity of its local programs have prompted then they’re proof that caring pays off.” could have bought ‘The Newlywed Game,’” WHDH-TV goes down in the books as a First: suffer “substantial and irreparable injury.” Six ing are estimated givens in local circles: that people ranging from producer Norman Lear At 53, Mr. Bennett doesn’t look the part he says. “We knew we were going to be third in No other company has operated a station, that days later, lawyers for WHDH claimed in the WHDH-TV grosses about $7 million a year, to ABC News President Roone Arledge to of a maverick. A large, conservatively dressed, this period. When you try something different, it didn’t really own, for so long and lost it. U.S. Court of Appeals in Boston that the loss that WHDH-AM slides comfortably into the suggest that WCVB may be the best commer- square-jawed man, he has the easygoing ami- it takes time to build an audience. And even of the channel “would result in the loss of one black and that WHDH-F stumbles into the cial television station in America. And in the ability of a salesman, which is precisely how he without leading the ratings, I think the shows WHDH-TV originally began broadcasting Novem- of Boston’s two standard-sized newspapers”— red. Thus, the paper must be losing heavily. past several years, it has begun to generate im- began his television career. His first job was in have paid off through the rest of our schedule. ber 26, 1957, ten years after filing for a license, the other being the not-so-troubled Globe. After the January, 1969, decision for BBI, ac- pressive profits as well. the sales department of a Metromedia station It shows that we’re not just paying lip service which it never got. Because of remaining chal- Only time or a leak will tell if the obituary is cording to Forbes magazine, the H-T Corp. in Los Angeles, beginning in 1952. It wasn’t to local programming, while trying to suck out lenges from three other companies, the FCC premature. stock fell 55 per cent. One of the few television stations that broad- until after he moved to Washington, D.C., in every dollar. It gives credibility to everything only granted WHDH-TV a program test au- The U.S. Court of Appeals then knocked Once a powerful Yankee paper, the politi- casts 24 hours a day, WCVB devotes 62 hours 1966, as vice president and general manager of else we do and especially to our news, which is thority (a temporary permit good for an un- WHDH for not airing enough editorials and cally conservative Herald-Traveler now sits on a week to locally originated programs, more Metromedia’s WTTG-TV, that he began ex- astation’s real report card.” stipulated amount of time). The Boston Her- for not having the integration of ownership the sidelines when it should be giving the po- than any other network affiliate in the coun- perimenting in the program area. At WTTG, ald-Traveler (H-T) had beaten back Greater and management that BBI proposed (six of litically liberal Globe a run for its money. The try. In New York City, by contrast, none of Mr. Bennett was responsible for initiating the The most widely known WCVB program is prob- Boston Television Corp., Massachusetts Bay its stockholders are designated with full-time Record-American, a Hearst tabloid, was once the three network-owned stations — WCBS, nation’s first prime-time news program (at 10 ably “The Baxters,” the station’s audience- Telecasters, DuMont Laboratories Inc. and management functions). As to this last point, the leading paper in terms of circulation, but WNBC, WABC — originates more than 28 p.m.), as well as a three-hour midday talk-and- participation comedy-drama. After Norman the Boston Globe (that other daily, which here Louis L. Jaffe, Harvard professor of admin- that was before it stopped printing the “num- hours a week of local programs. information show, “Panorama.” Lear saw a tape of the show in 1978, he of- acted as an intervener rather than applicant) istrative law, points out in his article on this ber,” which meant so much to gamblers. Now The Federal Communications Commis- In 1969, Mr. Bennett took over WNEW- fered to collaborate with WCVB, producing and established itself on Channel 5. Then the case (Harvard Law Review, June, 1969): “The with a readership of about 400,000, the Globe sion requires that a television station “serve TV, the Metromedia station in New York City the show himself and syndicating it nation- real trouble began. is in first place. The Herald has fallen back to the public interest, convenience and necessity,” and the nation’s largest independent station. ally. Nearly 40 stations bought “The Baxters,” No one is altogether sure why somebody up • something around 200,000. Estimates have it but that mandate is so ambiguous as to be Picking up where he left off in Washington, each of them agreeing to provide a 15-minute there does not like WHDH-TV, but the reason “No other company has that the H-T Corp. has spent at least $2 mil- virtually unenforceable. On most stations lo- he helped found “Midday,” a talk-and-variety audience-discussion segment. Still, the show for this fogginess becomes crystal clear when operated a station, that it lion in legal expenses since the beginning of cal programming amounts to little more than show, and “Black News,” the country’s first did not sign up enough stations to justify the you examine how the station got bumped off. the TV battle. Some media watchers point to the 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts (which have be- prime-time news program designed specifi- costs of producing it in Hollywood under Mr. One way of looking at it is that Robert Cho- didn’t really own, this as a reason why management may not come immensely profitable), a few religious cally for blacks. But even with a large salary, a Lear, and at the end of last season, the two ate, president of H-T Corp. in the early years for so long and lost it.” have paid much attention to its paper. and public-affairs programs on Sunday morn- chauffeur-driven automobile and a secure ca- sides agreed, amicably, to end the partnership. of the channel swim, took an advance on his Some observers say the Globe is trying ing, and perhaps a pallid midday “magazine” reer, Mr. Bennett felt frustrated. “I got bored,” WCVB took the show back, and this season $50 million meal ticket (the suggested worth • to put the Herald out of business because the show. According to the F.C.C., the average he says. “I’d been with Metromedia for 19 produced it in Toronto. of the outlet) and blew it all on a lunch. Before Commission assumes that the owner-manag- Herald once was trying to put the Globe out of television station in America devotes less than years, and their stations were doing very well Mr. Bennett believes that under Mr. Lear a House Subcommittee on Legislative Over- er will be more sensitive to the community’s business. According to Judge Stern’s findings 10 percent of its schedule to local programs. with reruns. I was very anxious to do more live the original spirit of the show was altered. sight in April, 1958, FCC chairman George needs than the manager who is reporting to an (which reviewed McConnaughey’s meals and WCVB’s ratio exceeds 30 percent. television.” “Norman just saw it differently,” Mr. Bennett McConnaughey brought up two ex parte (ex- absentee owner to maximize profits by shoddy stood Choate in good stead), the Taylors— There are other stations with a serious Mr. Bennett’s opportunity came in 1971, says. “He did it as a public-affairs show that clusive of those who have a right to be present) programming. But a manager whose own in- the Globe president and vice-president— commitment to originality. Westinghouse’s when he was approached by several investors dealt with all kinds of heavy issues, like nucle- lunches he had with Choate at the end of 1954 vestment is at stake may also be motivated to came to Washington in January, 1957, three “Group W” stations, including WBZ in Bos- from Boston Broadcasters Inc., a local group ar power. We saw it as a situation comedy. This and in the spring of 1956. Exactly what the discount the community interests, particularly months before the FCC awarded Channel 5 to ton, have produced a number of their own that had been involved in a bitter decade-long season we’ve added a laugh track and focused two men talked about in Washington’s Statler if the investment is a substantial part of the WHDH, and began filing petitions of interven- programs, including “Evening Magazine.” In battle to win the license for Boston’s Channel on more personal subjects, such as the moth- Hotel dining room remains a mystery since manager’s total capital.” tion against the H-T Corp. The Taylors con- Los Angeles, the CBS-owned station, KNXT, 5 away from the Herald Traveler Corporation. er’s being sexually harassed on the job or the both men were inclined to keep altering their The FCC vote that delivered Channel 5 tended that if H-T got Channel 5, the tough runs twoand-a-half hours of local news in the The investors were a distinguished group that stories until they died. However, the most cir- to BBI (January, 1969) added more nonsense fight between the two papers would become afternoon and an evening news magazine; included Oscar Handlin, the historian; Wil- • culated story of the celebrated second lunch is to the case. Commissioners Bartley and Wad- a jeopardized competition. While continuing KABC, the ABC-owned station, offers three liam Poorvu, a businessman and member of “Most local television that the topic of conversation was the Harris- sworth favored BBI, Nicholas Johnson sided to yell “unfair,” the Globe sided with applicant hours of news each weekday afternoon. Last the Harvard Business School faculty; Dr. John Beamer bills, which if passed would limit the with BBI (but implied he could have pushed Greater Boston Television. summer, five ABC affiliate stations, including Knowles, then the head of Massachussetts stations turn a hefty profit by FCC policy of encouraging diversification of himself into the Charles River camp), Robert Rumors ricocheted wildly that Choate WCVB, banded together to produce a special, General Hospital, and Leo Beranek, an edu- doing little more than ownership of mass media and which the chair- Lee favored WHDH, two others were absent threatened to use the TV station to drive out “What Does You Mom Do?” about the chang- cator and scientist. In the course of the battle, shuffling tapes of network and man had opposed before Congress. Choate al- and Chairman Rosel Hyde just threw his the Globe and that the Taylors threatened to ing role of women. the Boston Broadcasters group made an un- legedly tried to give McConnaughey a draft hands in the air and pleaded confusion (cast- use anything to drive out the Herald. Eventu- But WCVB’s local programs are more precedented pledge to the F.C.C. If they were syndicated shows in and amendment to the pending bills that might ing no vote). So, two, maybe three members of ally, the Taylors managed to get the ears of eclectic and more ambitious than those on given the license, they said, they would pro- out of cassette machines.” temper the chairman’s opposition. McCon- the seven-headed FCC held sway. at least a dozen upper-echelon politicians in other local stations. “Miller’s Court,” a weekly vide 50 hours a week of local programming. naughey paid him no mind and Choate paid Johnson also followed up his casual ap- Washington and of every FCC commissioner. program at 7:30 p.m., features Harvard law The commission promptly judged the promise • the check. proach to power plays with: “The door is thus And who knows what that did to the flow of professor Arthur Miller conducting a discus- “unrealistic.” daughter running away from home. It’s not in Choate then became the issue by politically opened for local citizens everywhere to chal- things? Whatever, after two-and-a-half years of sion of legal issues. “House Calls,” in which a In return for a promise of free creative as many markets now — Norman was a hot exposing himself in a public place. Suspicious- lenge media giants in their local communities intervention, the Globe officially called it quits physician, Dr. Tim Johnson, talks about health rein and a share in the ownership of the sta- ticket - but the reaction has been very good.” ly, what wasn’t the issue was the fact that the at renewal time with some hope of success.” with this case in July, 1959, two months before topics, alternates each week in another 7:30 tion, Mr. Bennett agreed to come aboard. It The fact that WCVB would use a laugh FCC chairman was very big on lunches. By The TV industry popped a tube. Is nothing Stern’s ex parte hearings concluded. And since p.m. slot with “City Streets,” a program that was a decision that ultimately made him a track on “The Baxters” is evidence that the sta- the end of 1956, he had dined with applicant sacred? The pressure was on. And soon judges then the Globe has tended to play down the addresses the concerns of Boston’s minority multimillionaire. Today, WCVB has an esti- tion is not above commercial considerations. Forrester A. Clark of Massachusetts Bay Tele- and politicians were quickly trying to change Herald’s side of the story. community. A half-hour comedy-drama show mated market value of between $150 and $200 Even with its documentaries, WCVB has been casters at the Mayflower Hotel, supped with “some” hope back to “minimal” hope. And Rumors of the Herald-Traveler’s imminent entitled “The Baxters” features a fictional million, and he owns approximately 5 percent concerned with making them not just informa- applicant Allen B. DuMont of DuMont Labs the FCC, exclusive to Johnson, tried to soothe demise have been around for nine years, ever family facing a series of issues that are played of the stock. But at the time, the courts had tive but entertaining. Usually, that has meant at the Raleigh Hotel and met (whether actu- brows with “Now, now, this is a special case!” since the FCC threw open the doors to all out in a 15-minute segment, followed by a not yet even made their final decision about treating serious issues in very personal terms ally over lunch is a moot point here) with Wil- comers for the Channel 5 license. And with 15-minute audience discussion of the issues the license, and the station remained in the and creating promotional segments that at- liam D. Taylor and John Taylor, president and Twice in 1971 the U.S. Supreme Court looked the talk of folding came the whispers of merg- that have just been raised. hands of the Herald Traveler. Finally, in March tract viewers to the story. WCVB’s documen- vice-president of the intervening Globe. at the Channel 5 case, blinked and tossed it ing and buying. The Knight newspapers, the Last season, WCVB created its own topi- of 1972, eight months after Mr. Bennett’s ar- tary on cancer, “Just Hold My Hand,” focused So, there was a special examiner’s hearing out. Then, in the last big vote (January 21, Newhouse chain, The Washington Post, Hearst cal situation comedy, “Park Street Under.” Set rival, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the on two older woman who were dying from the on the matter of impropriety, and on Septem- 1972), the FCC ordered WHDH off the air and the Globe have all been bandied about as in a Boston bar, it was produced at a cost of WCVB group. Mr. Bennett’s first mandate disease. “Denise,” a documentary about child ber 23, 1959, examiner Horace Stern sifted and BBI’s WCVB on by 3 a.m. March 19. likely purchasers. Most of this is just not true. only $10,000 a segment — one-third what it was to make good on the group’s local-service abuse, was told from the viewpoint of a woman through the lunches and issued clean bills And, of course, all BBI got out of the deal is Most but not all, because Hearst is indeed in would have cost WCVB just to purchase re- promises. convicted of the crime. Even though WCVB’s of health for Choate and McConnaughey. that program test authority—not a license, but the market for a new Record-American print- runs of “Laverne and Shirley.” WCVB also Boston was certainly as good a place as documentaries are scheduled opposite enter- But, the FCC still looked askance and chose a temporary permit. Which means the ballpark ing plant, like maybe the Herald’s. Therefore, makes use of periods during the broadcast day any to make the attempt. Even before WCVB, tainment programs in prime time, they have to make an example of WHDH’s “conduct,” has been changed but the same game is still a merger of these two Boston papers is a pos- when most other stations go dark. There is a the city had supported what is generally ac- drawn remarkably high ratings. “Denise,” about with the commission and the courts going on. WHDH will now make its appeals as sibility. One could fight the strong morning one-hour news program each morning begin- knowledged to be the leading public-television for example, won a 41 share of the audience have waxed moralistic ever since. On Septem- the visiting team. FCC members claimed their Globe and the other could be used to fight ning at 6 a.m. and a live, loosely structured station in the country, WGBH. And, indeed, against entertainment competition on the oth- ber 25, 1962, the FCC chalked up a demerit hands were tied by the December 29, 1971, the weak Evening Globe (mainly composed of talk show, “Five All Night, Live All Night” WCVB has since recruited a number of its em- er two networks. for Choate and issued WHDH only a four- Appeals Court decision that the commission’s warmed-over morning features). (WCVB is on Boston’s Channel 5), which ployes from WGBH, including Bruce Marson, Henry Becton, the general manager of the month operating permit (instead of the regular awarding of a construction permit to BBI runs five nights a week, most often between 2 its vice president in charge of programming. In local public-television station, WGBH, argues three-year license), because of “inroads made (July 29, 1971) closed the case. If so, then why Many Channel 5 watchers feel that the present and 4 a.m. addition, WCVB’s leading commercial com- that the WCVB approach has its drawbacks. “I by WHDH upon the rules governing fair and wasn’t the 1957 WHDH construction permit composition of the FCC is such that the H-T And this month, work will be completed petitor, WBZ, the Westinghouse-owned NBC think they have a tendency to sensationalize a orderly adjudication considering it demon- a finality of some sort? would win Channel 5 if the 1969 vote were on WCVB’s most ambitious project yet: an affiliate in Boston, has long had an innovative subject,” says Mr. Becton. “They did that with strated an attempted pattern of influence.” And in this final vote there were two ab- taken today. Thus, the FCC has been chiefly hour-long movie called “Summer Solstice,” record — as well as ratings dominance in the ‘Denise,’ and I think it was at the expense of As WHDH came up for renewal at the end stentions, one absence and four mixed votes responsible for botching this case. In the 1969 which stars Henry Fonda, Myrna Loy and market. WBZ now features some 45 hours a exploring some of the underlying issues. The of the four-month period, the FCC took the for BBI: Johnson and Bartley went quietly but vote , commissioner Johnson (Democrat) said: Lindsay Crouse, and was directed by Ralph week of local programming. “I think we’ve fact is they’re a commercial station in the busi- unusual step of throwing open its doors an- Robert Lee and Chairman Dean Burch (Re- “I take no present position on the merits of Rosenbloom, who has edited several of Woody ness of delivering large audiences to advertis- nouncing a 60-day “safe” period for compet- publican) made their gripes known. Lee, who continued newspaper ownership of broadcast- Allen’s movies. Filmed on a modest budget of • ers.” ing applicants to file for comparative consid- had consistently opposed the switch in station ing properties in markets where there is (sic) $450,000, “Summer Solstice” was written by “WCVB’s local programs On the other hand, Mr. Becton often eration. And Boston Broadcasters Inc. (BBI), ownership, noted the court mandate. “I have competing media. But I do think it is healthy a local author, whose script was chosen from are more eclectic and more counts himself among WCVB’s admirers. “You Charles River Civic Television Inc (CRCT) no choice, under the law.” Burch labeled the to have at least one station among these po- among 600 submitted in a contest sponsored have to respect them for a lot of the things and Greater Boston Telecasters Corp. (GBT) FCC history of the Channel 5 case “irrational litically powerfull 33 network-affiliated prop- by WCVB. ABC has taken an option on the ambitious than those they’ve tried,” he says. “I wish we’d donesome came running. While the applicants were ar- decision making… stark and obvious… I am erties in the major markets that is truly lo- production. on other local stations.” of the medical programming they’ve done. I riving and while WHDH was protesting the puzzled how they passed a muster… a process cally-owned and managed independently of • think they’re probably the best commercial- resurrection of the impropriety issue, Choate so rent with glaring error does not commend the other major local mass media. It is a step, WCVB’s focus on local programming grows partly television station in the country.” died (December 21, 1963). And in death he itself.” He noted that the ex parte lunch is still however small, back toward the Commission’s out of the fact that it is locally owned, a unique had an effect on them,” says Mr. Bennett. “I’d became another issue. being digested, and concluded: “All the views often professed but seldom evidenced belief circumstance among stations in the top 10 argue that between us, WBZ and WGBH, the If WCVB has any problem right now, it may be suc- Does Choate’s so-called sin taint the rest have been threshed out before the courts, and in the benefits of local ownership and media markets. Unlike most corporate executives, best television anywhere in America is being cess. Mr. Bennett, who has intermittently re- of WHDH? There was a special examiner’s the court’s mandate must be followed… but I diversity. It is, at the very least, an interesting who must worry about stockholders and quar- done here.” ceived offers of network-level jobs, was recently hearing on the matter, and on August 15, cannot help but feel… an unconscionable in- experiment which will be watched carefully by terly earnings, the owners of WCVB, who live From the start, Mr. Bennett says that he approached by ABC about taking a high-level 1963, examiner Herbert Sharfman concluded justice has been done here.” Again, two out of many.” in the Boston area, have been willing to take was encouraged by his board to invest in local executive job at the network. At WCVB, some that the taint passed with Choate’s passing seven held sway. That sort of says it all. Or, as Professor a long-range view toward their investments, programming. “I’d find the board asking me of Mr. Bennett’s fellow stockholders, who first and favored grant renewal to WHDH. Sharf- Boston Broadcasters, Inc., is a group of Jaffe (in the Harvard Law Review) says about permitting the station to experiment, spend questions like, ‘Are you sure we’re spending invested in the station nearly 20 years ago, are man also noted that any other verdict would businessmen and professionals with ideas that this statement: “One wonders at the power significant sums on programming and remain enough?’” One of the station’s first moves was reported to be considering the possibility of be tantamount to vengeance. He claimed how- looked better on paper at their inception nine here asserted by a government agency to pick committed to shows that do not fare well in to produce “Jabberwocky,” a series of 130 chil- selling WCVB. Mr. Bennett says that the station ever, that WHDH was not entitled to competi- years ago than they did last month as they were out ‘at least one victim for an ‘interesting ex- the ratings. dren’s programs. The series won many awards, has not been offered for sale, but he acknowl- tive advantage for renewal because of its spe- about to materialize. The president is Leo Be- periment’.” One wishes that this FCC first— At the same time, the station has never but in the first year it earned only $25,000 in edges that “it’s always possible.” As for himself, cial abbreviated authorization (Wait a minute. ranek, communications engineer and research the taking away of one corporation’s “right” been ashamed of the fact that commercial advertising revenues. By 1975, however, it had he declines to talk about any offer from ABC Doesn’t this throw us back to Choate?), which consultant. Board chairman Brown is a law- to a broadcast outlet—could serve as encour- success is high on its list of priorities. Even been sold to 71 other stations. and says simply that “I’ve never been happier, is to say that its past record of performance yer and special justice of Boston’s Municipal agement to public interest groups challenging WCVB’s serious programs are slickly pack- Mr. Bennett is convinced that syndication and I’m not planning any move.” is immaterial in competition. Everyone should Court. The general managers are Robert Ben- other TV licenses. But unfortunately, there is aged and promoted. Admirers of the station is one way to make expensive local programs Whatever happens, Mr. Bennett is con- be considered a “new” applicant in this case! nett, former general manager of New York’s something utterly perverse about this case. It say that WCVB has learned the secret of sell- pay for themselves. Two years ago, the com- vinced that more local stations will soon feel But then again, Sharfman suggested that it WNEW-TV, and Richard Burdick, former has set no new precedent. As Jaffe concludes, ing substance; critics argue that some of the pany spun off a separate division, BBI Com- compelled to follow the WCVB example.” In would be ridiculous to put aside a fine record general manager of Philadelphia’s WHYY-TV “Indeed, WHDH re-emphasizes what has been station’s local programs are glossy to the point munications, charged with selling WCVB’s the future,” he says, “cable and the other new of performance and to focus on another con- (a public broadcasting station). Oscar Handlin, clear now for years: that the FCC is the victim of superficiality. Either way, it is important programs worldwide, not only to other televi- technologies are going to provide viewers with tender’s sheet of promises (hence, his favor- a Harvard history professor, is editorial board of congressional failure to provide guidance… to put WCVB’s achievements in perspective. sion stations but for use on cable, videodisks many more options. Episodes of ‘Laverne and ing of WHDH). Yet, the only thing the FCC chairman. And the news director is Larry Pick- we cannot look to regulation to make basic Much as it stands out from other local tele- and cassettes. Already the stationhas turned Shirley’ may be available to viewers from five seemed to remember from the hearing was not ard, formerly of ABC-TV news. Put them all improvements in broadcasting.” vision stations, the station also has plenty in a profit on projects ranging from its package different sources. The stations that prosper the “not entitled” remark. “Unique events and together and what have you got? common with them. During the 105 hours of health shows to a series called “This Was will be those which establish a local identity, Reisman went on to work at WCVB as the head writer for Park procedures,” the commission was to note one First of all, what you haven’t got is the Street Under (1979–80) and stayed for more than a decade, that it is not originating local programs each America,” which traces the early 20th century through their news and public-affairs pro- way or another over and over, “place WHDH CBS network, which decided to hitch up with producing an award-winning documentary on juvenile justice, week, WCVB runs virtually the same mix of through old photographs. grams. The stations that merely serve as con- in a substantially different posture from the Teenage Wasteland (1981), then producing and performing for soap operas, talk shows and prime-time series Only 5 percent of WCVB’s income cur- duits for the networks’ programs simply may WNAC-TV, Boston’s Channel 7, which in Chronicle (the nightly newsmagazine). He also produced four conventional applicant for renewal.” turn put ABC up for the grabbing by BBI. primetime specials for his wife, Consumer Reporter Paula Lyons. that every other network affiliate relies on. rently comes from syndication, but Mr. Ben- not survive.”