Broadcast news again wins vote of confidence from public The plenty among the problems of children's TV IMMIF "I BroadcastBroadcasting oNov20 The newsweekly of broadcasting and allied arts Our 42nd Year 1972 AP Through the Years- - GANDHI AND THE AP "I suppose that when I go to the Hereafter and stand at the Golden Gate, the first person I shall meet will be a correspondent of The Associated Press." These words of Mohandas Gandhi to AP correspondent Jim Mills in 1932 were spoken in mock seriousness after the Mahatma had been secretly re- leased from a British prison. When Gandhi was whisked away to a railroad station miles from where he was con- fined, Milis was waiting on the platform to interview the great leader of India. It was before his confinement that the Mahatma had sought a promise from Mills that says something further about the AP. He asked that The Asso- ciated Press continue to inform the American people of the exact situation in India at that time, with fairness and full justice to all sides. This is one more example of the faith placed in The Associated Press and the dedication and accuracy of its staff in serving the AP membership for the last century and a quarter. In 1940, The Associated Press inaugurated its specialized news report to the broadcast industry. Today, the AP Broadcast News wire is the longest single circuit in the world, operating 24 hours a day, every day, serving more than 3,300 radio and television station members. The national, regional and state reports are prepared by staffers exclusivelyfor broadcast. In this age of electronic journalism, the same priorities of accuracy and dedication prevail while deliver- ing all reports in unprecedented amounts with unparalleled speed. It assures AP members of news that is correct, readable and airable. AP Broadcast News 50 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10020 (212) 262 -4011 10 PM NEWS TV HOUSEHOLDS TOTAL PERSONS TOTAL WOMEN WOMEN, 18 -49 WOMEN, 18 -34 WOMEN, 25 -49 TOTAL MEN MEN,18 -49 MEN,18 -34 METRO RATING ADI RATING ARB Estimates- May,1972 TV KRNT SDES MOINES A Broadcast Division of Cowles Communications, Inc. BroadcastingmNav20 CLOSED CIRCUIT 5 AFTRA says it will join IBEW in C3S walkout Tuesday. AT DEADLINE 6 OPEN MIKE 10 DATEBOOK 11 How a domestic broadcast -advertising strategy paid off for a foreign car. MONDAY MEMO 13 All those slings and arrows -and politicians - haven't diminished broadcasting's stature in public's eyes. Television remains far and away the leading medium in public confidence. LEAD STORY 17 TVB advises its riding -high members to stay on top of the tiger. BROADCAST ADVERTISING 18 The nonpenalty of clustering highlights advertising research conference. 24 It's TV's time to take it again at church group's hearing on drugs. 28 Children's TV may not yet be everything to everyone, but it's still a lot to many. A Broadcasting special report takes the measure of the state of the art -and the controversy. SPECIAL REPORT 31 Tell it (positively) like it is, promoters advised in Boston. MEDIA 56 CHANGING HANDS 62 The program -scheduling backfield's in motion again at ABC and CBS. PROGRAMING 66 MUSIC 70 NBC's David Brinkley takes to offensive in defense of news media. BROADCAST JOURNALISM 73 Nixon aide Charles Colson comes out of hiding - swinging-in post- election slap at CBS, Washington Post. 77 Whitehead takes the message to Disneyland, lifts curtain on administration's cable policy. CABLE 78 Foster of Microband: One man who sees riches over the hill for MDS. EQUIPMENT & ENGINEERING 80 FINANCE 80 FATES & FORTUNES 85 FOR THE RECORD 88 The sure -footed career climb of WRC's accident -prone Charles Moss. PROFILE 99 EDITORIALS 100 Published 51 Mondays a year (combined issue at yea-end) by Broadcasting Publications Inc., 1735 DeSales Street, N.W., Washington 20036. Second -class postage paid at Washington and additional offices. Single issaes $1. Subscriptions: one year $20, two years $37.50, three years $50. Add $52 yearly for special delivery, $65 for air mad, $4 for Canada. $6 for all other ccuntries. Subscriber's occupation required. Annually: Broadcasting Yearbook $14.50, Cable Sourcebook $8.50. By order of the General Assembly the Ruffed Grouse has the distinction of being the official game bird of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. No quiteother like ít - ZSIG1AL - TZ7 No other station in its area provides adver- L,. _..._. _. _.... tisers with its unique benefits. WGAL -TV has ow. seam the distinction of providing reach and penetra- tion of the entire market. No other station is MUM TINWWI quite like it when you want to sell effectively H. A.. RRISB URG in this great multi -city plus- market Lancaster - . ..._.. .a G. ... " 0 . Harrisburg- York -Lebanon. ..»«,... LANCASTER + .. T R K b...- ._ ...._ ......,,. 1110...L .. rrTYSSUl6 - ... WGAL -TV 11111.1" 11.1.111116161M Channel 8 Lancaster, Pa. normow Representative: THE MEEKER COMPANY New York Chicago Los Angeles San Francisco STEINMAN TELEVISION STATIONS Clair McCollough, Pres. WGAL -TV Lancaster- Harrisburg- York -Lebanon, Pa. WTEV Providence, R. I. /New Bedford -Fall River, Mass. Closed Circuit Oversight revived candy and snack commercials carried in made. If grandfathering is decision, what children's shows. Countercommercials are will be effective date and what kinds of There's good chance that Harley O. Stag- being prepared under Mr. Choaté s super- situations will be covered -only those in- gers (D -W. Va.) will beef up Investiga- vision, though he won't say by whom. volving operating CATV's, or will un- tions Subcommittee of Commerce Com- Plan is that stations rejecting Choate - built franchises be covered too? If waivers mittee (he heads both) in next Congress. committee demands will face FCC com- are course chosen, FCC would have to Aim is to enlarge membership, staff and plaints -which Mr. Choate says he is decide whether to announce criteria to be budget to exercise closer legislative super- prepared to provide, with help of foun- used in evaluating waiver requests-and vision over independent agencies, particu- dation- funded law firms specializing in to devise criteria if such announcement larly FCC. Mr. Staggers has often said that work. were indicated. In any case, decision to that FCC acts too independently for his Scenario reads like that developed by waive would require extension of present tastes and should perform as creature of Aug. 10, 1973, deadline for divestiture. Congress. Washington -based Stern Community Law Firm (one of those now helping Mr. FCC staff is preparing papers on al- Change in emphasis and structure Choate) and its ad- producing affiliate, ternatives for submission to commission could lead Investigations Subcommittee Stern Concern, in effort to get time for on Nov. 29. There's pressure, however, back toward form of old Oversight Sub- countercommercials on Chevrolet defects for postponement of all decisions. Broad- committee that Oren Harris (D -Ark.) that have led to recalls for repairs. So casters now holding crossownerships headed in late fifties, early sixties, before far Chevrolet counterads have had little want FCC to defer action until White leaving Congress to be federal judge. It exposure. House policy committee submits report was Oversight unit that conducted hear- on cable future (see page 78). Some say ings on quiz scandals, clouded TV- station committee will see no evil in crossowner- grants, ex -parte contacts between broad- Tenure ships- conclusion broadcasters hope FCC casters and FCC members and chairmen. Turns out chairmen of FCC and Federal would find persuasive. Trade Commission aren't among presi- Emergency call dential appointees under orders to submit That's show biz resignations in Nixon -administration over- network Furor that has sprung up over multi- haul. FCC Chairman Dean Burch and Irony of midseason prime -time is that summer product 30's and particularly over Alberto- Miles W. TV programing changes FTC Chairman Kirkpatrick least likely Culver's Brunettes Only hair coloring - made specific inquiries at White House replacement show considered Calm 2 deodorant TV spot, has impelled last week, were letters were to succeed is one that made it to regular told no ex- with good deal calling of special meeting of time-stand- pected. Week earlier both had said situa- schedule. Last summer, ABC and CBS-TV an- ards subcommittee of National Associa- was (BROADCASTING, of fanfare, -TV tion unclear Nov. was tion of Broadcasters' television code 13). P.S.: Neither has volunteered letter nounced what essentially summer review board. Subject of split 30's was of resignation. tryout period for programs being groomed hot in corridor talk at last week's Tele- as midseason replacements (BROADCAST- vision Bureau of Advertising meeting ING, May 29). ABC -TV's candidates were (see page 18). It is, however, no new Went thataway The Super, The Corner Bar and Ken concern in broadcast circles; earlier this Cyclical pattern of television is pinpointed Berry Show. At CBS -TV there were The year James C. Richdale Jr. and Charles with dumping of Bonanza and Alias David Steinberg Show, The John Byner H. Tower of Corinthian Broadcasting Smith and Jones series. Prime -time net- Show, The Melba Moore -Clifton Davis tried unsuccessfully to persuade NAB's work TV now has only one remaining Show and The Jerry Reed When You're TV board to clamp down. western, Gunsmoke (with ABC -TV's new Hot Your Hot Hour. NBC -TV's Dean Last year, TV code's multiple -product Kung Fir set in West, but not in typical Martin Presents the Bobby Darin Amuse- standard was tightened by requiring inte- western genre). When Bonanza started in ment Co.