t 1 TOP OF THE WEEK I nighttime coverage area. Thirty -seven clear channel stations would lose large por- Frank back at NBC News, tions of their wide area coverage. Only six clear channel stations would continue to network seeks to reclaim identity provide interference -free service." In wake of Small resignation, NBC News, Frank said he didn't know yet The report shows, graphically and in network looks to its past for and that he has "no battle plan, no hit great detail, how U.S. stations would be successor; Frank 'only person list." affected. asked'; Pettit executive VP With the new leadership, Frank said, "1 WHO(AM) Des Moines, which oper- figure out what we do and [Pettit] figures ates on 1040 khz, a clear channel and the Reuven Frank, 61, NBC News president out how we do it." The news operations one on which Radio Marti is to operate, from 1968 -73, last week returned to that will be reporting to Pettit, who along with could lose virtually its entire nighttime job, with Tom Pettit, 50, long -time NBC Henry Kanegsberg, vice president, finance service area outside the city of Des News correspondent, as his executive vice and administration, are the only two who Moines. The 1040 khz frequency is one of president. report directly to Frank. two on which Cuba is proposing to operate Frank replaces William J. Small who an- While there was no executive vice presi- a 500 kw station. WHO's existing coverage nounced his resignation only days earlier, dent under Small, Frank said the arrange- area is 1,714,337 square miles. According claiming "differences in management ment now is a pattern that previously had to the NAB study, it would be reduced to style" (BROADCASTING, March 1). been in effect at NBC with the "president 5,926 square miles if the Cuban 500 kw Official word of the new Frank /Pettit and executive vice president working were turned on on the frequency. team reached affiliates via closed- circuit together." Frank and Pettit each are said to The other 500 kw station, which Cuba from NBC President Robert Mulholland. have three -year contracts. has targeted for another clear, 1160 khz, "Reuven and Tom begin tomorrow While the Small resignation seemed would do a similar amount of damage to [March 3]," Mulholland said, "And the abrupt to outsiders when announced Feb. KSL Salt Lake City. Its nighttime coverage management team of our news division is 26, NBC had planning time at the top area would be reduced from 1,406,910.5 to now firmly in place for the years ahead." levels. Both Frank and Pettit said they 9,439.2 square miles. WJJD Chicago, a Mulholland said "there was no doubt in were offered the jobs around Feb. 1. Class II station on the frequency, would my mind -nor Grant's [NBC Chairman Frank's first tour of duty as NBC News also be hurt, though not as much; its Grant Tinker] who should lead NBC president began in June 1968 following the 1,405.9 square -mile service area at night News. [Frank] was death of his pre- would be reduced by a little more than the only person we decessor, William half, to 652.3 square miles. asked and he said McAndrew. He held The report makes it clear that interfering yes" the job until Janu- stations need not operate with 500 kw to Of Frank, ary 1973 and since cause problems. For instance, a proposed Mulholland said: then had been Cuban station on 550 khz, operating with "The president of senior executive 30 kw, would interfere with the skywave NBC News has producer in the signals of five stations in the U.S., done everything in NBC News special seriously, in some cases. WGGA broadcast journal- programs area, with Gainesville, Fla., would lose 66.7% of its ism- except his documentary service area; wcBl Columbus, Miss., anchor the news." production credits 34.5% KSD St. Louis, 13.1%; wog Buffalo, Both Frank and including the Pettit N.Y., 10% and WKRC Cincinnati, 45.3 %. Pettit, reached last Frank award -winning If Michael Rau, the NAB staff engineer week, said that the immediate goal ahead Japan Can... Why Can't We? who discussed the report at the public was to re- establish NBC News's identity Frank joined NBC News as a writer in meeting of the commission on broadcast- both to viewers and in- house. 1950; served as the first producer, then ex- ing to Cuba, said talks with Cuba to Frank characterized that as bringing ecutive producer of the Huntley -Brinkley resolve the interference problems were in NBC News "back to the state of pride; and Report from 1956 -65, and also produced the best interest of both countries. "With some said;'arrogance we used to have." political- convention coverage. In 1962 he interference, no one wins. It's in Cuba's Pettit, explaining that "it isn't a matter was responsible for The Tunnel, said to to win an interests as well as ours to talk with us and of criticizing any person" or personal con- be the only news broadcast resolve the technical problems;' he said. tributions, said that the influx of CBS Emmy award as "program of the year." for NBC Increasing power of American stations veterans now on the air at NBC gave the Pettit, Senate correspondent 1979, joined NBC 20 suffering interference -eight stations in "cumulative" appearance that CBS was a News since January the then Florida have received FCC permission to better network. years earlier as a reporter for Philadelphia. He increase power -is not a satisfactory solu- He stressed the importance that NBC NBC -owned wRCV(AM) through the Los Angeles tion, he indicated. "It takes six to 12 not be considered an "ersatz version of then moved in 1975, leaving months to do the necessary work and costs some other network." Pettit added that it bureau to Washington 1968 in public hundreds of thousands of dollars." And was seen as "unquestionably important NBC for a short stint in the Cuban station causing interference, he that NBC News's new news leadership broadcasting. Pettit came to national pro- said, could make minor adjustments in its come from the ranks there" minence in 1963 for his on -scene report- operations and wipe out the benefits Indeed, there have been reports from ing of the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald. gained in the expenditure of time and inside NBC of "CBS versus NBC fac- Mulholland explained that "the man- money. tionalism" among colleagues there. date given to them -and accepted by Members of the commission expressed Former NBC News President Small, him- them -is simple: to make our programs concern and outrage at the interference self a long -time CBS News veteran, was must-viewing." American stations are already suffering CBS Inc. Washington vice president when He continued: "To innovate, not imi- and will suffer. And F Clifton White, the tapped by NBC in 1979. Some said Small's tate. To make news exciting and interest- chairman, said the commission would deal abrasive "bedside manner " -despite his ing. To use the new gadgets available to us with the issue in its deliberations. "We'll reputation as a good newsman -was his not for glitz and flash ... but to help have a wide range of options that should "Achilles heel," along with a perceived transmit information. And finally, to exist for dealing with the problem," he contempt for NBC's own news traditions. respect ourselves as journalists. And to said. His departure brought reports of respect our audience. The men who will Later, however, he acknowledged that widespread elation in NBC News bureaus lead NBC News have practiced all of that was not part of the commission's mandate. on both coasts. all of their careers. And you've seen them "It's not our problem," he said. As for any coming personnel changes at do it- on NBC" Broadcasting Mar B 1982 AA .