Evening star., 1932-07-17
RADIO ECONOMIES
CHANGE INDUSTRY
Retrenchments Forced, but
Networks Take Steps TO
Keep Up Standard.
BY ROBERT MACK,

NNONOn1 HcdouIcS now JaklnR
- place behind the scenes in
broadcasting may result in wide
IL spread readJustment Of the in
dustry in an effort to offset
declining revenues.
In the second lap OF q forced
retrenchment program, the networks
again are taking the lead. The whole
purpose Is TO keep program standards
up and operating costs down, so the
public will not suffer. Coming within
few. weeks of the rather drastic per-
sonnel reductions by both National
Broadcasting Co. and Columbia Broad
casting System, the economies are being
enected in several different ways.
Columbia has announced reductions
IN rates on its coast-to-coast hookup.
as well as for the South Atlantic group
OF stations, effective September /. The
move Institutes new low level for
complete national coverage. It also
mas eHected other retrenchments
tnrougn release and resignation Of GER
tain Of its executive personnel These
supplement- It's release Of approximately
100 employees more than a month ago
ana horizontal cut in salaries of is
per cent.
New Campaign Of N. B.C.
N. B. C.'s new campaign has taken
several olferent forms. Supplementing
ltS release OF some 200 employees June
l, IL now has ordered a 10 per cent
wage cut for all regular employees. Both
networks already have readiusted wage
scales for artists and other performers.
Other N. B. c. actions involve sta
ZION relations and have definite bearing
on program standards. First. it has
Withdrawn its rigid ban against the
mention OF prices in sponsored network
programs during the hours up to pm
oaly except Sundays, provided the
manner OF presentation is acceptable.
IN unS step was decided upon in the be-
iiei tnat prices are interesting to
housewives, TO whom daytime programs
iargey are addressed. The network,
however. retains the right to censor
Sented. P'
a second move by N. B. c. was to Of
Ter to the stations linked in its net.
works flat fee Of 81 500 per month for
as many sustaining or n-commercial
programs as they desire. The regular
rate Tor sustaining features is s25 ner
hour Tor night programs and SIS ner
nour OF day Stations not caring IA
enter the new arrangement NAV con-
ILiue on th1S basis. although some three
oSZSn Zen OF the more than 80 N b G
animated stations already have accented
tne proposition.
Arrangement Depression Aid.
1t was explained that the arrange
ment, expected to become permanent
was conceived as an aid to stations DIR.
ing the depression period, enabling them
10 maintain high program standards bv
securing high class sustaining material
curing the full broadcast day and night.
Inc cost Is said to be considerably less
tnan what some stations have been pay
ing under the old scale.
Recently N. B. C. lifted the barrier
on the broadcasting of electrical tran
scr1ptlon programs by the stations it
owns and operates, leaving this matter
10 the discretion of the local managers
Of stations.
Columbia has not yet released its full
new rate schedule. Columbia's existing
rates for its basic network of 81 sta
tlons is S4.950 per hour at night and
S2.481 during the day. Some so addi-
tlonal stations are available at addi-
tional rates. N B. C's red network
2l-statlon basic night rate for an hour
other stations
tCopyrisht, 1882, by the North American
Newspaper Alliance. Incl
During fire in provision store in
Adershot, England, fresh eggs, fillins
many cases, were hard boiled.