Evening star., 1959-12-15
US. Network
Proposed 70
Improve TV
BY the Associated Press

By the Associated Press
A religious leader today pro-
posed a Government TV and
radio network, such as Britain's
BIC, to give creative compe-
tition" to commercial networks.
Rabbi Maurice N. Eisendrath,
president of the Union of
American Hebrew Congrega-
tions, said a Government net
work would provide "educa-
tional and cultural program
ming freed from the blight of
commercials and the trauma
of Trendex ratings"
Rabbi EiSendrath's testimony
was prepared for a hearing of
the Federal Communications
Commission, which is trying to
determine the extent of its au-
thority to regulate the broad
casting industry. The hearings
are an outgrowth of the quiz
show scandals and current
furor over payola.
Rabbi EiSendrath said "I am
less concerned about the scan
dals in television than I am
with the fact that American
televiSion itself is a national
scandal With some note
worthy exceptions here and
there I submit that television
has not been a formidable,
positive force for good in
American life"
Pandered to Lowest
1T has pandered to the low
est and meanest tastes and
emotions Of the public" he
added.
He said the FEC has failed to
exercise its full power to con-
troll excess in radio and televi-
sion.
A Miami (Fla.) televiSion
newscaster said public reaction
to quiz show and disc jockey
scandals may do serious dam
age to television news and in
formation programming.
/ Ralph Renick, chairman of
the board of directors of the
Radio-Television News Direc-
tors Association, told the FEC
that reaction could result in
hasty action by the FEC or
by Congress.
Mr.. Renick said radio-TV
news activities are becoming
increasingly important because
of the steady decline in the
number of competing daily
newspapers.
In 1857" he said, "only 6
per cent of all the daily news
paper cities in this country had
competing dailies.
This makes it even more
imperative for radio and televi-
sion stations to step into the
breach-to report the news and
to editorialize."
He said he does not know of
any attempts by advertisers to
control the content Of news
programs.
Suggestions ranging from
stripping advertisers Of all
power over radio-TV program
ming to a Government levy or
broadcasters' profits were ad.
vanced to the FEC yesterday.
| Public Service Programs
Walter W. Eshelman, presi-
dent of the National Education
Association also proposed that
the FEC require television net
works to devote "a fair portion
Of the prime evening televisior
viewing period to public service
broadcasts, including those
with educational values"
John Fischer, editor ot
Harpers Magazine, and Eric
Larrabee, editor of the Ameri.
can Heritage Magazine, at.
tackled what they described a.
strangulation by advertisers ir
the radio-TV industry.
Mr.. Fischer said it is sur.
prising that broadcasterS dC
as we'll as they do because, HI
said, the industry is "handi.
capped and frustrated by enor.
nous economic pressures" anc
the "only standard is that o.
maximum profit"
Mr.. Fischer suggested the
Government ought to charge
a reasonable rental for these
enormously profitable TV anc
radio bands" adding thai
broadcasting is "a public util.
ity which ought to be regu.
lated just as any other utility