Communications Head Hits At TV

Press, Volume C, Issue 29510, 11 May 1961, Page 15

Communications Head Hits At TV

(ft.Z Press Assoctation—Copyngni) WASHINGTON, May 9. The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission said today that television programmes in the United States were a “vast wasteland,” and must be improved.

The chairman, Mr Newton Minow, warned the National Association of Broaflcasters that television would have to improve if it was to stay on the air, United Press International said. He said television had failed to meet the standards of newspapers and magazines, and was » slave to programme ratings The president of the American Broadcasting Company, Mr Leonard Goldenson, called Mr Minow's speech “very courageous,” U.P.L said.

Mr Minow's speech was hie first policy statement since taking office two months ago The 35-year-old chairman used biting language to tell the broadcasters what he thought of television, UPJ. said.

“When television is good

. . . nothing is better, but when television is bad. nothing is worse," he said. “I invite you to sit down in front of your television set when your station goes on the air and stay there . . until the station signs off I can assure you that you will observe a vast wasteland.” Mr Minow said: “You will see a procession of game shows, violence, audience participation, formula comedies about totally unbelievable families, blood and thunder, mayhem, violence, sadism, murder, western bad men, western good men, private eyes, gangsters, more violence, and cartoons.

“And endlessly, commercials many screaming, cajoling, and offending. And most of all. boredom. True, you will see a few things you will enjoy. But they

will be very, very few. And if you think I exaggerate, try it.” Mr Minow said broadcasters were trustees of the public air waves. He warned them that broadcast licences would no longer be renewed “pro forma." “I didn't come to Washington only to observe the squandering of the public’s air waves.” he said. He declared himself opposed to Government censorship of television or radio programmes, but said he would use the full powers of his office to improve broadcasting. "Your Industry possesses the most powerful voice in America,” he said. “You know, newspaper publishers take popularity ratings too. The answers are pretty clear: it is almost always the comics, followed by the advice to the lovelorn columns “But the news is still on the front page of all newspapers. The editorials are not replaced by more comics The newspapers have not become one long collection of advice to the lovelorn.” A dispatch from Washington to the “New York Times” tonight said many broadcasters confessed they were indignant over Mr Minow’s speech, but almost all reserved comment until they had studied its text. The president of the N A 8., Mr Leroy Collins, said: “Mr Minow has lofty goals and I think he’s sincere. However, we are divergent in some of our views." The NA.B board ehairman, Mr Clair McCollough, said Mr Minow's speech "offered plenty of food for thought.”