CBS SAYS IT'S ‘NO LONGER POSSIBLE TO WORK WITH AFFILIATES’ BOARD
Because of “events of the past several weeks,” CBS told its TV affiliates late Tues. that “it’s no longer possible for us to work effectively with the current affiliate advisory board.” In letter to affiliates and group heads, Peter Schruth, CBS pres. of affiliate relations, said “it’s quite evident… that for some time now the [affiliates'] advisory board has not performed its primary function, that is to advise… the network and the affiliate body.” Therefore, he said, CBS in future will work “with the entire affiliate body to reformulate an appropriate advisory group that will foster the kind of communication [between stations and network] we all have every right to expect and require.”
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In letter, Schruth made no mention of “events” that caused network to divorce itself from affiliates’ elected leaders, but “they are obvious to one and all,” another network official told us: (1) Filing earlier this month by Network Affiliates Stations Alliance (NASA) asking FCC to conduct inquiry into what group called “unlawful network tactics and practices” (CD March 9 p2). (2) Long-standing and active affiliates’ opposition to lifting of 35% TV station ownership cap as sought by networks.
But Schruth told affiliates that “despite our differences, both the network and the affiliate body will benefit from the continuation” of annual convention -- only one of Big 4 networks to host conference this spring (CD March 19 p7). Thus, he said, it’s still scheduled for May 30-31 in Las Vegas and will be “professional in tone and rich in content and dialog.” And despite those differences, “CBS remains committed to the network- affiliate relationship [as] on of the most important foundations of our annual success -- now and in the future,” Schruth emphasized.
Affiliates’ reaction -- at least half-dozen with whom we talked -- was universally negative to CBS intention to bypass board. “Very bizarre,” Affiliates’ Chmn. Ray Deaver, KWTX-TV Waco, Tex., said of CBS statement was meant as reaction to NASA filing at FCC. “It just shows how out of touch they are” with affiliates, he said. “We've been in very close touch,” Schruth told us, “and very responsive.” He said “size and composition” of board needed to be reevaluated, without explaining what he meant. Paul Karpowicz of LIN TV, immediate past chmn. of affiliates’ board, said board’s “primary function is working on behalf of the affiliates… We feel we have performed that function.” He told us it wasn’t up to network to disband board or say who should or shouldn’t be members.