COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATIONS SHOW HEALTHY FINANCES

NAB had biggest surplus among associations at $5.8 million, followed by NCTA at $4.9 million, MPAA at $4.4 million, CEA $2.6 million, CTIA $2.4 million. Most public broadcasters, who also file IRS Form 990s, had healthy surpluses, although PBS had $21.9 million deficit. However, some are likely to have less stellar returns for 2001 tax year just concluding.

NAB’s bottom line showed no adverse impact from defections of 3 major TV networks and their owned stations, with revenue for fiscal year ended March 31 of $61.6 million, up from $55 million for year ended March 31, 2000, according to annual tax return. Expenses for most recent year increased to $49.2 million from $40.7 million. Lion’s share of revenue came from annual convention that, combined with other meetings (such as Radio Show), brought in $44.7 million -- compared with only $11 million from membership dues. As of March 31, Assn. had $106.8 in outside investments. NAB paid $10.3 million in salaries, with Pres. Edward Fritts receiving $839,992 in salary (up from $746,192), plus $68,560 in deferred compensation and “other allowances.”

Boosted by more than $14 million revenue from programs, notably its national convention, NCTA ended 2000 tax year with surplus of nearly $4.9 million (down from nearly $6 million surplus previous year) on $35.6 million revenue, including $19.9 million dues. Convention revenue was $15.6 million previous year. Total salaries were just under $10 million, and other biggest single expense was $4.8 million for conferences and meetings. Pres. Robert Sachs was paid $1.08 million, plus $10,043 in employee benefits.

Consumer Electronics Assn. had $2.6 million surplus for 2000 tax year on revenue of $40.8 million. Salaries totaled $6.6 million and group spent $1 million on conventions and meetings. Officers’ salaries included $460,000 plus $45,751 benefits for Pres. Gary Shapiro, $150,000 for secy. and lobbyist Gary Klein, and $106,000 for Treas. Dan Deignan. Consumer Electronics Show contributed $33.7 million of revenue and $15.9 million of expenses. Group also spent $5 million for professional fees.

USTA ended 2000 tax year with $547,089 surplus on $19.8 million revenue, including $11.8 million dues and $6.5 million from program services, including conventions. Total salaries were $6.5 million, including $458,203 salary and $470,482 benefits for outgoing Pres. Roy Neel and $200,000 salary for interim Pres. Gary Lytle. SuperComm convention generated $6.38 million revenue and lobbying and political expenses were $749,638.

CTIA had $2.4 million surplus in 2000 tax year, with $44.7 million revenue. Expenses included $11.3 million salaries and $1.2 million legal fees, plus $7.4 million spent on convention. Convention generated $22.3 million revenue and dues $13.4 million. Group also had $3.9 million revenue from management fees. Pres. Thomas Wheeler had $917,810 salary and $359,726 benefits; Senior Vp Steve Berry $444,302 plus $113,521; Senior Vp George Shaginaw $411,797 plus $117,334; Vp Michael Altschul $377,010 plus $109,916; Senior Vp Christina Martin $287,699 plus $106,358; Senior Vp Margaret Tutwiler $267,666 plus $109,154; Senior Vp Brian Fontes $207,899 plus $4,739.

MPAA ended 2000 tax year with $4.4 million surplus on $45.5 million revenue ($38.4 million dues). Salaries totaled $14.7 million, Worldwide Antipiracy Fund $8.6 million, legal fees $3.4 million, lobbying and political expenses $4.4 million. Group also received $3.8 million for its film rating services. Pres. Jack Valenti received $1.1 million, plus $58,443 from Eye St. Corp. (which owns building housing MPAA) and $18,851 benefits, vs. total of $1,119,250 previous year; Exec. Vp William Baker $414,868, Exec. Vp Simon Barsky $316,064, Exec. Vp William Murray $257,762, Senior Vp John Collins $233,594, Senior Vp Bethlyn Hand $214,088, Vp Greg Goeckner $206,713, Senior Vp Brad Hunt $205,578, Senior Vp Vans Stevenson $200,900, Exec. Vp Fritz Attaway $193,511 plus $25,801 from Eye St. Corp.

CPB had $358 million revenue in most recent tax year (ended Sept. 2000) and $344.7 million expenses. Govt. contributions and grants totaled $313.7 million and direct public support $25.6 million. Total salaries were nearly $7.4 million and program services spending totaled $326.2 million. Pres. Robert Coonrod received $151,800 plus $30,360 benefits, Senior Vp Kathleen Cox $152,100 plus $30,349, Exec. Vp Fred DeMarco $148,495 plus $28,113.

PBS ended most recent tax year, ended June 30, 2000, with $21.9 million deficit on $485.9 million revenue, including $187 million gifts and grants and $130 million membership fees. Salaries accounted for $32 million of expenses, and programming and related costs for nearly $438 million. Pres. Pat Mitchell was paid $104,091 for partial year and outgoing Pres. Ervin Duggan received $128,383 salary plus $542,841 transitional and retirement benefits, as well as nearly $64,000 in other benefits and allowances. Exec. Vp Robert Ottenhoff received $75,625 compensation plus $292,297 transition benefits. Other salaries included $245,000 to Exec. Vp Beth Wolfe, $213,076 to Senior Vp James Guerra, $202,275 to Senior Vp John Wilson, $186,583 to Senior Vp Jinny Goldstein, $182,015 to Senior Vp Eric Sass, $175,178 to Exec. Vp John Hollar, $174,375 to Gen. Counsel Greg Ferenbach, $173,667 to Senior Vp Edward Caleca, $168,347 to Senior Vp Cindy Johanson, $157,955 to Senior Vp Robert Altman.

NPR’s $133.7 million revenue for most recent tax year (ending Sept. 2000) exceeded expenses by $13.6 million, including $73.7 million direct public support, $53.9 million program service revenue. Total salaries were nearly $44 million, including $222,169 plus $82,818 benefits for Pres. Kevin Klose, $153,585 plus $45,425 for Exec. Vp Kenneth Stern, $222,059 and $217,138, respectively, for marketing officials John Gilmore and Kent Martin, and $216,788 for host Robert Edwards.

WETA ended most recent tax year (ended June 30, 2000) with $6.8 million surplus on $69.2 million revenue, including $35 million for program service, $19 million membership dues and $14.1 million from direct public support. Program service accounted for $45.7 million of expenses and salaries $13.6 million. Pres. Sharon Rockefeller received $204,357, plus $32,390 employee benefits, Exec. Vp Dalton Delan $185,130 plus $29,343, Exec. Vp Joseph Widoff $161,788 plus $25,643.

Among other tax filings: (1) National Telephone Co-op Assn. ended 2000 tax year with $297,657 surplus on $10.3 million revenue. Salaries totaled nearly $3.8 million, including $445,794 to Exec. Vp Michael Brunner. Group also spent nearly $3.2 million on member services and conferences and meetings. (2) NATPE, already suffering from convention revenue dropoff, had $2.9 million deficit in 2000 tax year on $11.1 million revenue, including $10.5 million from convention. Pres. Bruce Johansen received $540,000, plus $68,176 benefits. (3) National Assn. of Telecom Officers & Advisers broke virtually even for 2000 tax year, with $942,365 revenue (up from $828,641 previous year). Group paid $295,200 to management company, $102,355 to Exec. Dir. Libby Beaty. (4) In last year before it had to postpone its annual convention, RTNDA had $296,083 surplus on $3.7 million revenue, including $2 million from convention. Pres. Barbara Cochran received $213,591 plus $6,000 benefits.

(5) Cable TV Public Affairs Assn. ended 2000 tax year with $130,152 surplus on $639,181 revenue. Big expense was $172,341 salaries. (6) Media Access Project ended 2000 tax year with $379,919 surplus on $893,191 revenue. Pres. Andrew Schwartzman was paid $107,890, plus $11,310 benefits. (7) American Ad Federation had nearly identical $4.7 million revenue and expenses for 2000 tax year. Officers and directors had total salaries of $230,846. (8) Promax/BPME had $7.9 million revenue and $7.6 million expenses in 2000 tax year. Total officers’ and directors’ compensation was $916,100.