Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1952)

12 NATIONAL COLLEGIATE Athletic Assn, bowed to public opinion Jan. 11, adopted 168-8 its TV committee’s proposal for liberalized 1952 TV football plan which will probably exclude Saturday blackouts, permit more college games on TV than in 1951. But it also decisively rejected return to “unrestricted live TV.” Committee’s report, based on preliminary findings of National Opinion Research Center’s $50,000 survey, omitted word “experimental” applied to last year’s program, urged “middle course of moderation.” Committee rejected complete ban on live telecasting, declaring: “College football and live television can and will live side by side.” Survey reportedly showed 1951 control plan reduced “adverse effects” of TV on football attendance and that unrestricted TV would “seriously jeopardize” college football’s future. NCAA will appoint new committee to work out 1952 “controlled plan” after final survey report in March. Strong opposition to NCAA’s vote was voiced by Penn’s Fran Murray who said controlled plan is illegal, poor public relations, smacks of commercialization. He declared Penn’s own survey showed attendance decline is not affected by TV, urged colleges to avoid action which might hinder future use of TV’s educational advantages. NCAA reaffirmed faith in legality of its position despite fact that Federal Judge Allan K. Grim Jan. 8 denied National Football League’s motion to dismiss govt.’s antitrust suit attacking league’s control of TV-radio broadcasts. NFL was ordered to answer complaint in 45 days. Petition to increase power from 1 kw to 1.8 kw ERP, was filed this week by WGAL-TV, Lancaster, which asked that station be made exception to FCC’s power-increase ruling (Vol. 7:30-34) which limited community stations to 1 kw. Station says increase will produce no objectionable interference, will serve 54,337 additional people. TV cameras at committee hearings didn’t violate Frank Costello’s constitutional rights during Kefauver crime investigation (Vol. 7:11), New Yoi’k Federal Judge Sylvester Ryan ruled at contempt hearing Jan. 11. But he left it to jury to determine “whether witness was unable to testify because of his mental or physical condition resulting from the surroundings.” Bothered by NPA’s color ban, Sen. Johnson awaits reply to letter he wrote Defense Mobilizer Charles E. Wilson (Vol. 7:51). Asked about possible investigations, etc., Sen. Johnson said: “I have plans, but I’m not saying anything about them now.” He appears particularly dubious about need for restraints on production of color theatre TV. Georgia Tech’s WGST(AM) netted $126,411 (tax-free) on gross commercial income of $452,420 in 1951, university getting $35,000 of surplus. WGST grossed $337,887 in 1950, $380,034 in 1949. 1952 AM-FM Station Directory All subscribers to the full TV-AM-FM services of Television Digest will, within a week, receive copies of our 1952 AM-FM Station Directory, revised to Jan. 1, loose-leaf, printed on single sheets so that changes and corrections may be added on opposite blank pages as they’re reported in our weekly AMFM Addenda. New directory lists not only all North American AM-FM stations by states and cities (with company names, addresses, frequencies, powers, FM antenna heights, network affiliations) but also includes lists of AM & FM stations by frequencies, AM & FM applications by states & frequencies pending as of Jan. 1, AM & FM stations alphabetically by call letters. It’s only handy volume of its kind, and carries no advertising. Extra copies cost subscribers $7.60. UHF Television Co., formed by group of Texas oilmen who recently sold KEYL, San Antonio, for $1,050,000 (Vol. 7:30), has reapplied for new uhf outlets in Dallas and Houston, both Channel 23. Firm had applied for these, plus one in San Antonio, last September and then withdrew ap | plications (Vol. 7:36-37). Principals are W. L. Pickens, Dallas; R. L. Wheelock, Corsicana; H. H. Coffield, Rockland. They’re also associated in pre-freeze vhf applications for Corpus Christi and New Orleans, represented by Dallas law firm of Johnson, Bohannon, Prescott & Abney. These make 29 uhf applications now pending, 450 vhf — latest of latter being request for Channel 13 by KWOS, Jefferson City, Mo., same ownership as Capital Times and Post-Tribune. [For details about these applications, see TV Addenda 13-Z herewith; for list of all applications to date, see TV Factbook No. 1U due off presses Jan. 19.] DuMont leads off Paramount hearing (Vol. 7:52) Jan. 15, will take 5-6 days, according to DuMont counsel Wm. Roberts. Then hearing recesses to Feb. 4 when it will go into questions regarding transfer of KTLA, Los Angeles, and WBKB, Chicago, from old Paramount company to Paramount Pictures and United Paramount Theatres, respectively. FCC this week denied ABC’s request that Commission make available breakdown of individual networks’ 1949-50 time sales, but left door open for ABC to make same request during hearing. ABC wants to adduce data in answering one issue in hearing — whether merger with UPT “would substantially lessen competition or tend to monopoly . . .” Outlook for TV-radio station construction and alteration in second quarter is gloomy. As in first quarter (Vol. 7:51), materials situation will permit no starts on large new projects. DPA administrator Manly Fleischmann told Joint Congressional Committee on Defense Production Jan. 9: “Our allotments, generally speaking, will sustain projects already under way. However, we shall not be able to permit new industrial starts in the second quarter except for the most urgent needs.” This means such projects as NBC’s $25,000,000 TV-radio studios in Burbank, Cal. (Vol. 7:51) will have to be postponed. Station operating requirements, in event of failure of various indicating instruments, were eased this week when FCC adopted amendment of rules proposed Nov. 8 (Vol. 7:46). TV, FM or AM stations may operate, beginning Jan. 24, without such instruments as frequency and modulation monitors for 60 days without getting FCC permission. District FCC engineer-in-charge must be notified upon failure of instrument, however, and requests for extensions beyond 60 days must be requested of him. New rules were issued as Public Notices 52-23 & 52-25, Doc. 10082. Rare exception to FCC’s “paper” hearing procedure was Commission’s action this week in permitting Harry Butcher’s KIST, Santa Barbara, Cal., to propose Channel 3 for city in lieu of previously proposed Channel 8. NBC had challenged KIST’s petition on basis it violated FCC’s ruling following U. S.-Mexican border agreement (Vol. 7:49). Commission admitted “strict letter” of agreement is violated but considei'ed new proposal of sufficient merit to warrant exception. NBC and others are given until Jan. 16 to file evidence opposing KIST proposal. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. has assured Radio-TV Manufacturers Assn, of Canada that its Toronto and Montreal stations, now building for Channels 9 & 2, respectively, will begin regular operation next August. “August dates are definite,” states Ralph A. Hackbusch, RTMAC president, “regardless of possible delays in delivery of steel for the transmitter antenna towers. If necessary, temporary transmitting antennas can be used.” Mr. Hackbusch reported that 16 Canadian companies are now manufacturing TV receivers, sales averaging 5-6000 sets per month.