Broadcasting (Jan - June 1936)

FCC Report Based On Network Status Stations' Commitments Said to Justify WHB Power Boost FOR THE first time within the recollection of practioners before the FCC, an examiner of that agency has taken cognizance of the "network commitments" of affiliated stations in clearance of time, using that as the primary basis for a favorable recommendation for allocation of full time to an "independent" station which might better serve local needs. Examiner Melvin H. Dalberg, of the FCC, in a report made public June 1 on the application of I WHB, Kansas City, for full time I on 1120 kc. in lieu of its present daytime assignment on 850 kc, discussed at length the use of time by networks over the principal out ; lets in Kansas City. In his conclusions, he said: i "In order to render a local service to listeners in Kansas City and the surrounding area, a regional station such as is proposed by the applicant operated upon an independent basis, would be to the interest and advantage of the community involved. The record in ; this case clearly shows that the I; other broadcasting stations now J serving Kansas City, which are of ' the highest excellence in their re'■ spective spheres, cannot satisfacjtorily render a local service at j| nighttime by reason of their net,;work commitments. II Room for Independent j""BECAUSE of these commitments .and the use of their time at night in this connection, it is not beilieved that the other stations now operating in the Kansas City area iwould be adversely affected from 'an economic standpoint by the .granting of this application inasmuch as it is obvious that a large 'percentage of evening broadcasts .on the two regional stations now operating at night consists of netJwork programs." Mr. Dalberg brought out that the respondents in opposition to the WHB application, with one ex.leption, "predicate their opposition largely upon the fact that the I2:ranting of WHB's application A'ould result in increasing comperiprition to their stations, a curtailment of their business and a con_ sequent reduction in their incomes." fie added that an analysis of the ypical weeks' programs broadcast LARGEST PUBLIC DOMAIN RECORDED LIBRARY in the WORLD LANG-WORTH FEATURE PROGRAMS 420 Madison Ave. New York AMPERES WASTED WABC Towers Take Lightnins Valued at $20,000 THE record hit by lightning in the New York area during the past year occurred at the transmitter mast of WABC, at Wayne, N. J., according to CBS, when a direct blow of 77,000 amperes was taken. That energy, according to E. K. Cohan, CBS technical director, "would save us about $20,000 a year in power bills if we could only find some way to harness it." A survey was made by General Electric Co., cooperating with CBS, of lightning currents in the New York area. The 77,000 ampere shot put the transmitter off the air 17 seconds. by these stations "indicates that such condition is not entirely correct." Further, he said, it appears that should the application be granted WHB would be in a position to offer Kansas City advertisers desirable nighttime hours "which are not available to them from other regional stations because of network commitments." WHB for several years has sought full-time operation, but has been blocked by quota and other technical barriers. The case on the new application was heard April 9 by Examiner Dalberg, with KMBC, WDAF, W9XBY WJBO and WLBF opposing. GOLDBLATT BROTHERS, Chicago, operators of chain department stores in Chicago, contracted WGN, Chicago, for a daily 7-8 a. m. series, placed direct. Appeal Is Filed by KNX To Reversal of Decision Awarding Libel Damages AN APPEAL from the decision of the Los Angeles district court of appeal, which on June 2 reversed the decision of the lower court awarding libel damages to KNX, Hollywood, from the Los Angeles Times, has been filed by Lawrence Beilenson, counsel for KNX. The appeal is being carried to the state supreme court. KNX last fall was awarded $2,500 compensatory and $1 punitive damages by a jury in superior court after a trial in which the station sued the newspaper for $500,000. This judgment was reversed on the newspaper's appeal, the appellate court holding that "the mere fact that an article is unpleasant or hostile does not make it defamatory." The suit grew out of an editorial in the Times aimed at KNX in connection with the newspaper-radio controversy over the broadcasting of news, in which KNX took a leading part in the early days of the radio-news squabble. The Times had eliminated KNX program schedules, later reinstated. JOHN BLAIR & CO. }latwYud JhLpnMMitaXjbAeA. of JladLcr StaXixmA, NEW YORK • CHICAGO • DETROIT • SAN FRANCISCO NEBRASKA * outstanding in income from live stock and grain crops * FIRST in "farm income per capita" * whose towns and cities, backed by excep tional farm wealth, oflFer one of the richest markets for your products * is unusually easy to cover — all or any sec tion. WRITE for Nebraska Facts May we mail you complete data about the rich Nebraska market — and proof of radio's remarkable pulling power in this state? Write the association office or any individual station shown below. MISSOURI VALLEY BROADCASTING ASSN. Omaha, Nebraska wow Omaha, Nebr. KFOR Lincoln, Nebr. KOIL Omaha, Nebr., and Co. Bluffs, la. KGBZ York, Nebr. WJAG Norfolk, fjebr. KFAB Omaha, Nebr., and Lincoln, Ntbr. KGFW Kearney, Nebr. KGNF North Platte, Nebr. 1 2 3 4 5 One Two Three Four Five! Saturday, May 30, we celebrated our Fifth Anniversary as a member of the Columbia Broadcasting System. And what an intensely interesting five-year period was represented in that celebration! There were five years of climbing — five years which started from "scratch" and ended with sensationally good business, a host of friends and a firm grip on the title "The Friendly Voice From Out of the Hills of West Virginia"! We are humbly proud of five years of association with Columbia and of our sincere efforts to be worthy of their "company". West Virginia Broadcastins Corp. Hawley Building WHEELING, W. Va. Representatives : J. H. McGILLVRA 485 Madison Ave., New York JOHN KETTLEWELL Palmolive Bldg., Chicago Columbia Station 5,000 WATTS WWVA II60 KILOCYCLES W 15, 1936 • BROADCASTING Page 47