Broadcasting (Oct 1931-Dec 1932)

KYW Battles for Removal (Continued from page S) igned half time as partial com>ensation for the purported "loan" p 1020 kc. to the fourth zone. Both Jtations are applicants for full ime on the channel, WO WO puting forth its claim on the same egal grounds as advanced by the ipplicants seeking return of 1020 :c. to the second zone. Judge Ira E. Robinson, former ladio Commissioner, appeared in he case as associate counsel for VJAS, Pittsburgh, and WOWO, rort Wayne, with George O. Suton and William A. Porter, counsel, udge Robinson engaged in several liscussions of Commission procedure and the law during his arguments in a fashion reminiscent of lis days on the Commission. Would Surrender WXYZ 'HE FIRST case on the docket fas that of Kunsky-Trendle, seekng a 10 kw. new station to operate on 1020 kc. Only after a sharp olloquy regarding procedure was he regular order of hearings on he docket followed. Westinghouse /anted to present its case last, lather than fourth on the docket, [ut Examiner Pratt overruled the jiotion after protests had been lade by Duke M. Patrick, general Jounsel, and George Porter, assistant general counsel, on behalf of 'he Commission. Kunsky-Trendle, through its ounsel, Paul D. P. Spearman, volnteered to surrender its present )etroit outlet, WXYZ, if the new tation application was granted, 'ublic service and financial responsibility of the station were attested d by George W. Trendle, president, and Harold O. Pierce, general Manager of the station. Other -witnesses for Kunsky-Trendle included J. I. Bell, chief engineer, Irthur J. Lacy, Frank E. Fisher, Tarry I. Dingeman, Geo. F. Caroil, C. C. McGill and James B. lasselman, Detroit residents. . Andrew D. Ring, senior broadcast engineer of the Commission, ras questioned on technical aspects of the WXYZ application, le said that interference could be .'ixpected from removal of 1020 kc. d Detroit because of inadequate lileage separations if no other jtation assignments were changed. Arguments of WJAS N OPENING arguments for 7JAS, Attorney Sutton contended that Pittsburgh does not now receive adequate service because of the present regional assignment of the station. He declared Pennsylvania is the most underquota state in the country, particularly the western portion, whereas Illinois is the most overquota. He claimed that Philadelphia has adequate service from numerous stations and that Pittsburgh is entitled to the clear channel. By assigning 820 kc. to WJAS and shifting WHAS to 1020 kc, he said the Commission could avoid major interference and comply with its quota regulations. H. J. Brennen, general manager of WJAS, and Robert M. Thompson, commercial manager, testified as to the plans of the station if it obtains the clear channel. Edgar H. Felix, consulting engineer, testified concerning results of field intensity and coverage surveys he had made of both WJAS and WHAS. He held that better service could be rendered by the proposed interchange of frequencies. Mr. Felix's testimony, however, was challenged by witnesses for WHAS. Dr. Louis Cohen, eminent civilian scientist of the War Department and co-author of the Austin-Cohen formula, declared that the 820 kc. channel was far better suited than 1020 kc. for coverage purposes for WHAS. This view was concurred in by Mr. Ring. WHAS Fights WJAS IN OPENING the WHAS case, Swager Sherley, counsel, made a motion that the WJAS application be dismissed on the ground that no "clearly defined" evidence that WHAS is failing to serve the public interest on 820 kc. had been advanced. He referred to the mandate of the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia in the appeal taken by WHAS from the proposed clear channel allocation of the Commission three years ago when it sought to shift WHAS to another channel. The court reversed the Commission. Examiner Pratt reserved ruling on this motion and a similar one made by Counsel Wood in KYW's behalf with respect to all applications for 1020 kc. Westinghouse began its case July 21. After the opening statement by Chief Counsel Wood, Mr. Kintner described the radio broad I Frequency Measuring Service Many stations find this exact measuring service of great value for routine observation of transmitter performance and for accurately calibrating their own monitors. MEASUREMENTS WHEN YOU NEED THEM MOST R. C. A. COMMUNICATIONS, Inc. Commercial Department A RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA SUBSIDIARY 66 BROAD STREET NEW YORK, N. Y. casting activities of Westinghouse since its inception. Wilfred Jorden of KYW, Mr. Evans, Mr. Harmon and Comdr. Craven subsequently testified as to engineering aspects of the proposed removal. Mr. Harmon explained that a fourelement directional antenna, designed to curtail, if not eliminate, interference with stations on adjacent waves would be erected if the station were removed. For WIP and WFAN, W. M. Smith, counsel, with Mrs. Mabel Walker Willebrandt, former Assistant U. S. Attorney General, explained that these stations, as pioneers in Philadelphia, claim that if the 1020 kc. channel is returned to the second zone they are entitled to it. H. Bart McHugh, Jr., manager of WFAN, Richard Gimbel, vice-president and secretary of Gimbel Brothers store, and Benedict Gimbel, Jr., president and general manager of WIP-WFAN, testified. WCAU Explains Plea THE APPLICATION of WCAU for the 1020 kc. channel was argued by Mrs. Willebrandt and Isaac D. Levy, attorney and official of the station. Dr. Leon Levy, president of WCAU, testified that on 1020 kc. WCAU could provide more efficient service than on its present wave of 1170 kc. This view was supported by John G. Leitch, technical supervisor of WCAU. Herman Hettinger, instructor in merchandising of the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and market research consultant, described recent listener surveys he had made in the Philadelphia area. Examiner Pratt heard the applications of WRAX and WPEN for authority to transfer from 1020 kc. daytime with 250 watts to 920 kc. with 250 watts night and 500 LS, and to share time. Horace L. Lohnes appeared as counsel for both stations. Other applications heard in the same general case, were those of WIBG, Elkins Park, Pa., for transfer from 930 to 980 kc. daytime, with increase in power from 25 to 100 watts, represented by Messrs. Sutton and Porter; WORK, York, Pa., for renewal of license on 1000 kc, represented by Spencer Gordon; WHN, WRNY and WQAOWPAP, all of New York, for renewal of license on 1010 kc. which they share. Mr. Spearman represented WHN and WQAO-WPAP, and W. R. Crawford, Jr., WRNY. Spence Is Chairman EDWIN M. SPENCE, director of WPG, Atlantic City, was named chairman of the convention committee of the NAB for the current year and will be in direct charge of arrangements for the forthcoming convention at St. Louis. The appointment was agreed upon unanimously by the NAB board at its special meeting in New York July 21 to consider copyright negotiations. The appointment was made in recognition of the efficient manner in which Mr. Spence has arranged the last two conventions. The Hotel Chase, St. Louis, was selected as official headquarters for the convention, to be held Nov. 14, 15 and 16. The program now is being worked out by Philip G. Loucks, NAB managing director. INDEPENDENT On September 15, Station WMAL will sever its affiliation with the Columbia Broadcasting System. To national advertisers, its PEAK TIME will then be made available for their sales messages to one of the wealthiest markets in America. Through the Depression, the Nation's Capital has suffered less than most other communities because it has a stable population with high purchasing power. Station WMAL covers this fruitful market thoroughly, and has won consistent results for its network and non-network advertisers. 33 1-3 end 78 r.p.m. Western Electric Turntables WMAL 630 Kc. 500 Watts Washington, D. C. ugust 1, 1932 • BROADCASTING Page 21