Broadcasting (Apr - Jun 1949)

KTBS IS HOST To NBC Executives Meeting RADIO executives in the NBC Southcentral and Southwestern Divisions participated in a meeting with station and network representatives at Shreveport, La., May 14-15, with Cecil K. Beaver, KTBS Shreveport general manager, as host. The group participated in dedication ceremonies for new facilities (710 kc 5 kw N 10 kw D). The two-day series of meetings included topics of common interest to stations and the network, along with discussion of TV's impact on affiliates and the status of relations with NAB (see story page 23). Meetings were held at the Washington-Youree Hotel. KTBS was host at a luncheon as well as later reception and dinner held at the home of George Wray Sr., KTBS Inc. board chairman. Those attending included: G. E. Zimmerman. KARK Little Rock; Martin Campbell, WFAA Dallas; Hugh Halff. WOAI San Antonio; Jack Harris. KPRC Houston; William B. Way. KVOO Tulsa; P. A. Sugg. WKY Oklahoma City; A. Earl Cullum Jr., Dallas; W. M. Witty. Dallas; Paul Spearman. Spearman & Roberson, attorneys; Roy Bacus. WBAP Fort Worth; Ralph Nimmons, WFAA: Jack Keasler. WOAI; Jack McGrew, KPRC; Harold Wheelahan. WSMB New Orleans; Edward Petry. H. I. Christal, Buell Herman. Charles Grisham. and James Thompson. Edward Petrv Co.; Sheldon Hickox. NBC; Sol Taishofr. BROADCASTING; Roy Dabadie. WJBO Baton Rouge. Among KTBS officials present were Messrs. Wray and Beaver; Allen D. Morris, president: P. E. Furlow and E. Newton Wray, vice-presidents. "red sv, SNAPPED just after getting off plane to attend dedication of new KTBS Shreveport, La., facilities are (I to r): A. Earl Cullum Jr., consulting radio engineer, and W. M. Witty, broadcast facilities consultant, who handled new KTBS installation; Henry I. Christal, Edward Petry & Co.; and Sheldon B. Hickox Jr., manager, NBC station relations. (Also see picture, page 24.) AM PROPOSALS FCC Acts on Norman, Orange, KSTT Bids PROPOSED decisions were announced by FCC early last week looking toward: Grant of Cleveland County Broadcasting Co. application for new AM station at Norman, Okla., on 1400 kc with 250 w fulltime. Grant of new station application of James Madison Broadcasting Corp., Orange, Va., for 250 w fulltime on 1340 kc. Grant of request of KSTT Davenport, Iowa, to switch from 250 w daytime on 7"0 kc to 1 kw fulltime on 1170 kc, directional. In the Norman case, the Commission proposed to deny competitive bids of Norman Broadcasting Co. and University City Broadcasting Co. for the same facilities. Cleveland County Broadcasting was SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA'S Pionee/i RADIO STATION I / wm iWf^"~ •STAUNTO* — / kj A Kurt\ Fa R 0 L A-! CftASV? «"«««« | must / Here is the Distribution oi audience in this nine -station area * *Hooper Listening Area Coverage Index Fall 1948 Stations WDBJ Station "A" Station "B" Station "C" Station "D" Station "E" Station "F" Station "G" Station "H" Morning Afternoon Night 37% 34% 24% 9 10 8 9 9 9 7 7 4 4 5 4 5 4 2 4 5 2 4 3 2 1 2 LT CBS • 5000 WATTS • 960 KC Owned and Operated by the TIMES WORLD CORPORA TION ■ IT iTt ROANOKE. V A m THEE & PETERS INC. National Representatives Page 54 • May 23, 1949 preferred on basis of 1009c integration of local ownership and operation. The bid of Norman Broadcasting was disqualified by the Commission because of non-resident ownership and in view of the fact that a principal stockholder, Byrne Ross, is owner of KLPR Oklahoma City, which would overlap daytime with the Norman station. Between Cleveland County Broadcasting and University City, the FCC preferred the former because all of its three owners would devote fulltime to the operation of the station. In spite of the greater local ownership aspect of University City, the Commission held this to be outweighted by the fact the owners would give only limited time to their station. Further, the Commission preferred Cleveland County Broadcasting in order to assure greater diversification of news and information since University City is associated in ownership with the only daily paper, Transcript "Controlling ownership of this newspaper by the dominant owners of University City Broadcasting," the FCC said, "is not a disqualifying factor. However, having before us no considerations persuasive of a contrary conclusion, we believe that the public interest will be better served by the encouragement of a genuine and unfettered competition in the dissemination of news, information and ideas within the orbit of service of both the Norman Transcript" and the proposed station. The decision stated that FCC's policy of favoring non-newspaper applicants over newspaper applicants in such situations "has been so consistently and repeatedly stated as to be no longer open to question or challenge." James Madison Broadcasting, to be owned about one-third by F erick L. Allman, owner of WSV Harrisonburg, Va., is controlled b a group of 28 local businessmen an firms, FCC stated. Welf ord A. Shei man, in heating, plumbing and elec" trical appliance business, is presii; dent. Orange had a population o 1,930 according to the 1940 censu; Commission stated it found nrj grounds for denial of the Orang application on the basis of sligh interference that would be cause to WINX Washington in view a multiple ser-vices available in th interference area as compared wit single primary service available a' Orange. Minor overlap with WSV/'i also was ruled out. The Commission found no basi; to one issue in the Orange proceec ing as to whether the James Mad son aD^lication had been filed i good faith or for the purpose c ' delaying or preventing the estal lishment of a competitive servic to WSVA. FCC said it waj corj vinced "the establishment of broadcast station in Orange ori<! inated as a Chamber of Commeix community project" and was di: cussed before Mr. Allman's ar was obtained. A bid for 1340 1 ; in Harrisonburg had beed filed, an subsequently withdrawn, by Ha risonburg Broadcasting Co. In the Davenport case, the Con. mission found that KSTT, opera | ing as proposed, would cause interference to existing or propose stations. However, extensive ei gineering conditions were outlm< to be satisfied before the grai would become effective in order insure skywave protection to KVO Tulsa, Okla., and WWVA Wheelin W. Va., Class I-B outlets. KST is licensed to the Davenport Broa casting Co. Inc., chiefly owned 1 Hugh R. Norman, president, ai A. M. McGregor, secy.-treas. Details of Norman applicant Norman, Okla — Norman Broadca: ing Co., 1400 kc, 250 w, fulltime. Pri cipals: Sam G. Hale, Norman depai ment store operator, president 4' W. P. Fowler, Oklahoma City coun election board member, vice preside 40% ; B. E. Massey, Norman insuran underwriter, secretary-treasurer 2' Byrne Ross, owner KLPR Oklahor City, 9.2%; his son-in-law, B. Wells Jr., commercial manager KLPR 8%. There is total of 14 stoc holders from Norman and Oklahoi City FCC stated Messrs. Fowler a: Ross were original partners in app cant, incorporating later to impro competitive position in case. Merg with University City was discussf FCC said. Norman, Okla. — University C: Broadcasting Co., 1400 kc, 250 w, fu time. Principals: Fred E. Tarman, e< tor-publisher and 12/32 owner Norm "Transcript," president 23.5%; T. Beaird, formerly for 16 years manas and program director of WNAD N( man, U. of Oklahoma station, v: Dresident 5.9%; Robert V. Peters< secretary-treasurer and 7/32 owr "Transcript," secretary-treasurer 23.5 Harold Belknap, business manag and 9/32 owner "Transcript," 23.5 Four other local people hold 5.: each. Norman, Okla. — Cleveland Coui Broadcasting Co., 1400 kc, 250 w, ft time. Partnership: Tol Dickensi iewelry store owner, 50% owner Ok homa Colorcrete Co. and interest in real estate developments, 70%; \* liam S. Morgan, WNAD Norman pr< uction manager, 20%, and How; DeMere, Oklahoma U. student a WNAD employe, 10%. Mr. Dicken< is to supply all capital, making lo; to other partners. Firm is to inc porate and stock be made availa to other station employes. BROADCASTING • Telecasti