Broadcasting (Apr - Jun 1949)

CAPITAL GAINS! NOTE . . . these observations on Radio WOW's Fall-Winter Hoopers . . . compared with a year ago. ★ The "Quiz Kids" (NBC) had a 7.9 rating a years ago— this years it's an 11.1. ★ The Skippy Hollywood Theater (National Spot) had a 13.1 rating a year ago and this year it is 16.6. ★ The Fred Waring Show (mornings) had a 5.5 a year ago — and has a 6.7 this year. -k "Amos 'n Andy had a big fat 30.0 on WOW a year ago. This year, on "Station B" it has a 13.4. ★ "Ma Perkins" (NBC) had a 6.9 a year ago. This year it has an 8.6. ★ "Screen Guild Players" had a 14.2 last year on "Station B". This year it has a 19.9 on WOW. ★ "Can You Top This?" had a beautiful 17.1 a year ago on WOW. This year, on "Station D", it has a skinny 4.9. ★ "The Hit Parade" had a nice 23.5 a year ago and a whopping 27.2 this year because it "stayed put". ~k The 10 o'clock (night) news on WOW came up with a nice 19. The 5:30 PM news with a 16.4; the noonday news with a good 10.3. ★ The "Phil Harris" show has a whooper-duper 30.3 this year — a 25.3 a year ago! These are OMAHA HOOPERS. Outstate WOW's leadership is as good or better! That's why WOW done will do your advertising job here. RADIO. WOW. 4^. OMAHA SOOO WATTS • 590 KC JOHN J. GILUN, JR., PRESIDENT JOHN BLAIR, REPRESENTATIVE TEXAS STAR Grant Proposed at Dallas PROPOSED decision was reported by FCC last Wednesday looking toward grant of the application of Roy Hofheinz and W. N. Hooper d/b as Texas Star Broadcasting Co. for new AM station at Dallas, Tex., on 740 kc with 10 kw day, 5 kw night, directional fulltime. The Commission would deny request of KTRH Houston, assigned 50 kw on 740 kc with fulltime directional array, to change its daytime directional system to increase coverage. The FCC majority reversed the recommended decision of Hearing Examiner Hugh B. Hutchison to deny Texas Star and grant KTRH. Comrs. Paul A. Walker and Robert F. Jones dissented from the majority in favor of the hearing examiner's recommendation. Texas Star Broadcasting is licensee of KTHT Houston, permittee of KSOX Harlingen, Tex., and applicant at San Antonio. Messrs. Hofheinz and Hooper last week also received final grant for new AM outlet in New Orleans (see story page 60). The FCC majority concluded the Texas Star grant at Dallas would result in a more fair and efficient distribution of radio facilities since Dallas and Houston are of comparable size and the former has only five outlets while the latter has eight. The new Dallas outlet would serve 1,383,160 persons daytime and 642,000 nighttime, FCC found, whereas the grant of daytime directional change to KTRH would add no new transmission facility and would increase rural coverage from between 374,492 to 427,197 persons. The majority said it was aware of objectionable interference that was claimed would result to KSEO Durant, Okla., on adjacent channel 750 kc, but that even if it were as great as claimed by KSEO, the Dallas grant still was more in the public interest. FCC pointed out that the interference area was in the Dallas trade area only and that no loss of service would occur due to interference because, with the 10 kc separation involved, the Dallas service would be substituted for the Durant service. This conflict in evidence concerning interference to KSEO prompted the hearing examiner to deny the Dallas proposal. Texas Star contended it would cause interference to KSEO within an area of 376 sq. mi., including a population of 12,100 or 5.15% of those residing in the remaining interference-free area of KSEO. The Durant station claimed it would receive interference within an area of 4,380 sq. mi., including 164,300 persons, or 69.5% of remainder. The Dallas grant included several engineering conditions including acceptance of such interference as may be received from the operation on 740 kc of the new All-Oklahoma Broadasting Co. station at Tulsa. Mr. Frankel (I) holds the mike for victorious Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr, as he delivers his acceptance speech over New York's new FM outlet, WFDR. 6 NEW AM CPs Granted by FCC FIVE NEW AM daytime only stations and one new fulltime outlet were authorized last week by FCC. In addition changes in facilities were granted four existing outlets. All of the new station grantees include persons who presently are identified with existing AM or FM stations. KAMQ Amarillo, Tex., was granted switch from 1 kw day day on 1010 kc to 1 kw day, 500 w night directional on that frequency fulltime. WDXI Jackson, Tenn., was granted switch from 1 kw to 5 kw on 1310 kc daytime. WKNA Charleston, W. Va., was given daytime power increase from 1 kw to 5 kw on 950 kc, with 1 kw night. Single directional array was changed to double pattern. WADC Tallmadge, Ohio, was given permission to switch main studio location to Akron. Details of new AM grants: Nevada, Mo. — Cecil W. Roberts, 1240 kc, 250 w unlimited. Estimated cost $12,588. Mr. Roberts is owner-manager of KREI Farmington, Mo., and AM applicant for Festus, Mo. Wytheville, Va. — Wythe County Broadcasting Co., 1280 kc, 1 kw daytime. Estimated cost §21,955 Copartners: Robert Ennis Epperson, radio engineer and permittee of WPAQ Mt. Airy, N. C, and Arthur M. Gates Sr., physician. Minneapolis, Minn. — Peoples Broadcasting Co., 980 kc, 500 w daytime. Estimated cost $53,850. Principals: William V. Stewart, owner Stewart Real Estate Co., president 11.2%; James C. Barkley, 50% owner of Enterprise Pub. Co., weekly newspaper publisher, vice president 15.2%; Thomas K. McCrum, salesman for Stewart Real Estate, secretary 4.2%; John W. Ware, owner of Ware's Hardware store, treasurer 12.2%; A. Kenneth Hovig, 50% owner Enterprise Pub. Co., vice president 20.2%; Clayton F. Baker, lithographer, director 8.2%; Becky Ann Stewart, 2.4%; Edith M. Bessesen, 16.2%; Fred L. Conger, assistant manager and program director of WREN Topeka, Kan., 10.2%. Snyder, Tex.— Blake-Formby Broadcasting Co., 1280 kc, 500 w daytime. Estimated cost $24,222. Principals: John Blake, publisher and 50% owner West Texas Printing Co., 50% owner KPAN Hereford, Tex., 50%; Marshall Formby, same interests, 50%. Hornell, N. Y. — The W. H. Greenhow Co. Inc., 1590 kc, 1 kw daytime. Estimated cost $14,459. The W. H. Greenhow Co. Inc., is operator of WWHG (FM) Hornell. Coatesville, Pa. — Chester County Broadcasting Co., 1420 kc, 1 kw daytime. Estimated cost $40,000. Partners: Louis N. Seltzer, associate engineer in physics, Johns-Hopkins U.; William S. Halpern, production manager WLBR Lebanon, Pa.; David Ginsberg, 50% owner of Waste Motor Haulage Co., and Brandywine Wastepaper Corp., Downington, Pa.; Morris Singer, owner of Morris Singer Transportation Co. and Oil Transportation Co., Downington. He also has 12.5% interest in Waste Motor Haulage Co. WFDR (FM) OPENS Starts Early for Elections WFDR (FM) New York, the International Ladies Garment Workers Union station, began test program last Tuesday (May 17) at 6 p.m. with broadcasts of results of the city's 20th District Congressional election. Owned by FDR Broadcasting Corp., an ILGWU subsidiary, the station originally intended to begin its test programming Wednesday but shifted its debut ahead a day to carry the election results. Test programming will continue for a month or less before regular program schedules begin. Fred F. Umhey, executive secretary of the ILGWU, is president of the subsidiary FDR Broadcasting Corp. Morris S. Novik, radio consultant, is adviser to WFDR as well as other ILGWU outlets in Chattanooga and Los Angeles. The WFDR staff includes: David H. Harris, formerly of W'/AG Worcester and WOL Washington, program director; Lou Frankel, former promotion manager of Rural Radio Network, FM chain in New York state, director of special events and publicity; Joseph Michaels, formerly with WGVA Geneva, N. Y., and WBIS Bristol, Conn., news editor; Bertrand B. Arnow, chief engineer and Jack Michaels. transmitter supervisor. WFDR is located at 444 Madison Ave., New York. BAB OFFICES Space Sought in N. Y. OFFICE space to house the new Broadcast Advertising Bureau was being sought in New York last week by C. E. Arney Jr., executive secretary of the NAB and Maurice Mitchell, BAB director. At week's end the NAB executives had about decided to discard the Broadcast Measurement Bureau offices at 270 Park Ave. as prospective space for BAB because they felt the quarters were inadequate. At least 16 persons, including Mr. Mitchell, will be employed in the BAB New York office. COTTON BOWL GAME NBC Signs for Radio, TV NBC last Thursday announced the signing of an exclusive three-year contract to broadcast and telecast the New Year's Day Cotton Bowl football game from Dallas, Tex. Bill Stern, the network's director of sports, will describe the classic next Jan. 1, marking the first national television coverage of the gridiron feature. WTCN Minneapolis-St. Paul was awarded a citation by the Minneapolis Church Federation for its broad policy of airing religious features. TF YOU take time to read this ad, then take time to write a letter to Radio Station KTRE, Box 701, Lufkin, Texas, for full particulars on the sales \ I Job KTRE can do for yon. f KTRE . . . the station with three networks. Page 56 • May 23, 1949 BROADCASTING • Telecasting