Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr-Jun 1953)

NBC CONTROL DENIED BY KOA DISCLAIMER that NBC has any "shred of control, either directly or indirectly" in the management of KOA Denver was issued last week by William Grant, president of Metropolitan Television Co., owners of KOA. Mr. Grant's statement was issued at the same time that KOA filed a 63-page reply to the proposed findings in the Denver Ch. 4 TV hearing by the FCCs Broadcast Bureau [B»T, April 27]. Broadcast Bureau held that because Hope Productions Inc. owed NBC $1,250,000, NBC retained an interest in KOA. This would preclude a TV grant since FCCs regulations forbid the ownership of more than five TV stations by one entity. NBC already owns five TV stations. Note held by NBC represented debt due from so-called "Hope Group" (Bob Hope and associates) in the acquisition of KOA from NBC by Metropolitan last year. KOA is half-owned by Hope group and a Denver group. In a similar reply to the allegations, NBC declared that the clauses in the Hope note which the Broadcast Bureau found suspicious were only the normal rights retained by a creditor. It bolstered this with examples of a score of other such agreements including some by broadcast companies, from the files of the Securities & Exchange Commission. NBC also held that the FCC already had passed on the Hope situation when it approved the sale of KOA from NBC to the Metropolitan group. Formal resolution to pay off the NBC note after KOA received a TV grant was voted at a special meeting of Hope Productions April 27. Mr. Grant made the following points in answer to the Broadcast Bureau's allegations of NBC control: (1) NBC is a creditor of one of the stockholders of KOA, and not of the licensee of the station; (2) FCC decided issue of NBC control when it approved the sale of KOA from the network to Metropolitan last year; (3) Hope Productions is "willing and able" to pay off its obligation immediately if the FCC requires that action in granting KOA a television permit. Mr. Grant called the failure of the Broadcast Bureau to cite that latter information an "incredible omission." Competing with KOA for the Denver vhf channel is KMYR. Renewals by FCC Include WABD (TV) SEVERAL score AM, FM and TV stations were granted renewal of license by FCC last week, including WRGB (TV) Schenectady, WABD (TV) New York and WMGM-AM-FM New York. Comr. Frieda B. Hennock dissented in the WRGB and WMGM renewals, indicating "anti-trust activities" should be explored. In the WABD action, Miss Hennock said that since FCC considered the Paramount control issue "and the majority having found DuMont qualified . . . despite my dissent, I now go along with the Commission in voting for a renewal of license." FCC also renewed the license of WDLP Panama City, Fla., with Comr. E. M. Webster issuing a concurring opinion reviewing technical violations in 1949 which resulted in putting the station on temporary license. The station for a period was operated without directional antenna at night, FCC said. "While the Communications Act places the responsibility for the operation of a radio station solely on the licensee," Comr. Webster said, "crim Military Tubes THE MILITARY, which traditionally has a taste for standardization, plans to carry its desire for conformity into its choice and use of electron tubes. The Dept. of Defense has announced that future designs of electronics devices for the armed forces "will incorporate only the 192 types of tubes prescribed by a new military standard." This new standard eventually will mean use of an estimated 10% of the number of tubes now carried, say the defense planners. The standard tube list can be found in a document called "MIL-STD 200" which is mandatory for all military departments. There now are more than 5,000 different types of electron tubes in military supply systems — 1,000 of which are covered by military specification sheets, the Pentagon notes. inal charges based on these violations were brought against the manager only." Since then, the unidentified manager has been convicted and fined, he noted, while the principal owner at the time of the violation has died. For these reasons, and since three years have elapsed, Comr. Webster joined in the renewal. 'School TV Too Expensive/ So WGGG Seeks Reserved Ch. FCC will be asked to pry loose vhf Ch. 5 Gainesville, Fla., from educational reservation even though uhf Ch. 20 there is going begging. In a letter distributed to members of the Florida Legislature, R. M. Chamberlin, owner of WGGG Gainesville, has asked the lawmakers to refuse permission to the U. of Florida to apply for the channel so that he can put in his own bid after June 2 when commercial applications will be accepted for reserved educational channels. He offered to provide the school with two hours of free time daily on his proposed station and to charge for operating cost only for "any amount of air time they may want beyond the two hours. . . ." The state-owned and universityoperated local station, WRUF, was required to switch from its original educational policy to commercial operation in order to maintain operations, he pointed out, and warned that the high cost of TV broadcasting would similarly "force" the school's outlet to go commercial. FM Hours Plan Dropped PLAN to set minimum operating hours for FM stations was discarded by FCC last week — three and a half years after it was proposed. Under the scheme, new stations would have had to be on the air at least three hours both day and night during their first year. The floor would have been raised to four hours each the next year and to eight hours, day, and four hours, night thereafter. FM stations operated in conjunction with AMs would have had to operate at least as long as the standard outlet. California Radio-TV Bill PROVISIONS banning false, deceptive or misleading advertising in newspapers also would apply to radio and TV stations in a bill introduced in the California State Assembly by Assemblyman Thomas J. Doyle (D-Los Angeles). He said his bill (AB 3493 ) is designed to make radio-TV advertising conform with newspaper advertising standards. EVEN CICERO WATCHESgf WHEN ust last night Cicero watched WHEN television and today he's shopping the Syracuse market. Cicero, suburb of Syracuse, is only one community in the rich 26county market covered exclusively by WHEN. Over 2Va million people in the heart of industrial New York State — people with big city ideas and shopping habits — watch WHEN, for only WHEN gives COMPLETE COVERAGE of this vast area! SEE YOUR NEAREST KATZ AGENCY WATCHES WHEN CBS If TELEVISION DUMONT 1\ SYRACUSE A MEREDITH STATION Broadcasting • Telecasting May 11, 1953 • Page 65