Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr-Jun 1953)

AM, FM# TV Ownership Changes Okayed by FCC OWNERSHIP changes involving two TV outlets, five AMs and a block of five FM stations got FCC approval last week. These were: Northeast Radio Corp., Ithaca, N. Y., acquired the five FM stations owned by insolvent Rural Radio Network for $225,475. They are: WVCN De Ruyter, WVCV Cherry Valley, WVBT Bristol Center, WFNF Wethersfield and WHVA Poughkeepsie, all in New York. Northeast is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cooperative Grange League Federation Exchange, chief creditor of the network. Northeast has absorbed RRN, which feeds programs to about 15 other stations. Lake Superior Bcstg. Co. (WREX Duluth) purchased WDSM Superior, Wis., from Ridson Co., paving the way for their merger to obtain Ch. 6 Duluth-Superior. Lake Superior, which paid $88,186 for WDSM, must sell WREX before purchase can be finalized. CP for WTVU (TV) Scranton, Pa. (uhf Ch. 73), was bought by Appalachian Co., wholly owned by Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Collins who paid $22,314 for holdings of their former partners. Richard Davis, general manager of WELI and WBIB (FM) New Haven, and other station personnel purchased control of the stations from Col. Harry Wilder. Consideration $132,630. James H. Gibbs became sole owner of WIVY Crockett, Tex., through purchase of 50% interest held by the estate of Hamilton Callen, deceased, his former partner. Consideration $24,000. Control of WJDX-AM-FM Jackson, Miss., passed to Murchison Bros., Dallas, who increased their holding from 49.8% to 50.7% by purchasing 234 shares from Wiley P. Harris for $24,570. James M. Cox Jr. relinquished control of WSB-AM-FM-TV Atlanta through conversion of some preferred stock to common and issuance of new stock. His holding was reduced from 51.7% to 41.8%. No consideration. Control of WPRP Ponce, Puerto Rico, passed to Francisco M. and Antonio Susoni, Julio M. Conesa, Luis A. Ferre, Arturo Valldejuly, Celso Garcia and Radio Americas Corp. in a stock transaction. Sylvania, Philco Hearing Continued by FTC HEARING was continued to May 20 by Hearing Examiner Webster Ballinger on FTC's antitrust action against Sylvania Electric Products Inc. and Philco Corp. to give attorneys for two firms time to study the case for their justification of charges. Sylvania is charged with discriminating against its own distributors in sale of radio tubes at lower prices to Philco, and latter firm is charged with inducing such sales and receiving tubes at discriminatory prices. Humphreys to GOP Post APPOINTMENT of Robert Humphreys, formerly public relation director of the Republican Congressional Committee, to the $30,000-a-year position of publicity director for the Republican National Committee was announced last week by Chairman Leonard W. Hall. He also announced appointment of A. D. Baumgartner Jr. as executive director. Serving under Mr. Humphreys is Edward T. Ingle, radio-TV director of the RNC. Page 66 • May 11, 1953 TV Studio Bill BILL to provide for a television studio in the Senate Radio-TV Gallery has been introduced by Sens. Homer Ferguson (R-Mich.) and Burnet R. Maybank (DS. C). Bill (S 1648) was referred to the Senate Rules Committee. If approved by the committee and the Senate, the studio would be constructed next to the present Radio-TV Gallery. At present, according to D. Harold McGrath, gallery superintendent, at least four TV interviews are conducted each day. Florida Anti-Station Bill On Political Libel Fails FLORIDA House Civil Judiciary Committee has rejected a state bill that would have made radio and TV stations responsible for libelous statements broadcast on their facilities. The measure was introduced by Rep. Morgan Duval [B*T, April 20]. The Duval bill would have repealed a section of the state's libel laws which relieves radio and TV stations of responsibility for statements made by other than station personnel if the stations have exercised due care to prevent slanderous statements. Rep. Kenneth Ballinger noted that FCC does not permit stations to censor political broadcasts. Mr. Ballinger in previous sessions represented the Florida Assn. of Broadcasters. In the Florida Senate, there were indications of vigorous opposition growing to a Judiciary committee-approved bill prohibiting the broadcasting, televising or filming of official investigations where witnesses are questioned under compulsory summons. George W. Thrope, WVCG Coral Cables, FAB president, asked FAB members to work toward the defeat of the broadcast bar bill. Newton Attacked Bill Last Tuesday, V. M. Newton Jr., managing editor, The Tampa Tribune, and chairman, committee of freedom of information, Sigma Delta Chi, national professional journalistic fraternity, attacked the bill in a letter to State Senator John Branch. He warned that when a legislative body "proceeds in secret, errors accumulate throughout deliberation and may be carried into a finished proposal where they may be discovered too late for the pressure of public opinion to rectify them." He urged Sen. Branch, who said publicly "the bill goes too far," to oppose the legislation and "thereby extend the principle of free, open government ... to Florida through the new media of communication, radio and television." Miles Returns to FCC CAPT. PAUL D. MILES (USN Ret.), U. S. member of International Frequency Registration Board, International Telecommunications Union, Geneva, Switzerland, is due to return to the U. S. in July to resume his old position as chief of FCC's Frequency Allocation & Treaty Div. Present incumbent A. L. Mcintosh is scheduled to succeed Capt. Miles in Geneva. Deadline for Comments on Clear Channel Pact Extended FOLLOWING protests by daytime Class I] stations, and requests for extension of the May 1 deadline, FCC last week extended the final date for comments on the proposed U.S.Canadian agreerhent covering a formula foi the protection of Canadian Class 1-A stations [See For the Record, B»T, May 4] to May 29, Gist of several dozen protests was that the U. S. should decide the six-year-old Daytime Skywave case before entering into a pact witt Canada. A number of objectors claimed tha the protection afforded Canadian Class 1-A'i was "ridiculously high." Others, including the Clear Channel Broadcasting Service, urged tha the international understanding be expanded t( protect both Class 1-A and 1-B stations ii the U.S. as well as in Canada. Frequencies Listed Canadian Class 1-A frequencies are 540, 690 740, 860, 990, 1010 and 1580 kc. FCC sai< that the proposed pact, with one exception no identified, would require no modification o: any existing Canadian station. The U.S. ha: 140 assignments on Canadian Class 1-A wave lengths, and about 40 applications pending. Under the terms of the proposed agreement applications not meeting the proposed criteri. would be referred to the Canadian Govern ment for comment. The unilateral agreement was the result o conferences between U.S. and Canadian offi cials last February. It is designed to eliminati complaints of interference by Canadian Clas: 1-A stations, FCC said. Under terms of the 1937 North Americai Regional Broadcast Agreement, Class II sta tions with powers up to 50 kw may be assignee in the U. S. on Canadian Class 1-A channel: provided they do not produce more than microvolts-per-meter groundwave or more thai 25 uv/m 10% skywave on the Canadian bor der. Provisions of the 1951 NARBA, stil awaiting U. S. Senate ratification, are identica in this respect. Illinois Senate Passes TV Libel Bill; House Next TV BROADCASTERS in Illinois will be sub ject to the same libel laws as radio operators i the lower chamber of the State Legislature ii Springfield goes along with a bill passed by th< Senate last week. A proposal sponsored by Sen. William J Connors (D-Chicago) was unanimously ap proved by the Senate and sent on to the House If approved there and signed by Illinois Gov William Stratton, the measure will amend libe laws revised in 1945 to cover radio as well a: press. The measure would render TV station op erators not guilty of libel where they had "ne advance knowledge or opportunity or righ to prevent" it. TV libel is described as "mali cious defamation." As in radio and press cases "truth would be sufficient defense." The bil does not apply to political utterances on TV Penalties provide for a maximum of oni year imprisonment and a $500 fine. Sen. Connors told the Senate that the Chi cago Tribune and WGN-TV have supported hi proposal. The Tribune has taken an editoria stand in favor of the bill, introduced las month [B*T, April 6]. Broadcasting • Telecastinc