Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1954)

HENDRICKSON LAUDS TV CODE BOARD Chairman of Senate Juvenile Delinquency subcommittee praises NARTB Tv Code Review Board for its 'forthright' statement to subcommittee, which admitted some errors in programming judgment had been made. CHAIRMAN Robert C. Hendrickson (R-N. J.) of the Senate Juvenile Delinquency subcommitee last week commended NARTB's Tv Code Review Board for its "statement which finds some validity in our criticism of certain crimehorror films now shown on television." The Tv Code Review Board statement had been released the week before [B»T, Dec. 6]. Sen. Hendrickson, in a statement Wednesday, said that during the subcommittee's hearings on whether tv was a factor in juvenile delinquency, "a small but vocal segment of the industry cried havoc and sought through blanket denials of our criticism to absolve the entire industry." The New Jersey Republican added: "Now the great weight of the major portion of the television industry shows both intelligence and responsibility by its forthright statement." Sen. Hendrickson described as. confession good for the soul the Tv Code Review Board's statement expressing doubt as to whether "portions of certain films are wholly within the spirit of the Code" and that the board had found "excessive violence" in some cases. He commended the board's recommendations against "horror for horror's sake," sight or sound effects tending to shock the viewer and "detailed presentation of brutality or physical agony." The subcommittee expects to file a separate report on television around the beginning of the 84th Congress. McClatchy Asks FCC Approval To Buy KBOX Modesto, Calif. APPLICATION for the purchase of KBOX Modesto, Calif., for $75,000 by McClatchy Broadcasting Co. from the Stanislaus Broadcasters Inc. was filed with the FCC last week. In seeking FCC approval, McClatchy proposes to divest itself of all interest in KWG Stockton, Calif. McClatchy Broadcasting is the present owner of KBEE (FM) Modesto. If the sale receives FCC approval, McClatchy proposes to change the KBOX call letters to KBEE. Other McClatchy broadcast interests are: KERNAM -FM Bakersfield, KM J AM FM TV Fresno, KFBK-AM-FM Sacramento, all California, and KOH Reno. McClatchy newspapers are the Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee and Modesto Bee. FCC Drops Its Proposal For 5 Kw Uhf Minimum ON BASIS of comments that it is unrealistic to require all uhf tv stations to use transmitters with a rating of at least 5 kw, FCC has withdrawn its proposal which would boost the power minimum from the present 1 kw rating. FCC said all comments to the proposal, issued last March, opposed the plan [B»T, March 22]. In its opinion and order setting aside the proposal, the Commission said industry mem bers "submitted that there is no uniformity in the amount of power required by an individual uhf tv station to enable it to provide the best possible technical service to the area which it serves. It is noted, further, that power requirements vary with such factors as antenna heights, terrain, the size or nature of the area to be served, economic and competitive conditions and sensitivity of receiving equipment and antennas." Since higher power means higher construction and operating costs for the stations, FCC concluded the power boost requirement "might result in discouraging the construction of television stations in small communities, thereby depriving such communities of service which might otherwise be rendered." WSFA-AM-TV Sale Delayed WSFA-AM-TV Montgomery, Ala., was advised last week by the FCC that its application to sell the stations to WKY Radiophone Co. (WKY-AM-TV Oklahoma City) for $562,600 and the assumption of over $500,000 in obligations [B«T, Oct. 4] warranted a hearing. Petition that the sale of the stations be set for hearing was made by WCOV-AM-FM-TV Montgomery, Ala., and KWTV (TV) Oklahoma City. The petition charged that the Oklahoma Publishing Co. {Oklahoma City Daily Oklahoman and City Times), parent company of WKY, was a monopoly and practiced advertising and news discrimination against KWTV and others [B«T, Nov. 8]. It's In The Bag ! .... and $49 million is only 3.7% of total income in WIBW-TV's coverage area ! With higher power and 1010 foot tower, WIBW-TV is the No. 1 salesman in 128,564* TV homes in 44 counties in three states. These folks dispose of over a billion dollars yearly. To get your share, hire Topeka's only TV station — WIBWTV. * Excluding Kansas City and St. Joseph, Missouri CBS— DUMONT —ABC Interconnected The Kansas View Point TOPEKA, KANSAS Ben Ludy, Gen. Mgr. WIBW & WIBW-TV in Topeka KCKN in Kansas City Broadcasting • Telecasting December 13, 1954 • Page 79