Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1956)

GRANT OF BOSTON'S CH. 5 PROPOSED Examiner recommends vhf authorization to Greater Boston Tv Corp. and denial of the four competing applications. GREATER BOSTON Tv Corp., one of five competing applicants for ch. 5 at Boston, last week was recommended for the grant in an initial decision by FCC Chief Hearing Examiner James D. Cunningham. Mr. Cunningham denied the competing applications of WHDH Inc. (WHDH-AM-FM, Boston Herald and Traveler), Post Publishing Co. (WCOP-AMFM, Boston Post), Massachusetts Bay Telecasters Inc. and Allen B. DuMont Labs. The preferred applicant is comprised of 36 stockholders, four of whom hold minority interest (20.9% aggregate) in the Pilgrim Broadcasting Co. (WORL Boston). Arthur D. Cronin, insurance and other interests, is Greater Boston president. The hearing was spiced considerably when Al Capp, creator of the "L'il Abner" cartoon series and minority stockholder in Massachusetts Bay Telecasters, was cross-examined by counsel for the competing applicants on a report that he had sold pornographic drawings when he was in the fourth grade [B»T, Dec. 6. 1954]. The issue stemmed from a story in a 1947 New Yorker written by E. J. Kahn Jr., which alleged that Mr. Capp. while in the fourth grade in a Brooklyn public school, sold indecent pictures to his fellow students. Mr. Capp scoffed at Mr. Kahn's story, calling it "very funny" but "hardly accurate." Mr. Capp was also questioned about reports that his cartoons contained hidden bits of lewd humor directed to a secret audience. Referred to by counsel were a report of a New York State legislative inquiry into comic books which introduced "L'il Abner" strips as evidence of "semi-hidden pornography" and a story in Confidential magazine titled "The Secret Sex Life of L'il Abner." The New York State committee was duped by "forgeries," Mr. Capp said: Confidential, Mr. Capp called ". . . a filthy magazine." DuMont: 'Stranger to Boston' In his initial decision. Mr. Cunningham decided on Greater Boston after eliminating the other candidates one by one. While recognizing that DuMont had far more tv experience than any of the other applicants, Mr. Cunningham said that its "far-flung business interests" work against it in competition with qualified local groups. DuMont, he said, "may be regarded as strangers to Boston." Militating against a grant to WHDH Inc.. Mr. Cunningham stated, was its lack of a proposal for national network affiliation. Also, a grant to WHDH would place five news media within its control and would not be in keeping with the FCC's policy on diversification of communications media, Mr. Cunningham concluded. Examiner Cunningham again invoked the diversification policy in eliminating the Post application. He noted that a grant to the Post group would give it four instrumentalities for disseminating news and views in the same area. Of the remaining two applicants — Greater Boston and Massachusetts Bay — Mr. Cunningham found only a narrow area of preference between them. It was likely, he conjectured, that either one would provide a suitable tv service for the Boston area. But the superior broadcast experience of Greater Boston's proposed general manager, as against the lack of broadcast experience of the proposed head of Massachusetts Bay operations, would give more assurance that Greater Boston would serve the needs of the community. From a standpoint of conducting the necessary day-to-day tv broadcast operation, Mr. Cunningham concluded, it would appear that more "reliance may be placed in the proposed managerial staff of Greater Boston . . ." FCC Grants Four New Ams FOUR new am stations were granted by the FCC in actions of last week while another application was dismissed at the request of the applicant. Construction permits awarded were: • Charlotte, Mich. — Eaton County Broad casting Co., 1390 kc, 1 kw daytime. • Coos Bay, Ore. — Coos County Broadcasters, 1420 kc, 1 kw day. Sole owner of the permittee is Harold C. Singleton, vice president-52% stockholder in KTEL Walla Walla, Wash., secretary-treasurer-9.9% partner in KGAL Lebanon, Ore., and owner of KRTV Hillsboro, Ore. • Tyler, Tex. — Tyler Broadcasting Corp., 690 kc, 250 w day. Owner Thomas B. Moseley is director of sales and contract negotiations for the Continental Electronics Mfg. Co. of Dallas, Tex. • Shelton, Wash. — Mason County Broadcasting Co., 920 kc, 500 w daytime. The application of Radio Douglas Inc. for a new am at Douglas, Ga.. on 1450 kc, 250 w unlimited, was dismissed at the request of Radio Douglas. WMAZ announces the appointment of AVERY-KNOD as its National Representat INC. ive Your Avery-Knodel man is now prepared to give you the documented facts you should have before preparing your next spot schedule: FACTS about the growing importance of the Middle Georgia market. FACTS which document how WMAZ successfully solves problems arising from current distribution and sales factors in Metropolitan Macon itself. FACTS that show why it takes WMAZ to give you /////, intensive coverage of the vital Middle Georgia area. FACTS that show how WMAZ dominates the audience in the rich, growing area it serves. Ask your Avery-Knodel man for the facts . . . and you'll put WMAZ to work for you! GEORGIA BIGV HRBL Broadcasting • Telecasting January 9, 1956 • Page 63