Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1956)

Two Uhfs Ask Court Stay Evansville Ch. 7 Grant THIRD APPEAL against a vhf grant in an alluhf market was filed with the FCC last week. Involved is the Commission's grant of ch. 7 at Evansville, Ind., to Evansville Tv Inc. [B»T. Jan. 2]. Asking the U. S. Court of Appeals in Washington for a stay of the Evansville grant were ch. 50 WEHT (TV) and ch. 62 WF1E (TV), both Evansville, and now suspended ch. 21 WKLO-TV Louisville, Ky. The appeal follows those of ch. 22 KVDOTV Corpus Christi, Tex., against the grant of ch. 6 to KRIS there [B»T, Dec. 12. 1955], and two Madison, Wis., uhfs (ch. 27 WKOW-TV and ch. 33 WMTV [TV]) against the grant of ch. 3 at Madison to WISC [B»T. Dec. 19, 1955]. In the Evansville case, as in its predecessors, Comrs. Hyde and Bartley dissented because they felt Commission action was inconsistent with the call for comments on proposed overall allocations changes. The sentiments of Comrs. Hyde and Bartley were echoed by the three stations appealing the Evansville grant. The FCC, presently having proposed solutions to the allocations problem under study, "should not take action which forecloses adoption of any proposals it is not yet ready to reject," the stations said. Argument on the Corpus Christi, Madison and Evansville appeals for stays of vhf grants to their respective cities will be held in Washington Thursday. KHTV (TV) Grant Postponed Pending FCC Hearing Jan. 23 PROMPTED by the protest of KLIX-AM-TV Idaho Falls, Idaho, against the grant of ch. 13 KHTV (TV) in the same city, FCC last week postponed the new tv authorization pending the outcome of a Jan. 23 hearing. In setting the hearing, the Commission made KLIX-AM-TV party to the proceedings and stipulated that the burden of proof was on the protestant. KLIX-AM-TV had alleged that the programming plans of KHTV, which plans to operate as a partial satellite of KI DO-TV Boise, are "unrealistic" and contain inconsistencies [B»T, Dec. 9, 1955]. Protestant claimed that another station in the market would divide the available revenue to the extent that KLTXTV would have to cut back service or quit entirely. KLIX-AM-TV further charged it would not be in the public interest to permit a satellitetype operation to jeopardize the existence of a true local outlet. KHTV was authorized Nov. 9. 1955. to Magic Valley Tv Corp., which is 60% owned by KIDO Inc. (KIDO-AM-TV) and 40% owned by Radio Broadcasting Corp. of Idaho (KTFIAM-TV Twin Falls). KLIX-TV, on ch. 11, and KLIX are licensed to Southern Idaho Broadcasting & Television Corp. WHOL Granted Authority To Operate Temporarily WHOL Allentown, Pa., which the FCC had ordered off the air as of Jan. 15 [B«T, Jan. 2], last week was granted temporary authority by the FCC to operate until the Court of Appeals makes final disposition of the disputed grant of 1230 kc to Easton Publishing Co. (Express, WEEX-FM, WGLV [TV] ). WHOL, losing applicant for the Easton am facility, was upheld on appeal by the U. S. Court of Appeals, but the appellate court was subsequently reversed by the U. S. Supreme Court. On mandate from the high court, the Court of Appeals affirmed the Easton grant. Following the FCC order to cease operating, WHOL petitioned the appellate court for reconsideration of its decision. By reason of the WHOL petition, the FCC said, an extended termination would be in order to comply with an FCC ruling in August 1953 which gave the station authority to operate "to a date 30 days subsequent to the final decision." Therefore, the FCC said. WHOL's termination date must be extended until 30 days after the court either denies the petition for stay or otherwise disposes of the appeal. Favored for N. C. Radio VALLEY BROADCASTING Co. last week was favored in a initial decision looking toward the grant of an am station to operate on 600 kc, 1 kw day in Murphy, N. C. Hearing Examiner Hugh B. Hutchison proposed denial of Cherokee Broadcasting Co.'s competing application. "The most decisive factor" for Valley, Mr. Hutchison concluded, was that its operation would provide a first primary service to a substantially larger population (2,437 more people) than the Cherokee proposal. Valley's proposals for local control were favored over Cherokee's, which would enlist management from nonMurphy residents. Both applicants were found to be substantially equal on all other pertinent issues. tops in all 3 in Columbia, South Carolina WIS-TV channel 10 dominates all 3 . . . network, local productions, syndicated film. 29 of the top 36 shows are on WIS-TV! here is WIS-TV's superiority in a nutshell — Quarter hours during which 2 or more stations are on the air DAYTIME M-F 11:15 am-6 pm NIGHTTIME 6 pm-ll:15 pm total quarter hours 135 total quarter hours 124 WIS-TV firsts 124 WIS-TV firsts 105 ARB Columbia, S. C, Nov. 13-19, 1955 (Based on highest rated quarter hours. Only WIS-TV reaches so many so much of the time. lor details see your FREE 4 PETERS man President, G. Richard Shafto Managing Director, Charles A. Batson CHANNEL 10 COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA Page 64 • January 9, 1956 Broadcasting • Telecasting