Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1956)

Six Reply to FCC Charges Of Imbalance in Programs OF 17 Wisconsin-Illinois radio stations questioned by the FCC on purported imbalance in programming [B»T, Dec. 5, 1955], six had submitted replies to the FCC by last week. Each denied a lack of public service broadcasts and defended its program policy. WEMP Milwaukee, Wis., said that its coverage area was heavily industrialized, the 16th ranking metropolitan area in the U. S., and that there was no need for agricultural programs. It can better serve its listeners by concentrating on other areas of programming, WEMP declared. WEMP, which emphasizes music, news and sports, carries regularly scheduled educational, religious and discussion programs in addition to its performance in public service, the station pointed out. WBEV Beaver Dam, Wis., said that an employe making up its program schedule had committed errors of computation and analysis and failed to properly classify certain programs. Its revised program log was personally studied by its executive vice president, WBEV said, and would reflect the station's public service achievements and its compliance with FCC standards. WOKW Sturgeon Bay, Wis., said that it was making certain changes in its schedule. The station said that it plans to add 30 minutes a week to discussion-type programs with an appropriate reduction in entertainment shows. Although many of its discussion programs have in the past been classified as miscellaneous, they will henceforth be included in their proper category, WOKW stated. WHFC Cicero, 111., claimed that it primarily is a foreign language station and many of its shows are of definite educational value although they fail to fall within the strict FCC definition of educational programs. The same applies to discussion-type shows, WHFC said. Negotiations are underway for a weekly, 15-minute educational show, WHFC added. Agriculture programs are not carried because there are no substantial groups in its coverage area who would be interested, WHFC said. WIND Chicago defended its programming record and said its program schedule is substantially the same as it was in its 1952 application for renewal. The station pointed to its regularly scheduled religious, educational and discussion programs and 19 years of uninterrupted cooperation with the Chicago Board of Education in the presentation of educational programs. Its listeners are not interested in agricultural programs because other area stations carry extensive shows of that nature. By emphasizing other types of programs, WIND said, duplication of the services of other stations is avoided. WAPL Appleton. Wis., submitted to the FCC a 13-page list of public service features carried by the station during the past three years. The record will indicate, WAPL said, that the station is dedicated to the needs of the agricultural, religious, educational and other groups in its coverage area. Year-Old WTSN Grant Confirmed by Commission THE JAN. 27, 1955, grant by the FCC to the Granite State Broadcasting Co. for a new am in Dover, N. H. (formerly WDNH, now WTSN) was confirmed last week by the Commission which simultaneously rejected economic, radiation overlap, and concentration of control protests lodged against the original action by WWNH Rochester, N. H., and WVDA Boston. Granite principals' other radio interests include WKBR-AM-FM Manchester, WTSV-AMFM Claremont and WTSL Hanover, all New Hampshire. Additionally, H. Scott Killgore, owner of WKXL Concord, N. H., and WARE Ware. Mass., has an option to buy 25% of WTSN. Granite State also operates a regional network in New Hampshire. In its protest WWNH stated that in January 1954. it received 53% of its total local revenue from Dover advertisers (Dover is 10 miles from Rochester). This matter was not touched upon directly in the Commission's conclusions, but it was stated that the facts of a first primary service being brought to Dover and the limited area of overlap of the proposed station with existing stations were looked upon with favor by the Commission. The overlap of the presently operated Granite and Killgore stations was considered insubstantial and therefore the concentration of control question was considered not pertinent. WTSN is to operate on 1270 kc, 5 kw unlimited; WWNH. owned by Strafford Broadcasting Corp.. operates on 930 kc, 5 kw day, and WVDA. licensed to Vic Diehm Assoc. Inc.. is on 1260 kc. 5 kw unlimited. jr^r BY BUYING 2 OR MORE OF THESE POWERFUL STATIONS HOW IT WORKS i f Buy All 4 Stations .... SAVE 15% Buy Any 3 Stations.... SAVE 10% Buy Any 2 Stations.... SAVE 5% WKMH DEARBORN-DETROIT WKMF FL'NT, MICHIGAN Represented by Headley-Reed Now, you get more for your money than ever before! Now ... get the biggest buy in radio in Michigan's Knorr Broadcasting Corporation's combined 4-Station deal! Here, bounded by Detroit, Jackson, Flint and Saginaw is 80% of Michigan's 6-billion dollar buying power. That's where nearly 100% of the homes and over 85% of the automobiles have radios. That's where WKMH, WKHM, WKMF and WSAM command the biggest listening audience, because that's where everybody likes News, Music, Sports. WKHM JACKSON, MICHIGAN Jackson Television < Broadcasting Corp.l Broadcasting Telecasting January 9, 1956 Page 67