Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1956)

STATIONS STATION MANAGERS DISCUSS COLOR TV REVIEW of developments and objectives in color programming, merchandising and budgeting as well as a "fill-in" on the NBC acquisition of stations in Buffalo, Philadelphia and New Britain, Conn., highlighted a closed session of managers of NBC-owned radio and tv stations held Monday and Tuesday in New York. At the meeting, Charles R. Denny, vice president of NBC-owned stations and NBC Spot Sales, reported on sales increases among the stations [BoT, Jan. 11]. Plans for the division's new "Window" department store color program concept were discussed. On Tuesday, a special five-minute segment of Jinx Falkenburg's daily show on WRCA-TV New York (which is telecast daily in color) was devoted to a demonstration of "Window" as it had been shown to the National Retail Dry Goods Assn. convention the week before. The actual on-air presentation was introduced to home viewers, and to the managers who watched the program on color receivers at the Hotel Plaza, by Hamilton Shea, NBC vice president in charge of WRCA-TV. Special Program Jan. 30 To Mark KPAR-TV Debut SPECIAL ceremonies Jan. 30 will mark the opening of KPAR-TV Sweetwater, Tex., as a satellite operation of KDUB-TV Lubbock. W. D. (Dub) Rogers Jr., president of Texas Telecasting Inc., operator of the two stations, said that viewers would be taken on a tour of the ch. 12 outlet's facilities during a special three-hour telecast. Although a satellite, a full-time staff will be maintained at KPAR-TV to originate local programming. Time at the new facility may be purchased separately or at special combination rates with KDUB-TV, Mr. Rogers said. KPARTV plans to begin regular 18-hour daily programming Jan. 31. KH PL-TV Goes on Air Jan. 29 KH PL-TV Hayes Center, Neb., ch. 2 satellite of KHOL-TV Holdrege, will begin telecasting Jan. 29 with a special program from the parent station's studios. Dignitaries from Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado, are expected to participate in the opening ceremonies, with music furnished by the McCook (Neb.) High School band. KAKE's Fletcher Retires GRAEME FLETCHER announced his resignation last week as vice president-general manager of KAKE Wichita, Kan., effective Dec. 1, 1955, while he was recuperating from an illness. Mr. Fletcher had been with KAKE since it began in September 1947, first as program director and as general manager since April 15, 1954. Mr. Fletcher entered broadcasting in 1934 with WFBC GreenFLETCHER ^ § Q He ^ no future plans beyond an extended vacation. Broadcasting • Telecasting MANAGERS of NBC-owned stations review sales records with two NBC executives during last week's two-day meeting in New York. L to r: seated, Thomas B. McFadden, vice president, NBC Spot Sales; Charles R. Denny, vice president, NBC owned stations and NBC Spot Sales, and Jules Herbuveaux, WMAQ-WNBQ (TV) Chicago; standing, Hamilton Shea, WRCA-AM-TV New York; Carleton Smith, WRC-AM-TV Washington; William K. McDaniel, KNBC San Francisco; Lloyd Yoder, WTAM-WNBK (TV) Cleveland; Thomas McCray, KRCA (TV) Los Angeles, and Charles C. Bevis Jr., WBUF-TV Buffalo. WBIG Building Dedication Held on 30th Anniversary A NEW BUILDING that houses executive offices, studio and transmitter facilities was dedicated Sunday by WBIG Greensboro, N. C, Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Co. outlet, on the station's 30th anniversary, according to Allen Wannamaker, vice president and general manager. A 2'/2-hour dedicatory program included transcribed messages from Gov. Luther H. Hodges; Mayor R. Boyd Morris of Greensboro; Howard Holderness, president, and Joseph M. Bryan, vice president, of Jefferson Standard; Perry Como, Edward R. Murrow and Douglas Edwards, of CBS, and Eddie Cameron, Duke U. athletic director. The new plant is located at 2838 Battleground Road. Back to Join WFIL-AM-TV GUNNAR BACK, nationally-known commentator and ABC Washington correspondent, has been named director of news and special events at WFIL-AM-TV Philadelphia. Mr. Back assumes his new duties Feb. 6, according to Roger W. Clipp, general manager of the radio and tv division of Triangle Publications Inc., licensee of the Philadelphia outlets. WHAS-TV Issues New Rates WHAS-TV Louisville, Ky., has announced a new rate card, No. 8, effective Feb. 1. The station has established a Class AA time bracket from 7 to 10 p.m., Sunday through Saturday, with a one time hourly rate of $1,000. The Class AA minute announcement rate is $200. Also established is a new time period for 30 second break announcements. Walter Compton Signed As WOL News Commentator WALTER COMPTON. 20-year radio-tv veteran, and MBS White House correspondent from 1937 to 1945. has been signed as news reporter-commentator for WOL-AM-FM Washington. Mr. Compton, jjiflteft, who assumes his new I '^^^^Km*. duties effective to \ day (Monday), will handle MondayFriday morning and evening newscasts (7.30, 8:00, 8:30, 9:00 a.m.; 5:00, 6:15 p.m.). His morning shows will be fiveminute news roundups and his evening stints will analyze MR. COMPTON the day's events. Mr. Compton is a former manager of WAAM (TV) Baltimore and WTTG (TV) Washington. Additionally, he has been a newscaster for WHN New York. During his first stay in Washington, WOL was MBS' Washington outlet where Mr. Compton originated and emceed the Double or Nothing program, besides covering his regular White House duties for Mutual. Young Firms Change Names ADAM YOUNG TELEVISION Corp. and Adam J. Young Jr. Inc., national station representatives, officially announced last week a change in corporate name to Young Television Corp. and Adam Young Corp., respectively. January 23, 1956 • Page 71