Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1956)

PEOPLE FCC Orders Tv Booster Off Air, Asserts Jurisdiction COMPROMISING stand that unauthorized tv booster operation in Bridgeport, Wash., is in violation of Communications Act enunciated by FCC Friday. In ordering Bridgeport community booster to cease and desist, FCC reversed examiner who held that since boosters performed public service and caused no interference, no cease and desist order should be issued [B*T, Oct. 24, 1955]. Commission emphasized Communications Act was established to maintain government "control" over all channels of interstate and foreign radio transmissions, including interstate transmissions where interference resulted. Commission said Bridgeport booster caused interference there with direct reception of two Spokane vhf stations (KXLY-TV ch. 4 and KHQ-TV ch. 6). Case resulted from operation of number of unlicensed booster outlets in Washington state. Bridgeport decision presumably applies to others in Chehalis Valley region of northwest. However, FCC last month issued proposed rule-making to establish new service using "translators" — low power stations which would receive big city signals, amplify them and rebroadcast them on upper uhf bands [B»T, Jan. 16]. Comments on this proposal are due March 5 — same day cease and desist order against Bridgeport booster becomes effective. Hearing Set March 26 On Rochester Protest SHARETIME Rochester, N. Y., ch. 10 tv stations WHEC-TV and WVET-TV will remain on air while hearing is held on protest by WSAY Rochester (Gordon P. Brown). FCC Friday scheduled hearing on long controverted protest for March 26. Commission granted ch. 10 sharetime outlets in 1953, denied WSAY protest which followed. Court of Appeals remanded case to FCC last December [B«T, Dec. 26, 1955], said hearing should have been held. Under old Sec. 309 (c) rules FCC was required to stay grants' effectiveness; however Congress early in January revised rule to give Commission discretion. Commission declared it was in public interest to maintain service. WSAY had asked appeals court to cite Commission for contempt because it failed to take stations off air under old rules, but court dismissed motion. Among issues in hearing are diversification, whether sharetime agreement is in public interest, whether WVET-TV is financially qualified, commercial practices of sister station WVET, and rebroadcast rules. FCC Approves WCBR Sale; WKTM Sold for $50,000 APPROVAL has been given by FCC to sale of WCBR Memphis, Tenn. (1 kw on 1480 kc) by Chickasaw Broadcasting Co. to Jules J. Paglin and Stanley W. Ray for $10,250 and assumption of $60,500 in obligations. Station will change call letters to WLOK April 1. Messrs. Paglin and Ray already own or control WBOK New Orleans, WXOK Baton Rouge, La., KAOK Lake Charles, La., and KYOK Houston, Tex. Sales approval was one of nine announced Friday by FCC. WKTM Mayfield, Ky., was purchased by Mr. at deadline and Mrs. Fred Thomas, Benton Harbor, Mich., for total consideration of $50,000, it was announced Friday. Sale subject to usual FCC approval. Station, owned by Michael R. Freeland and John M. Latham, operates on 1050 kc with 1 kw, daytime. Thomases plan to move to Mayfield and actively operate station. Paul H. Chapman, Atlanta station broker, negotiated transaction. Stevenson Gets Free Time On Conn. Stations, NBC-TV FREE radio-tv time figures prominently in latest campaign activities of Adlai E. Stevenson, seeker of Democratic presidential nomination. WTIC and WGTH, both Hartford, Conn., were to donate 30 minutes of free air time Saturday night to Democratic State Committee of Connecticut for pick-up of Mr. Stevenson's speech in that city. In New York, state-wide Stevenson for President Committee placed Mr. Stevenson on NBC-TV's Today tomorrow (Tues.) morning for "gratuitous appearance." NBC spokesman said Friday that although gratis, Mr. Stevenson's appearance would be regarded as political broadcast. Biggest Buy for Robert Hall IN LINE with largest expansion in history, Robert Hall Clothes reported Friday it will launch heaviest radio-tv spot announcement campaign for single month during March in 130 cities where 220 retail stores are located. Through Frank B. Sawdon agency, Robert Hall has scheduled 8,000 spot announcements per week on radio and 1,200 tv announcements weekly, calling attention to opening of 20 new stores in Los Angeles, St. Louis, Fort Worth and San Antonio and tying in expansion with new spring clothes offered by company. CBS-TV, Screen Gems Pact CBS-TV reported Friday that agreement has been reached with Screen Gems, under which SG will produce eight IVi hour films for network's Playhouse 90 series to be broadcast next fall. Although complete details were not released, it is reported that each film will cost about $150,000 and financing will be arranged entirely by CBS-TV, with Screen Gems sharing in ownership. Final contract papers to be signed shortly. UPCOMING Feb. 27-March 1 : Senate Interstate & Foreign Commerce Committee resumes hearings in investigation of tv networks and uhf-vhf problems, U. S. Capitol. Feb. 27: House Antitrust Subcommittee exploratory hearings, on monopoly in regulated industry, 10:30 a.m., room 346, Old House Office Bldg. March 2-3: Midwestern Adv. Agency Network business meeting and competitive display, Drake Hotel, Chicago. March 2-4: Hi-Fi Fair, Shoreham Hotel, Washington. For other Upcomings see page 133. HERBERT B. LAZARUS named general counsel of American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres, succeeding late Walter W. Gross [Deadline, Feb. 20], Leonard H. Goldenson, AB-PT President, is announcing today (Mon.). Mr. Lazarus has been with AB-PT and previously with Paramount Pictures since 1933 in various legal capacities. STUART M. KELLY named vice president and assistant national television manager of Faul H. Raymer Co., N. Y., station representative, board announced Friday. Mr. Kelly had been account executive with Raymer for several years and previously had been with O. L. Taylor Co., N. Y. F. G. STROBEL, creative art director at Walker B. Sheriff Inc., Chicago, elected vice president. CLYDE L. CLEM, director of audience promotion, NBC, to Grant Adv., Detroit, as radiotv account executive for Dodge. RICHARD H, CLOSE, manager of represented stations, NBC Spot Sales, named director. RALPH ELLIS, sales manager of National Film Board of Canada, named general manager of Fremantle of Canada, Toronto, distributor of tv film series. E. ROBERT NASHIK, advertising and promotion manager, WGBS-TV Miami, named "Advertising Personality of the Year" by Advertising Club of Greater Miami. WIRI (TV) Sale Approval Asked APPLICATION filed Friday for FCC approval of $500,000-plus purchase of WIRI (TV) Lake Placid (Plattsburg), N. Y., by mulitple radio station owner Rollins Broadcasting Inc. [B»T, Feb. 20]. Ch. 5 WIRI is NBC, ABC affiliate and is associated in ownership with WIRY Plattsburg. Great Northern Tv Inc., WIRI permittee, showed total assets of $440,256 and total current liabilities of $388,989 as of Dec. 1, 1955. FCC Denies Madison Stay REQUEST that Commission's grant of Madison, Wis., ch. 3 to WISC there be stayed pending reconsideration appeal, submitted by ch. 39 WTTVO (TV) Rockford, 111., denied by FCC Friday. Commission said it would not be in public interest to delay bringing vhf service to Madison area, also said its deliberations on WTVO plea for reconsideration will not be affected. New Am for Albuquerque NEW am station in Albuquerque, N. M. (1450 kc, 250 w, with remote control) granted by FCC Friday to B&M Broadcasters (E. Boyd Whitney, KQUE Albuquerque announcer, and D. K. MacGregar, grocer). Grantees plan to spend more than $18,250 to build, $42,000 operating yearly. Grant conditioned on Mr. Whitney serving connection with KQUE. Ch. 8 Asked for Guam PETITION was filed with FCC Friday to assign ch. 8 to Agana, Guam, by KUAM that city (Harry M. Engel Jr.). Tv on Navy bastion in Pacific was subject of major protest by Mr. Engel last year when it became known Defense Dept. was planning military tv on ch. 8 there. Petition indicated that when vhf channel is assigned to island, KUAM would apply for it. Broadcasting • Telecasting February 27, 1956 • Page 9