Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1956)

STATIONS WOR-AM-TV NAMES SEPARATE MANAGERS Gordon Gray turns responsibilities of am managership over to Robert Leder, retains duties as chief of tv outlet. CREATION of separate managerships for WOR and WOR-TV New York, with Gordon Gray concentrating on WOR-TV as executive vice president and general manager and Robert J. Leder moving over from WINS New York to become general manager of WOR, was announced last week, effective April 15. Thomas F. O'Neil, chairman and president of RKO Teleradio Pictures, owner of the stations, disclosed the changes and explained that "the mushrooming success of WOR-TV and the continuing achievement of WOR have practically dictated the necessity of splitting the supervision of these two valuable properties." Mr. Gray, vice president and general manager of WOR-AM-TV, has headed the stations MR. LEDER MR. GRAY since December 1953, when he resigned as vice president in charge of the eastern office of WJR Detroit and WGAR Cleveland to join the O'Neil organization. Mr. Leder has been general manager of WINS since March 1954. Mr. O'Neil said that "during Gordon Gray's period of general management of WOR-TV, the station's position, both financially and rating-wise, has risen most impressively." At the same time, he said, "despite a vastly more competitive situation, station WOR under his management has continued to maintain its position. . . . The resulting responsibilities require the full time of an executive for each station. Bob Leder's dynamic reputation is well known throughout the broadcasting industry." Mr. Gray, before his tenure with WJR and WGAR, was vice president and a member of the board of WIP Philadelphia and, before that, manager of stations in Minneapolis, Omaha and Lincoln, Neb. Among other responsibilities, he is a member of the board of Mutual, member of the board of Television Bureau of Advertising, and vice president and a Uhf Boosts Prime Time WWLP (TV) Springfield, Mass. (ch. 22), has announced that effective March 1, it has instituted a new Class AA time, from 8-10 p.m., at $500 per hour, splitting the former A time (7 p.m. to signoff) into two periods: 7-8 p.m. and 10-11 p.m. The move was made, according to William L. Putnam, general manager, to adjust to increases in audience and market saturation. Otherwise, all time periods (A through D), and time charges remain the same; Class A time, for example, still being $400 per hour for the uhf outlet. director of New York State Broadcasters Assn. Before moving to WINS, Mr. Leder served NBC in several capacities, including eastern and national sales manager for NBC Spot Sales and sales director of WNBC (now WRCA) New York. He formerly was with National Television Assoc., WVNJ Newark, Booth Vickery & Schwinn and George Elliott Adv. April 15 Start Planned By WDMJ-TV Marquette WDMJ-TV Marquette, Mich., plans to put a test pattern on the air tomorrow (Tuesday), with regular programming scheduled to begin April 15, according to Charles B. Zwemer. The ch. 6 CBS affiliate is represented nationally by Weed and plans to operate with 100 kw video and 60 kw audio. Other executives include Frank J. Russell, owner-president; Wilber H. Treloar, general manager; Wallace C. Johnson, comptroller; Robert J. Luke, regional sales director; James Luke, local sales, and Paul Anick, chief engineer. Formal Dedication Held For KH PL-TV Hayes Center FORMAL DEDICATION of KH PL-TV Hayes Center, Neb., satellite of KHOL-TV Kearney, Neb., were held yesterday (Sunday) in KHOLTV's studios. Scheduled to be present at the ceremonies were Nebraska Gov. Victor Anderson, Sen. Carl Curtis, Sen. Roman Hruska, and Rep. A. L. Miller. Film interviews with other dignitaries from Nebraska. Colorado and Kansas also were to be shown. KVSO-TV Ardmore, Okla., Aims for June Starting Date CONSTRUCTION has begun on KVSO-TV Ardmore, Okla., and the station should be on the air by June 1, according to General Manager John Easley Riesen. Transmitting from a 1400-ft. peak in the Arbuckle Mountains north of Ardmore, the station will operate on 27.3 kw with a tower 647 ft. above average terrain. Studios will be located in downtown Ardmore. The new station will be completely equipped to transmit color, said Mr. Riesen. Freeh Appointed Manager Of KF RE-TV Fresno, Calif. THE APPOINTMENT of Ed Freeh as manager of KFRE-TV Fresno. Calif., was to be announced today (Monday) by Paul R. Bartlett, president. California Inland Broadcasting Co. (KFREAM-TV). KFRE-TV received a final grant for ch. 12 in January [B*T, Jan. 16] and plans to go on the air this summer as a CBS-TV affiliate. Mr. Freeh is a vice president of the parent company and has been manager of KFRE for the CASCADE TELEVISION The BIG MR. FRECH past two years. Keith Mealey, chief engineer, and Helen Johnson, treasurer, both KFRE, will add the same duties for KFRE-TV. CASCADE TELEVISION Contact Broadcasting Telecasting WEED TELEVISION Pacific Northwest; MOORE & tUNP March 19, 1956 • Page 79