Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr-Jun 1957)

STATIONS ciency in testimony on behalf of the four independent tv stations of Los Angeles: KCOP (TV), KHJ-TV and KTTV (TV) as well as KTLA. The bill, if adopted, would be unconstitutional, Mr. Warner contended, because it would impose the tax, amounting to about lVz%, on all radio-tv receipts without segregating receipts for intrastate sportscasts from those received for those going interstate, such as a Pabst or Gillette sports show originated in California. Noting the committee votes for the bill were only the bare number required to get it out of committee, Mr. Warner said that when the measure reaches the floor of the assembly, probably this week, it will be opposed again by the state's broadcasters, who also will fight it in the State Senate. "We lost the first round, but others are coming up and the fight is a long way from ended," he said. Huddle Continues on L. A. Sale REPRESENTATIVES of Copley Press, owner of KCOP (TV) Los Angeles, and a group headed by Kenyon Brown and Bing Crosby, last week were still working out the terms for the sale of the station to the Brown-Crosby syndicate for $4 million [B«T, April 8]. Jack Heinz, vice president and general manager of KCOP, said , Thursday that there is every indication that the deal will go through as contemplated, but that getting all the points settled is a time-consuming matter. KING-TV WINS RIGHT TO COVER BOAT RACE • KOMO-TV#s Warren comments • Tv access not issue, he says KING-TV Seattle has won the right to telecast the May 5 Apple Cup Hydroplane Race on Lake Chelan, the station reports. Judge J. A. Adams of the Chelan County Superior Court held April 13 that a grant of exclusive coverage rights by the race sponsor, Lake Chelan Boat Racers Inc., to KOMOTV Seattle was "unconstitutional and void" because it violated fundamental principles of freedom of the press, according to KINGTV. Otto Brandt, vice president and general manager of KING-TV, said, "Judge Adams' decision today has national significance. It reasserted the important principle that television, as part of the press, has the right of free and equal access to public news events. The effect is a great service both to news media and to the general public." Asked to comment on the ruling of Judge Adams, W. W. Warren, executive vice president and general manager of KOMO-TV, noted that Judge Adams in his oral opinion — not yet final — suggested the question should be passed upon by a higher court for full and complete determination, if time permits, and added that the city attorney of Chelan had stated serious consideration IF YOU'RE BUYING VACATION LAND AUDIENCE IR0NW00D, MICHIGAN 630KC 1000 WATTS . . . Gives you a bonus audience of upwards of !/2 million listeners at no increase in WJMS' present low rates. Contact your nearest Hil F. Best office or William L. Johnson, Pres.Gen'l Mgr. WJMS, ironwood, Michigan Tel 20 is being given to bringing the matter to a higher court. "KING-TV was granted the right to use a public park, but was denied all other requests made of Judge Adams," Mr. Warren said. "In view of statements made by others," he continued, "it should be pointed out that the exclusive contract was passed upon only in so far as the use of the public parks was concerned, and the contract was not held to be unconstitutional and void as claimed. It has also been implied that this case involved a question of equal access for tv. . . . It was only a question of the extent to which the City of Chelan could control its own property. Access to telecast this sporting event was never denied to any tv station at any time. The only denial was the use of some property to be used as a telecast site." KING-TV is proceeding with plans to cover the event which opens the 1957 unlimited hydroplane racing season in the United States. KREM-TV Spokane and KGW-TV Portland, Ore., will carry the KING-TV coverage. Lake Chelan Boat Racers Inc. has advised KING-TV that the organization will comply with the ruling, the station said. WOAI-AM-TV's Hugh HalfF Dies After Extended Illness HUGH A. L. HALFF, 53, president of WOAI-AM-TV San Antonio, died April 14 after an extended illness. Mr. Halff started in 1931 with WOAI, founded 1 1 years earlier by his uncle, the late G. A. C. Halff. WOAI TV, first television station in San Antonio, was founded under the younger Mr. Halff's direction in 1949. Mr. Halff served two terms on the board or directors of the National Assn. of Broadcasters. Survivors are his wife, Catherine Harding Halff; two children, Hugh Jr. and Catherine; his mother, Mrs. Henry L. Halff, all of San Antonio, and his sister, Mrs. Arnold S. Askin of New York City. Calif. Group Buys XEAC Rights UNITED STATES sales rights to XEAC, Mexican station located some 12 miles from Tia Juana in Baja California, Mexico, have been obtained by a new corporation, California Broadcasters Corp., Dean Simmons, veteran Los Angeles advertising man and one of the CBC principals, announced last week. The station, owned by Jorge T. Rivera who also is an executive of CBC. currently operates with 5 kw on 690 kc, but before fall its power will be increased to 50 kw with a non-directional signal daytime and one directionalized up and down the Pacific Coast at night, Mr. Simmons said. CBC is investing more than $300,000 for new equipment for XEAC, he reported, including a new GE transmitter MR. HALFF Page 106 April 22, 1957 Broadcasting Telecasting