Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr-Jun 1957)

PEOPLE at deadline TV NETWORK MARCH GROSS: $43.5 MILLION TV networks' gross time charges in March totaled more than $43.5 million, or 7.3% above same month last year. For JanuaryMarch, gross billing was 8.4% above 1956's first quarter. Publishers Information Bureau Friday also reported CBS-TV led other networks with more than $20 million gross billing in March, scoring 12.8% increase over its total for same month a year ago. PIB figures: ABC CBS NBC TOTAL March 1957 S 6,848,848 20,172,173 16,532,394 $43,553,415 March 1956 $ 6,747,928 17,884,976 15,955,688 $40,588,592 increase 1.5 12.8 3.6 7.3 Jan. -March 1957 $19,739,917 58,712,735 47,987,966 $126,440,618 Jan. -March 1956 $19,548,184 52,633,792 44,495,804 5116,677,780 % increase 1.0 11.5 7.8 8.4 FCC Grants Two New Ams In Portland, Wolf Point FCC Friday granted new am on 1290 kc, 1 kw daytime in Portland, Ore., to Robert E. Bollinger and at the same time denied KLTQ Portland's request for license renewal on same facilities. KLIQ, involved in financial difficulties and silent since April 12. 1954, also was denied change in transmitter and studio location. Grant to Mr. Bollinger finalized an initial decision issued March 12, 1956. Commission ruled that KLIQ failed to show that it possesses the qualifications necessary to operate station. In second decision, Commission granted HiLine Broadcasting Co. 1490 kc with 250 w in Wolf Point. Mont., and denied competing application of Wolf Point Broadcasting Co. Comr. John C. Doerfer voted for Wolf Point and Comr. T. A. M. Craven abstained. Hi-Line was favored on grounds of local ownership, civic participation, integration of ownership with management and greater diversity of background. Hi-Line principals are Mike M. Vukelich, E. E. Krebsbach and Robert E. Coffey. Mr. Krebsbach owns KGCX Sidney, Mont., which was shifted to that city from Wolf Point in 1942. Tv ID's Cost $46.8 Million TvB reported Friday that $46,806,000 was spent during 1956 on television ID's, said to represent about 11.8% of total amount in spot. Twelve national and regional spot advertisers who spent $500,000 or more in tv ID's in 1956. according to TvB, are Brown & Williamson Tobacco Co., Coca-Cola Co. Bottlers, Cream of Wheat Corp., Duncan Coffee Co., Florida Citrus Commission. Ford Motor Co.. General Foods Corp., Lever Bros. Co., Liggett & Myers Tobacco Co., P. Lorillard & Co.. Philip Morris & Co. and Pepsi-Cola Bottlers. KHEP Owners Buy KEPO KEPO El Paso, Texas, 690 kc with 10 kw power, sold Friday to Arizona group for $150,000, subject to FCC approval. Transaction handled by Hamilton, Stubblefield, Twining & Assoc. Buyers are Ray Odom and A. V. Barnford, partners in KHEP Phoenix, and E. O. Smith, Phoenix furniture dealer. They bought KEPO Broadcasting Co. stock from John W. Stayton. Austin attorney. Frank Stewart is general manager of station, founded in 1948. It has ABC affiliation. Messrs. Odom and Barnford have cp for new station in Tucson. OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY BROADCASTERS plagued by "equal time" demand from political candidates can take solace from following Jersey City tidbit: Five candidates, challenging five incumbent city commissioners in upcoming elections, charged local Jersey Journal with granting administration "excessive" space and sparse coverage to their campaign. At first they installed lady pickets in front of office of newspaper and other cities criticizing Journal in ripe terms; then bought ten 20-minute programs on WATV (TV) Newark, starting last Wednesday with program highlighting lady pickets. Spokesman for Jersey Journal told B»T that newspaper's only comment would be editorial of April 16, titled "The Lady's Picket." which said Journal would offer space to all candidates for charges they could prove and would print any other charges for which an indemnity bond was posted. Blumenthal Files Application For Terre Haute's New Ch. 2 CY BLUMENTHAL Friday filed application with FCC for new tv station on ch. 2 in Terre Haute, Ind., recently assigned to that city [B«T. March 5]. He asked 100 kw with antenna 990 ft. above average terrain. Construction costs estimated at $483,622 with $600,000 for first year operation. Mr. Blumenthal owns WCMS Norfolk, WARL-AM-FM Arlington, both Va.; KCKN Kansas City, Kan.; 10% of WROV Roanoke, Va.; applicant for new am at Denbigh, Va., and holds cp for dark ch. 20 WARL-TV Arlington. Ch. 10 WTKI-TV Terre Haute has application pending before Commission to change to ch. 2. St. Louis Ch. 1 1 Grant Appealed BROADCAST HOUSE Inc., applicant for ch. 11 East St. Louis, 111., has filed appeal in U. S. Court of Appeals against FCC's grant of St. Louis ch. 11 to CBS [B»T, April 1]. Broadcast House claimed FCC erred in not making grant to it, since East St. Louis has no tv outlets, while St. Louis has three. CBS won final decision over four other applicants for ch. 1 1 facility. Broadcasting Telecasting RODGER HUTZENLALB, radio-tv research staff. Young & Rubicam, N. Y., for past four years, appointed assistant to Ray Jones, head co-ordinator of spot broadcasting, Y&R. BASIL W. MATTHEWS, Ogilvy. Benson & Mather, N. Y., to Ruthrauff & Ryan, N. Y.. as vice president and account supervisor on Flav-R Straw account. ELLIOT REED continues as Flav-R Straw account executive at agency. STANLEY DUDELSON, north central division manager of Screen Gems, named midwest division manager, effective Wednesday, replacing HENRY A. GILLESPIE, resigned. WILLIAM E. YOUNG and TED SWIFT appointed to SG's midwestern sales staff; PAT RASTALL has resigned from Chicago staff. Radio's Readjustment to Tv Cited by NARTB's Tower RADIO has successfully adjusted to television's competition by adapting its service to new needs of advertisers and listeners, Charles H. Tower, NARTB employe-employer relations manager, told Pacific Coast Oil Heat Institute Convention, in Portland, Ore., Friday. Mr. Tower related how radio broadcasters emphasized music, news and sports as they developed specialized audiences in the face of tv's dramatic expansion. Radio's price differential and mass appeal are attractive to advertisers, he said, adding that it is hiring more and better salesmen "to sell commercial time and to seek out business it once was content to let come to it." Result has been steady increase every year but one from 1948 to 1956. he said. Lackey Cancels Appearance At Senate-Daytimers' Hearings WASHINGTON attorney for Community Broadcasters Assn.. Howard J. Schellenbere Jr., announced Friday that F. Ernest Lackey, association president, would not appear Monday before Senate Special Daytime Radio Broadcasting Subcommittee as originally scheduled. Mr. Schellenberg said FCC sources told him that the Commission would give early and serious consideration to Community Broadcasters' year-old petition that group's stations be permitted to increase their power from 250 to 1,000 watts. Mr. Lackey, also president and general manager of WHOP Hopkinsville. Ky.. was to be only witness testifying for Community Broadcasters. KMTV (TV) Charges Service Loss LOSS of service was point on which ch. 3 KMTV (TV) Omaha, Neb., filed appeal Friday in U. S. Court of Appeals. Washington, against FCC's assignment last month of ch. 3 to Ainsworth. Neb. KMTV said it had suggested assignment of chs. 7. 8. 12 or 16 to Ainsworth, entailing no loss of service to KMTV. but FCC adamantly allocated ch. 3. Almost 200,000 people will lose KMTV and other tv stations' signals, Omaha outlet asserted. Loss Recorded by DuMont Labs ALLEN B. DuMONT Labs. Friday reported a loss of $353,000 on sales of $10,059,000 for first quarter of 1957. This compares with operating loss of $228,000. reduced by federal income tax carryback of $149,000 to net loss of $79,000. on sales of $11,645,000 for corresponding period of 1956. April 29, 1957 • Page 9