Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1957)

STATIONS CONTINUED SPORTS Live local sports are exclusive on Houston's live station . . . Whether it's tournament golf, weekly wrestling, Little League baseball, or National AAU swim championships . . . only KTRK-TV covers for Houston the local sports spectacles that turn to interest them most ! ! ! Page 84 KTRK-TV CHANNEL 13 HOUSTON Page 76 • October 7, 1957 Pulse Attention to Promotions Draws Beefs From Some Outlets By attempting to show in its ratings which local radio stations conducted special listener promotions during the rating week, it appears that the Pulse Inc. has a "hot potato" on its hands: Some 15-20 radio stations in highly competitive markets have complained about the procedure the research organization uses in ascertaining the information. Pulse is understood to be the only firm which attempts to show this information. The difficulty seems to lie in the fact that stations using special promotions don't like to talk about it when questioned. The displeasure felt by some stations was summed up in sharp terms by Charles W. Balthrope, president of Radio KITE Inc., owner of KITE San Antonio. Mr. Balthrope advised Dr. Sydney Roslow, president of Pulse, that KITE would not provide information on "special promotional efforts" undertaken by KITE. Mr. Balthrope added: "Why don't you report what's being done during the survey period instead of asking the offending stations to give you a doubletalk answer or a virgin-like 'no reply'?" Dr. Roslow said it is his impression that Mr. Balthrope wants Pulse interviewers to report on the special promotions carried on j by stations during rating periods. He claimed I that it is not the function of the Pulse to "police" the stations because it is a rating organization. The Pulse, he said, has asked stations to indicate when special promotions — not including those usually carried on a regular basis — are launched during rating periods. If competing stations report to the Pulse that another outlet has conducted a special promotion, this information is carried in the report but the accused station is given the opportunity to enter a disclaimer. Dr. Roslow said he has received similar complaints from 15-20 radio stations and observed they were all located in "fiercely competitive markets." He defended his system as one that gives a timebuyer a more accurate picture in a particular market as the buyer has another factor to consider in arriving at a decision. WACK Starts on 1420 Kc WACK Newark, N. Y., started broadcasting last week on 1420 kc, according to an announcement by Bud Sova, general manager. The new station is on the air from 6 a.m. to sunset and features service from a remote studio in Canadaigua, N. Y. Officers are Dr. Joseph J. Kaufman, president; Dr. Donald A. Corgill, treasurer; David A. Kyle, secretary; Arthur Kyle and Richard L. Sandefur, directors. The same group is associated in ownership of WNDR Syracuse, WPDM Pottsdam and WABY Albany. Mr. Sova had been with WNDR under the name Del Baxter since 1949. WNDU Makes Switch to Ch. 16 WNDU-TV South Bend, Ind., officially moved from ch. 46 to ch. 16 Sept 29, claiming better reception by viewers throughout its South Bend-Elkhart coverage area. Bernard C. Barth, vice president and general manager of the station, said the change was designed to afford a stronger signal and will particularly benefit tv homes in its fringe area. He reported WNDU-TV reception now extends to within a radius of 62 miles of South Bend and includes 15 counties in Indiana and Michigan as a result of the channel switch. The uhf outlet is a primary NBC-TV affiliate, starting operation in July 1955. Burbach to Retire in St. Louis; Grams to Succeed at KSD-AM-TV George M. Burbach, general manager of KSD-AM-TV St. Louis and one of the nation's pioneer broadcasters, last week announced his retirement effective Jan. 1. Harold Grams, program director of the stations, will succeed him. Mr. Burbach was instrumental in setting up the St. Louis Post-Dispatch radio station in 1922 and was placed in charge of its MR. BURBACH MR. GRAMS program and business departments at that time. He became general manager in 1933, in addition to his duties as newspaper advertising manager. In 1941 he gave up the newspaper position to devote full time to broadcasting. Joining the newspaper in 1913, Mr. Burbach was elected to the Pulitzer Publishing Co. board in 1922 and also has been secretary of the firm since 1940. He became interested in tv after watching a London demonstration in 1936. KSD-TV took the air Feb. 8, 1947, as "the first post-war equipped tv station." Bomb Scare Puts WDAS Off Air WDAS Philadelphia was reported off the air about 25 minutes Sept. 29 because of an anonymous report that a bomb had been planted in the building. Police got the telephoned message shortly after 8 a.m. and combed the building for nearly a half-hour, finding no explosives. A station spokesman connected the incident with race trouble. Negro programming represents the bulk of the WDAS schedule. KNXT (TV) Sets Basics Course To promote understanding of the television medium, KNXT (TV) Los Angeles is inviting agency and client representatives to a training course beginning in midOctober, according to Clark B. George, general manager of the station. The course will comprise six sessions of two hours each, Broadcasting • Telecasting