Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1957)

GOVERNMENT CONTINUED NIGHTTIME WSAZ -TV DELIVERS 1000 HOMES BETWEEN 7:30 and 10:30 P. M. FOR $1.30 The second station's cost per thousand homes is $2.39 84% Higher The third station's cost per thousand homes is $5.42 317% Higher AND ANYTIME WSAZ-TY delivers ONE THIRD more total homes than both other Huntington-Charleston Stations COMBINED HUNTINGTON-CHARLESTON, W. VA. XT.B.O ITBTWQSS Affiliated wilh Radio Stations WSAZ. Huntington 4 WKAZ. Charleston LAWRENCE H. ROGERS, PRESIDENT Represented by The Katx Agency CALL YOUR KATZ MAN Page 68 • October 14, 1957 WKLO-TV, ABC-TV Denied Voice In WTVW (TV) Show Cause Case Mid-America Broadcasting Corp., permittee of WKLO-TV Louisville, Ky., ch. 21, and ABC-TV last week were prevented by the FCC from taking part in a forthcoming Commission hearing on Dec. 9 at which WTVW (TV) Evansville, Ind., ch. 7, must show cause why it shouldn't broadcast on ch. 31. The Commission said absence of the would-be intervenors would cause no injury to their existing rights. WTVW stands to lose its rights to ch. 7 because of a previous deintermixture ruling which proposes to switch the outlet to ch. 31, and transfer ch. 7 to Louisville [Government, Aug. 12]. The Commission scheduled the hearing a fortnight ago to determine if the proposed shifts would be in the public interest [Government, Oct. 7]. The Commission noted that WKLO-TV has "a definite interest in the outcome of the hearing" if ch. 7 actually is assigned to Louisville. It added that ABC-TV has contingent affiliation interests. But the FCC decreed that neither had sufficiently current interests to qualify them as intervenors at the forthcoming WTVW hearing. The Commission noted that if WKLO-TV and ABC-TV were given such a privilege, similar courtesies might have to be granted many others "which would unduly complicate and prolong the proceeding." WILO Gets FCC 'Show Cause' Alleging After-Hours Operation WILO Frankfort, Ind., on Oct. 2 was directed by the FCC to submit a statement within 30 days giving reasons why the station's license should not be revoked for alleged operation after specified hours. The Commission charged that WILO, a daytimer on 1570 kc, illegally operated its main transmitter to broadcast basketball games at night during the winter months on 1606 kc, which is licensed to WILO's remote pickup station, KD-2563. A game broadcast for "general public reception" March 9 from 7:59 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. CST is mentioned specifically by the FCC. At the conclusion of the basketball game, the licensee transmitted a "false and deceptive signal" by announcing the KD-2563 call, according to the Commission. Last May, WILO was given official notice of the alleged violations and the station's explanation was "evasive and unsatisfactory," the Commission stated in its new demand for an accounting. The Commission also suspended for four months the radio-telephone first class operator's license of Lewis M. Shroyer, general manager and chief engineer of WILO, because of the alleged violations of FCC rules. FTC Rules Stamps Not 'Unfair' The Federal Trade Commission, after a quiet investigation begun about six months ago, has announced it will not now issue any complaints against the use of trading stamps. The FTC, noting that stamps have been used for over 60 years held that the plans in themselves are not an unfair method of competition. It noted that popularity of the stamps, although now at a record high, had fluctuated widely. At present, about 300 companies are doing a $600 million business in the field. Sperry & Hutchinson Co., considered the only nationally distributed company, has an annual tv budget near $2.5 million. KYAT (TV) Construction Delay Brings FCC 'Get Tough' Order In what has been described as a continuing "get tough" policy, the FCC last week served notice on two tv construction permit holders that they are in danger of losing their authorizations for failure to proceed with construction. Wrather-Alvarez Broadcasting Co., permittee of ch. 13 KYAT (TV) Yuma, Ariz., was given 20 days to request a hearing or its cp will be deleted. Wrather-Alvarez has a petition for rule-making to shift ch. 13 to El Centra, Calif., pending, and has requested an extension of the KYAT cp (which expired March 25) until the Commission acts on the channel shift. The FCC told the permittee that delay in construction of KYAT is not due to matters beyond its control but rather to the voluntary decision to await a Commission decision on the rulemaking petition. A grant of the extension would not be warranted under the circumstances, the Commission said. Wrather-Alvarez also owns KFMBTV San Diego and KERO-TV Bakersfield, Calif. Set for hearing was the application of Robert S. McCaw for extension of his cp for ch. 23 Yakima, Wash., also on the grounds the permittee lacks sufficient reasons for not building the station. Mr. McCaw also owns 33!/3% of KYAK Yakima and KALE Richland and has interests in community antenna tv systems in Aberdeen and Kennewick, all Washington. AT&T Denies Stations' Charge The American Telephone & Telegraph Co. has filed a sworn statement with the FCC categorically denying "undue delay" or a "lack of willingness" to supply North Dakota Broadcasting Co. with program transmission facilities between Minneapolis and the Fargo-Minot area. The firm, which operates KBMB-TV Bismarck, KXJB Fargo-Valley City and KCJB Minot, all North Dakota, last summer stated that AT&T had stalled on his application without giving him a direct answer. FCC Extends Class IV Deadline At the request of the Community Broadcasters Assn., representing class IV am stations, the FCC has extended to Nov. 1 the time to file comments on proposed rules to increase their broadcast power from 250 w to 1 kw. The old deadline on the acrossthe-board proposal was Oct. 1 . McElroy Assumes Defense Post Neil H. McElroy, former president of Procter & Gamble Co., assumed one of the nation's most important governmental posts Wednesday when he was sworn in as Secre Broadcasting