Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1957)

at deadline 'K. C. Star7 Signs Decree To Sell Its WDAF-AM-TV Kansas City Star Co. signed consent decree Friday in civil antitrust suit agreeing to divest itself of WDAF-AM-TV Kansas City in reasonable time, as well as to end enforced combination subscription and advertising rates for its morning Star and evening Times editions. Decree, filed in Kansas City district court, also bars defendants from acquiring any interest in any commercial radio or tv station in Kansas City area except with court approval. Newspaper firm was found guilty of monopoly and attempted monopoly in February 1955, with company being fined $5,000, and Emil A. Sees, advertising manager, $2,500. Supreme Court refused to review criminal case last summer [Government, June 24]. Generally understood Star was asking $10 million for stations, which have been object of negotiations, it has been reported, by Harold F. Gross (WJIM-AM-TV Lansing, Mich.), Time Inc., J. H. Whitney Co. and Cox interests among others. KRCT Sells for $175,000 Filed Friday for FCC approval was $175,000 sale of 93% of KRCT Pasadena (near Houston), Tex., by W. D. Christmas to John H. Touchstone and Leroy J. Glager. Mr. Touchstone, vice president-general manager of station, already owned 7%, and will become equal-owner with Mr. Glager. KRCT, on 650 kc with 250 watts daytime, listed Sept. 30 balance sheet showing current assets of $24,630, total assets $54,868, current liabilities $3,680, retained earnings from previous years $54,828 and deficit for first nine months of 1957 of $639. WZOK Is 315th ABN Affiliate Addition of WZOK Jacksonville, Fla., as affiliate of American Broadcasting Network announced Friday by Carmen Marci, president of Radio Jax Inc., licensee of station, and Edward J. DeGray, ABN vice president in charge of station relations. ABN affiliates now total 315. WZOK uses 5 kw on 1320 kc. Larry Glick is vice president and general manager. G-T to Buy Newspaper Today Acquisition of Pawtucket (R.I.) Times by Goodson-Todman Productions for $3 million [Program Services, Nov. 11], scheduled to take place today (Monday) after 80% of newspapers' stockholders approved sale last Friday. Goodson-Todman plans additional acquisitions through New England Newspapers Inc., which radio-tv firm controls, including entry into radio-tv station ownership. Mark Goodson and William S. Todman began radio production firm in 1945, went into tv in 1947. NARTB Becomes NAB Jan. 1; Vote: 1,227 to 35 in Favor Name of National Assn. of Radio & Television Broadcasters reverts to National Assn. of Broadcasters on Jan. 1, it was announced Friday following count of mail referendum among members. Total of 1,227 favored shorter name, 35 opposed it. Founded in 1922 as NAB, organization changed to NARTB in 1951 following merger with Television Broadcasters Assn. NARTB board of directors last June unanimously approved change back to NAB, subject to membership vote. Change was discussed at series of eight regional conferences which concluded last month. NARTB is composed of 1,727 radio stations, 319 tv outlets, four national radio networks and three tv networks along with 1 1 7 members from allied fields. U. S., Mexico in Tv Talks U. S. and Mexican officials scheduled to meet today (Mon.) to begin discussions on allocation of uhf tv channels along border. Meetings, expected to last several days, will be at FCC, with Comr. Rosel H. Hyde for FCC, and Sr. Carlos Nunes for Mexican Ministry of Communications and Public Works. Agreement between U. S. and Mexico on vhf channel spacing along border was reached in 1951 and amended in 1952. In existence is agreement with Canada concerning both vhf and uhf allocations along northern border. NBC Changes Pittsburgh Calls Change of call letters, effective today (Mon.), for NBC's newly acquired WJASAM-FM Pittsburgh, station General Manager H. W. Shepard announced Friday. New calls are WAMP and WFMP (FM), letters representing "am" and "fm" outlets with "P" signifying city. NBC acquired outlets Nov. 1. CAMPAIGNS FOR AUTO FM WRFM (FM) New York, to encourage auto manufacturers to install fm receivers in new car models,, has begun daily spot campaign urging listeners to write to presidents of major auto makers on subject of fm radio as standard car equipment. Station is seeking aid of all other fm stations by distributing sample spots. Selvin Donneson, station sales manager, points out that if each fm outlet could stimulate ten letters weekly "the campaign would produce more than a quarter of a million letters in a single year." Spots give specific' auto manufacturers' addresses on rotation basis. • BUSINESS BRIEFLY Late-breaking items about broadcast business; for earlier news, see Advertisers & Agencies, page 33. HOLDOUT TO END • Sterling Silversmiths Guild, N. Y., statewide association of leading silverware companies, in its first use of consumer advertising since the 1920's, understood to have chosen radio as its sole consumer medium and will invest $400,000 in spot radio throughout country and on NBC Radio's Monitor on Saturdays. Campaign to last 1 3 weeks and set to break shortly. Copy will be slanted toward young people and promote silverware in general, tying in with print media used by individual companies. Agency: Fuller Smith & Ross, N. Y. REYNOLDS LOOKING • R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Winston-Salem, N. C, understood seeking availabilities for spot tv campaign to break in major markets beginning of year for 26 weeks. Client considering sponsorship of half-hour programs on alternate week basis, seeking nighttime periods. Agency: Wm. Esty Co., N. Y. MULLS RADIO SPOT • Penick & Ford (My-T-Fine desserts), N. Y., considering radio spot schedule which, if approved, will break in January. BBDO, N. Y. is agency. ACCENT ON NEWSCASTS • Lever Bros., N. Y., buying all available five-minute newscasts on MBS starting this past weekend and running through Dec. 3 1 for Pepsodent toothpaste and Dove hand soap. Minimum of 150 newscasts being cleared. About $100,000 will be spent through Foote, Cone & Belding (Pepsodent) and Ogilvy, Benson & Mather (Dove), both N. Y. RIBBON SPOTTING • Burlington Narrow Fabrics Div. of Burlington Industries Inc., N. Y., for Christmas ribbons, will begin spot schedules Dec. 9 for five days in 68 tv markets and 27 radio markets. Chain breaks on women's daytime shows and late evening minutes will be used in tv and morning spots in radio. Ben Sackheim Inc., N. Y., is agency. AIMS AT FARMS • Kendall Mills, Walpole, Mass., for Tobacco Plant bed covers, beginning 8-10 week radio spot schedule in 34 markets Dec. 1 on morning farm programs. H. B. Humphrey, Alley & Richards, Boston, is agency. MORE FOR ASPIRIN • National Brands Div. of Sterling Drugs (Bayer aspirin), N. Y.. reportedly adding tv spots in undisclosed number of markets, starting later this month for balance of contract year (ends next October). Agency is Dancer-Fitzgerald-Sample. Broadcasting November 18, 1957 • Page 9