Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr-Jun 1958)

PEOPLE at deadline JOHNSON BLASTS FCC INACTION ON CATV Former Senate Commerce Committee chairman Thursday charged FCC with "outrageous" conduct in not taking jurisdiction over community tv systems. Former Sen. Edwin S. Johnson CDColo.), who was until two years ago governor of Colorado, appeared in behalf of broadcasters group importuning Senate Commerce Committee to force FCC to exercise authority over CATV operations — and also to limit use of translators and boosters where they adversely affect regular, local tv station operation (story page 56). Committee completed two days testimony Thursday with completion of broadcasters' side of argument. Community antenna representatives will testify in rebuttal at later date. Committee also plans to ask FCC to return for further examination on allocations (maybe this week). Sen. Johnson declared tv industry cannot exist "half regulated and half unregulated." CATV operations, if unregulated, will destroy local tv service, he said. FCC has closed its ears to pleas for help "by design or by happenstance," Sen. Johnson declared. Former Colorado governor — who "authorized" unlicensed boosters in his state in defiance of FCC's ban in 1956 — urged on-channel boosters be authorized by FCC. He said translators were too expensive and not reliable enough because they used uhf channels. He cited Comr. T. A. M. Craven's report last year which held that boosters could be considered receiving equipment. He said there are now 32 boosters operating FCC Opens Gates to 1 Kw Bids FCC Thursday announced it will accept, after July 7, applications from Class IV (local) am stations to increase power up to 1 kw daytime maximum. NARBA agreement, currently pending Senate ratification, removes 250 maximum for Class IV daytime operation for all outlets located more than 62 miles from the Mexican border. No action will be taken on applications until coordination of NARBA agreement can be effected among North American ^countries. Also Thursday, Commission invited comments by July 7 on proposal to abandon Class B fm allocation plan which, Commission feels, has outlived its usefulness. Plan first promulgated in December 1945 as temporary guide for allocating Class B fm frequencies. WOAI-AM-TV Stock Shift Filed WOAI-AM-TV San Antonio filed with FCC Friday to buy 24% of stock in licensee held by National Jewish Hospital, Denver, for $1,145,000 and retire shares to treasury. This would give Hugh Halff Jr., 40% stockholder, control with 52%. in Colorado (in communities ranging from 15 homes to small cities with 1,500-2,000 population), but that only 14 are "licensed" by state. Community antenna systems will not go into smaller communities, Sen. Johnson stated, because it is unprofitable. Since they can put local stations out of business, this discriminates against rural viewers who cannot be connected profitably to cable system. Commission has had knowledge of this situation since 1952, Sen. Johnson recalled, yet has done nothing. Other witnesses testifying Friday: Dwight Dahlman, Wyoming Public Service Commission, related experiences of his state group in trying to regulate CATV operators. These are still in litigation. J. Patrick Beacom, holder of cp for onceon-air WJPB-TV Fairmont, W. Va., told committee how cable company carried his uhf station for two days then deleted it in favor of Pittsburgh's then WDTV (TV). William L. Putnam, WWLP (TV) Springfield, Mass., appearing for Committee on Competitive Television, denounced FCC and Congress for delays in meeting problems like CATV and uhf-vhf allocations problem, and stated that Television Allocations System Organization would come up with technical information already known and which would be of no help to Commission — since it must make "political" decision. Wallace M. Bradley, Committee for Competitive Television, urged committee to order FCC to move more quickly and completely along selective deintermixture road. Vanda to JWT Hollywood Tv Post Charles Vanda, vice president in charge of television, WCAU-TV Philadelphia, joins J. Walter Thompson Co. in Hollywood as director of tv programming July 15. Mr. Vanda, 23-year veteran in broadcasting, will report to Dan Seymour, vice president and director of radio and tv, JWT (N. Y.). Mr. Vanda headed programming for CBS on West Coast for 14 years, joining WCAUTV in 1949. Cornwell Jackson heads JWT's Hollywood office. FIRST VTR PILOT What is claimed to be first pilot film shown simultaneously on film and video tape and to be offered in either form is being shown to agencies this week by Video Varieties Inc., which plans to syndicate Times Square Varieties to stations either as film or VTR presentation. Pilot was filmed Wednesday in New York by Telestudios Inc. CHARLES E. DENNY, 25-year veteran of radio station management, has joined WBNY Buffalo as general manager. He has served in executive capacities with WHO Des Moines, WSYR Syracuse and WERC Erie, Pa. He retired two years ago from WSEE-TV Erie, which he had built and operated. RAY MILLER JR. elected president of WERE Cleveland, succeeding his father, RAY MILLER SR., who is retiring to devote full time to law practice. JOHN DOSCHER, with NBC's sales staff since 1953, appointed to N. Y. account executive staff, John Blair & Co. He fills vacancy left by WILLIAM O. TILENIUS, veteran of more than 25 years in broadcast field. ALLAN EMIG, formerly with engineering and artists & repertoire staff of Capitol Records, Hollywood, named director of Columbia Records west coast recording department. BENJAMIN M. SEIGER, formerly director of marketing, Pharmaceuticals Inc., N. Y., to "Journal of Lifetime Living" (pharmaceuticals subsidiary) as executive director. ROBERT M. FLANIGAN, midwest manager and national sales representative for Storer group and before that with WOV New York, to John E. Pearson Co., Chicago office, as salesman. Gen. Matejka Leaves ODM Post Maj. Gen. Jerry V. Matejka (USA ret.) has resigned as assistant for telecommunications to Office of Defense Mobilization Director Gordon Gray. ODM spokesman said Thursday post will remain vacant for undetermined period because of pending reorganization of Defense Dept. and its components. Gen Matejka in 1956 served on four-man board which, at request of FCC, conducted study of spectrum. Five Ams Granted by FCC FCC Thursday announced following new am grants: Elba, Ala. — To Howard Parrish Jr. (general manager, WOZK Ozark, Ala.) for 1350 kc with 1 kw daytime. Flagstaff, Ariz.— To Eldred O. Smith (33VS% owner KHEY El Paso, Tex.) for 1290 kc with 1 kw daytime. Charlotte, N. C— To Queen City Broadcasting Co. (T. C. Wood Jr.) for 1310 kc with 1 kw daytime. Grafton, N. D.— To KGPC Co. for 1340 kc with '250 w. Bellefonte, Pa.— To Bellefonte Broadcasting Co. (Cary H. Simpson) for 1330 kc with 500 w daytime. Mr. Simpson owns WTRN Tyrone, Pa., and has interests in several other Pennsylvania stations. Justice Holding Off on UP-INS Victor Hansen, antitrust chief of Justice Dept., said Thursday Justice plans no action "at present time" on merger of United Press and International News Service (story page 75). In letter to UPI president, Frank H. Bartholomew, Mr. Hansen said Justice concluded consolidation "falls squarely within the failing corporation exemption" of Clayton Antitrust Act. Page 10 • June 2, 1958 Broadcasting