Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr-Jun 1958)

GOVERNMENT CONTINUED T MR. MOSBY MR. CRAIGHEAD MR. WEBER MR. GLASMANN MR. REARDON MR. CRANEY operators should pay for programs used. Ed Cranly, Montana multiple broadcaster —Fears that all rural and some urban areas of Montana are due to be "blacked out" because of impact of catv systems. Refers to fact he and group just forfeited $50,000 in cancelling the purchase of KFBB-TV Great Falls, Mont. [Special Report, May 12]. Expresses fear that all tv can be obliterated except for two stations — one in New York and the other in Hollywood — brought to the populace of the U. S. via catv systems, boosters, translators and satellites. "Microwave-fed" catv's "true pay tv." These operations discriminate against rural population, serve only heavy concentrations of a city's population. "Here is pay tv for the wealthy city dweller and nothing for the poor man and the rural dweller." Catv operators have no requirement to serve the public with local originations, local news, and weather, local public service programs. FCC should exercise jurisdiction over radio signals from the studio to the home receiver. It now exercises only partial control over radio transmissions. Mr. Craney asked that FCC: • Impose freeze on microwave grants. • Require that catv, booster and translator operators get permission from originating station to rebroadcast signals. • That stations be permitted to build and operate their own microwave systems — with no cutoff date. • That translator operation in the grade A service area of a local station be prohibited if it brings signals from a station outside the home community. Tom Bostic, KLEW-TV Lewiston, Idaho — Opposes establishment of translators or boosters in communities where regular tv station operates. KLEW-TV suffered economic boycott by promoters of translators in Lewiston after it filed protest with FCC, received cancellations amounting to $3,000 per month. After withdrawing protest, L KLEW-TV lost $120,000 in 1957, with monthly advertising revenues amounting to $7,700. KLEW-TV cost "more than a quarter of a million dollars" to build Translator group, whose stations are not yet on the air, took over operation of an illegal, unlicensed booster in Lewiston which FCC had ordered shut down. Translators plan to pipe two Spokane, Wash., stations into area. If translators actually begin operating and divide market into three pies, KLEW-TV will have to delete all local, live programs and reduce staff. Mr. Bostic urged that the FCC: • Deny authorization to any translator operating within the Grade A or B contour of an existing regular station. • "Come to grips" with problem of illegal boosters and require compliance with law. • Require common carriers which transmit regular tv signals to catv systems to have the approval of originating station. Arthur J. Mosby, KMSO-TV Missoula, Mont. — Telephone company asked $7,800 a month to interconnect. Private microwave company, feeding Missoula catv with Spokane signals, asked three-year contract at $2,000 monthly charge. KMSO-TV just wanted 1957 World Series games. Now uses its own microwave facilities from KXLY-TV Helena. Cable company puts KMSO-TV on cable, but changes channel from ch. 13 to ch. 5 resulting in "deteriorated" picture at receiver. Receivers hooked into cable cannot receive KMSO-TV or any other station offair. KMSO-TV lost almost $50,000 in last six months of 1954, when it started operating. In 1955 operating loss was over $50,000. In 1956 this was cut to slightly over $10,000. Cable company began operating in November 1956, and in 1957 KMSOTV again lost over $50,000. Antenna companies are "parasites." They don't pay for programs they pick up and sell for profit. Mr. Mosby asked that Congress either tell FCC to exercise jurisdiction over catv systems and microwave companies or amend Communications Act to give Commission this authority. Gordon C. Glasmann, KLIX-TV Twin Falls, Idaho— Urges that FCC assert jurisdiction over catv systems, treat them under same regulations under which tv stations must operate, and require that catv operators and microwave companies furnishing catv with outside signals obtain permission of station whose signals they are using. Spent over $400,000 building KLIX-TV, which serves 117,800 people. Furnishes all three networks to area, picking up Salt Lake City stations via KID-TV Idaho Falls, Idaho. If KLIX-TV loses $4,000-$5,000 monthly to catv operators, station will be in red. If local cable company (now serving 94 subscribers) expands as projected to serve 4,000 customers mostly all in concentrated area of Twin Falls, 82% of area population will be deprived of tv service if station folds. Not only that but KBOI-TV and KIDO-TV, both Boise, Idaho, will lose only source of network programs (they pick up off-air KLIX-TV network shows). William C. Grove, KFBC-TV Cheyenne, Wyo. — Has spent over $500,000 in building Cheyenne and Scottsbluff, Neb., stations. Catv systems in "heart" of stations' coverage area — in Laramie, Rawlins, and Pine Bluffs, all Wyo.; Scottsbluff, Alliance, Kimball, and Sidney, Neb., and Sterling, Colo. Most all being fed Denver tv signals via microwave relay systems connected with catv systems. Advertisers know of this "bonus" coverage and aren't interested in buying Cheyenne and Scottsbluff time. Key to problem is that catv operators are not required to secure permission to pick up and transmit over wire regular stations' signals. This is violation of property rights. . Catv systems have paid no attention to legal notices forbidding them to carry MR. WASILEWSKI MR. GROVE Page 60 • June 2, 195S MR. BOSTIC MR. LAYNE MRS. ERNST MR. PENGRA Broadcasting