Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1959)

Reprieve via tape A tape recorded interview with an ex-convict on WCAX-AM-TV Burlington, Vt., was credited by Judge Edward C. Costello as a factor which helped to save the felon from life imprisonment. Robert Darrell, wounded while resisting arrest, told WCAX newsman Phil Martin that he blamed no one but himself for his trouble and realized that the officers who shot him were only performing their duty. State's Attorney J. William O'Brien cited the interview as evidence of the wounded prisoner's desire to mend his ways. Judge Costello sentenced Mr. Darrell to 4 to 10 years. the U.S. Office of Education. Financial support is coming from the Fund for Advancement of Education. KENS-TV, WOAI-TV and KONO-TV, all San Antonio, have offered full production support and KTBC-TV Austin has made equipment available, including a tower for signal distribution. Programs may originate from the university or from the San Antonio studios. The microwave network would offer credit courses and other educational programs to member stations. Changing hands ANNOUNCED • The following sales of station interests were announced last week, subject to FCC approval: • WILD Boston, Mass.: Sold by Nelson B. Noble to William F. Johns Jr. and associates for $295,000. Mr. Johns has interests in WMIN St. Paul, Minn.; KRIB Mason City, Iowa, and WLOD Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Broker was Blackburn & Co. WILD operates on 1090 kc with 1 kw, daytime only. • KUTI Yakima, Wash.: Sold by Harrison A. Roddick to Yakima Valley Radio Inc. (H.G. Wells Jr., David McKay and H.Q. Joucken) for $150,000. Broker was Hamilton-Landis & Assoc. KUTI is a 5 kw day-timer operating on 980 kc. • KXGI Fort Madison, Iowa: Sold by Richard and Cecil Gillespie to Hayward L. Talley for $125,000. Mr. Talley owns WSMI Litchfield, 111. Transaction was handled by Patt McDonald Co. KXGI operates on 1360 kc with 1 kw daytime. • WDAR Darlington, S.C.: Sold by Ralph W. Hoffman to Walter Pearce of Marion, S.C., for $65,000. Sale was handled by Blackburn & Co. WDAR is a 1 kw daytimer on 1350 kc. APPROVED • The following transfers of station interests were approved by the FCC last week (for other Commission activities see For The Record, page 63). • KGMB-AM-TV Honolulu, KHBCAM-TV Hilo, KMAU-TV Wailuku, all Hawaii: Sold by Hialand Development Corp. to Honolulu Star-Bulletin Ltd. (now 24.55% owner) through purchase of stock totalling $2,345,000. Sale grant conditioned that Herbert M. Richards and Robert R. Midkiff dispose of their directorships and stock interests in related groups within 90 days (Broadcasting, Sept. 28). • WTRL Bradenton, Fla.: Sold by Dick Doty to Fletcher-Mitchell Corp. (KCBC Des Moines) for $240,000. WTRL is on 1450 kc with 250 w. • WOMP-AM-FM Bellaire, Ohio: Sold by Frederic Gregg Jr. and Charles H. Wright to group headed by Donald J. Horton, who has interests in WVLK Lexington and WFKY Frankfort, both Kentucky, and WHOO-AM-FM Orlando, Fla., for $170,000. WOMP is a 1 kw daytimer on 1290 kc. WOMP-FM is on 100.9 mc with 9 kw. • WCMI-AM-FM Ashland, Ky.: Sold by Frederic Gregg Jr. to WOMP Inc., headed by Donald J. Horton (see above) for $163,000. WCMI is on 1340 kc and is a 1 kw daytimer. WCMI-FM is on 93.7 mc with 2.75 kw. • KGYN Guymon, Okla.: 60% interest sold by Gray family and H.C. Hitch Jr. for $98,250 to T.M. Raburn Jr. (now 40% owner). KGYN is a 1 kw daytimer on 1490 kc. KHQ builds new tower KHQ-AM-FM-TV Spokane is building a new 903-foot antenna that will tower 4,549 feet above sea level, on Krell Hill, a mountain site southeast of the city and three miles from the present KHQ-TV tower, R. O. Dunning, president, announced. The existing antenna on Moran Prairie will remain in use for radio transmission. RCA has been awarded the contract for the new tower, with construction to begin as soon as weather permits and completion scheduled for Sept. 15, 1960. Two tv antennas and two tv transmitters, coupled with emergency power equipment, will enable KHQ-TV to remain on-the-air under almost any conditions, he commented. Concurrently, KHQ's new studio and office building is under construction with completion anticipated next October. The aluminum, glass and marble-faced building will have 37,000 feet of floor space, with both indoor and outdoor studio facilities. We take a goop To get complete information about a broadcast property, the experienced staff of Blackburn & Company researches every aspect of a station. Every qualified potential buyer can be assured of accuracy in every negotiation with Blackburn & Company. NEGOTIATIONS FINANCING APPRAISALS ffilackbwyn & Company Incorporated RADIO TV NEWSPAPER BROKERS WASHINGTON, D.C. James W. Blackburn Jack V. Harvey Joseph M. Sitrick Washington Building STerling 3-4341 MIDWEST H. W. Cassill William B. Ryan 333 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago, Illinois Financial 6-6460 ATLANTA Clifford B. Marshall Stanley Whitaker Robert M. Baird Healey Building JAckson 5-1576 WEST COAST Colin M. Selph Calif. Bank Bldg. 9441 Wilshire Blvd. Beverly Hills, Calif. CRestview 4-2770 46 (THE MEDIA) BROADCASTING, December 28, 1959