Broadcasting (Apr - June 1960)

What remains of WSPA-AM-TV’s studios $250,000 fire hits WSPA-AM-TV studios Studios and offices of WSPA-AM ■ TV Spartanburg, S.C., were completely I gutted by fire early Monday morning ■ (May 16) with damages in excess of I I $250,000. Walter J. Brown, president and gen ■ eral manager, reported that the fire H which apparently began in air condi■' tioning equipment, did not deter the ■ stations from maintaining service from ■! the tv transmitter and temporary radio ■ studios downtown. “Not an hour of I time was lost,” Mr. Brown said. WBTV (TV) Charlotte and WFBC ■ TV Greenville promptly dispatched I their mobile units to Spartanburg. I Cameras, a film chain and other equipI ment were rushed to the station from RCA, Camden, the next day. All equipment in the downtown studio was ruined. Loss included two tv cameras valued at $20,000 each, an I $8,000 camera, 11 tv tubes, valued at $1,200 each, and 10,000 recordings and radio transcriptions. Tape record[ ing machines and office equipment were melted. Mr. Brown said “We had all new RCA equipment in the studios. This accounts for a large portion of the loss.” Mr. Brown said that while some local : programming was lost, news and weather reports continued locally during the early hours of the blaze. He said the company would begin immediately to consider plans for an entirely new radio-tv building. He said most of the loss is covered by insurance. S.D. Bcstrs. oppose any Conelrad change Resolutions opposing stricter tolerances of the Conelrad alert system as 1 proposed by the FCC and commending the National Assn, of Broadcasters for suggested expansion of its radio standards of good practice were adopted at the South Dakota Broadcasters Assn.’s meeting in Rapid City May 13-15. SDBA member felt the FCC’s proposed Conelrad action would not imI prove the emergency alert system but merely increase stations’ operating costs. The South Dakota State Industry Advisory Committee joined the state j association in opposing the FCC’s rule1 making requiring installation of autoI matic attention-getter Conelrad equipment at the individual station’s expense. The new rules would not improve the ! two chief functions of Conelrad and the only advantage would be that the public could get home receivers which have not yet been designed or manufactured, SLAC said. Comments of the rulemaking are due June 13. Approximately 40 SDBA delegates attended the two-day meeting electing new officers during the business sessions (see Fates & Fortunes page 94). Main speakers were John S. Meagher, NAB radio vice president, and Odin Ramsland, general manager of KDALAM-TV Duluth, Minn. Payola, sponsorship identification, government legislation and political broadcasting were among topics explored. Mr. Ramsland, NAB district director, urged SDBA members to make themselves better known editorially to their legislators and communities, taking more active roles in civic affairs. He felt broadcasters can meet the challenge of congressional scrutiny by selfregulation and zealous subscription to a code of ethics that puts them above reproach. Mr. Meagher said that if stations can be ordered to give prime time to political candidates, nothing can stop the government from controlling newspaper content as well. Donald D. Sullivan, WNAX Yankton, reported most stations probably will carry a scheduled debate between Sen. Karl Mundt (R) and Rep. George McGovern (D), though he felt it was strictly a “local matter.” Legal authorities in Washington, D.C., are currently drafting proposed revisions to the FCC’s order involving sponsorship identification and payola, Mr. Meagher reported, predicting piecemeal revisions. He declared the government acted in “undue haste” after quiz show disclosures last year, with resultant circulation of questionnaires on payola practices. He described the form as a “gratuitous insult” to the broadcasting industry. Max F. Staley, KIJV Huron, was named chairman of a new state fair committee and Bill Johnson, KYNT Yankton, head of a planning group for the annual Voice of Democracy contest. Iowa group also hits Conelrad proposal The Iowa Broadcasters Assn., following the lead of other state groups has registered opposition to the FCC’s proposed adoption of stricter tolerances for the Conelrad alert system. Acting on the recommendations of its technical committee, the association adopted a resolution against the proposal, citing cost and other factors for its decision. The suggested modification of the attention signal “would in no manner improve the two chief functions of the Conelrad system,” the IBA claimed. The group recommended tolerances which “could be met with equipment normally in use at most stations, with the exception of the automatic tuner which could be purchased for approximately $25.” IBA also adopted resolutions commending the NAB for making the Code of the Standards of Good Practices “available to all broadcasters on an equitable basis” (including non-NAB members) and recognizing the support of state groups for their support of the Voice of Democracy contest. New Milwaukee fm WMIL-FM Milwaukee signed on the air May 1 with a dedicatory program featuring Wisconsin’s Sens. William Proxmire and Alexander Wiley. The station features primarily a pre-taped music service offered by the organization which furnishes the Muzak wired music program. Sol Radoff, station manager of WMIL, companion station, announces that the fm outlet will carry all Milwaukee Braves baseball games. WMIL-FM operates on 95.7 me. BROADCASTING, May 23, 1960 57