Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1960)

r Independent stations plan convention coverage Sparked by WPTR Albany, N.Y., a number of independent radio stations are banding together for specialized coverage of the 1960 political conventions in Los Angeles and Chicago. Major networks may lose some of their thunder in the comprehensive plans worked out by Jerry Cartledge, executive editor at WPTR, who contacted and won the cooperation of four other strategically Mr. Cartledge located stations: KOL Seattle, KNUZ Houston, K.WKY Des Moines and WITH Baltimore. News personalities from these five outlets plus WPTR's "Action Central" news editor, Don Byrne, in Washington, will staff a news booth on the convention floor at both sites. Each of these stations is making ar rangements to feed 20-25 other stations in its respective region with "personalized" convention stories. Duncan Mounsey, executive vice president and general manager of WPTR, told Broadcasting that while WPTR will provide the hotel facilities for the participating newsmen, all five stations will share the cost of the booth and the phoned news feeds. Mr. Mounsey. in comparing the nature of the coverage, says the major networks rely on analytical reports of national interest, while WPTR's plan concentrates on local area interest. He said that since the stations will be sending newsmen who know the political leaders from their geographical areas they can arrange for special interviews on specific area issues . . . and "each area will know how, what and why its particular delegates are supporting or rejecting people or issues." Floor Plans • The independent convention coverage group will operate from a "base" broadcasting booth equipped with more than a dozen radio-equipped telephones, sound and taping apparatus, typewriters manned by high-speed operators, and a bank of "interview" desks and tables. In Los Angeles a conference room will be maintained at the Ambassador Hotel. Similar facilities will be in operation at the Hotel Hamilton in Chicago. All facilities will be staffed and working two days prior to both political gatherings. A schedule of five-minute feeds to individual stations has been set up on a four-per-day regular basis. Special feeds will be rushed as important news develops, and a final wrapup for 1 1 p.m. news broadcasts will be fed, utilizing a round robin .report from the viewpoints of each represented section of the country. Newsmen at the five key stations will process the feeds for immediate airing and distribution to participating stations in other markets. and stations in Los Angeles and New York. WGN-TV plans to offer feeds to other stations, presumably also network affiliates, from the Democratic conclave in Los Angeles July 1 1 and the GOP meet in Chicago July 25. There's no indication how many stations would accept the originations. Coverage of the Democratic convention calls for feeds from Los Angeles to Chicago, to Buffalo and to New York by AT&T cables. CBC would receive network service from WGNTV via Buffalo, tentatively slated to operate 4:30-5:30 p.m. and 8:30-9:30 p.m. UPI would supply camera crews and feed coverage over AT&T lines. Events would be put on film, quickly processed and edited. WGN-TV, still negotiating with Los Angeles and New York outlets for active participation in the project, would provide technical, production and other specialists, it's understood. • Film sales Almanac (Official Films) Sold to WISH-TV Indianapolis; KRNT-TV Des Moines; KFSA-TV Fort Smith, Ark.; WDSU-TV New Orleans and WTVW (TV) Evansville. Ind. Now in 43 markets. Highway Patrol (Ziv-United Artists Tv) Sold to WDAF-TV Kansas City; WCPO-TV Cincinnati: WAST (TV) Albany, NY.; WHIO-TV Dayton, Ohio; KTSM-TV El Paso. Tex.; WROC-TV Rochester, NY.: WMAZTV Macon, Ga.; WLOF-TV Orlando, More than a decade of Constructive Service to Broadcasters and the Broadcasting Industry HOWARD E. STARK Brokers — Consultants 50 EAST 58TH STREET NEW YORK, N. Y. ELDORADO 5-0405 NAB Convention — Conrad Hilton Hotel Fla., and WBTW (TV) Florence, S.C. Now in 132 markets on a rerun basis. Home Run Derby (Ziv-United Artists Tv) Sold to WJAR-TV Providence: KLIX-TV Twin Falls, Idaho; WLOFTV Orlando, Fla.; WAGA-TV Atlanta: KTVE (TV) El Dorado, Ark.; KFYRTV Bismarck, N.D.; KDIX-TV Dickinson. N.D.; KETV (TV) Omaha: WTVW (TV) Evansville, Ind.; WEAUTV Eau Claire, Wis.; KTVH (TV) Wichita, Kan.; KMID-TV Midland. Tex.; KFSA-TV Ft. Smith, Ark.; WTVY (TV) Dothan, Ala.; WTICTV Hartford, Conn.; KOLO-TV Reno. Nev.: WRVA-TV Richmond. Va.: WTOC-TV Savannah. Ga.; WTVT (TV) Tampa, Fla., and WLUK-TV Green Bay, Wis. Also to Stagg-Bilt Homes (Kent & Hollander) in Phoenix. Now in 87 markets. UAA's sales division A new national sales division has been created by United Artists Associated. The division, under Leonard E. Hammer, director, will assist stations in obtaining sponsorship of UAA features and cartoons already purchased, and will negotiate with networks, agencies and advertisers in "setting up national sales on future product." UAA is affiliated with United Artists Corp. It distributes Warner Bros, feature library, other feature packages and cartoon libraries from Warners and Paramount Pictures. 132 (PROGRAMMING) BROADCASTING, March 28, 1960