Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1962)

ABC RADIO PLANS 8%-35% RATE BOOST The reason: better facilities, clearances, more demand open Florence to service by eight tv channels, including two uhfs. The city council indicated a reason for its preference of the winning applicant is an absence of equity interest in the firm by an equipment manufacturer, a factor which the city thought would enable the franchise holder to select equipment impartially. The Broadcasting Co. of the South owns WIS-AM-TV Columbia, S. C; WSFA-TV Montomery, Ala.; and Video Corp. of Ocala (Fla.), a catv system. G. Richard Shafto, executive vice president, has personal interests in cable systems located in Myrtle Beach, Conway and Georgetown, all South Carolina. Jefferson Standard owns WBT and WBTV (TV) Charlotte and WBIG Greensboro, all North Carolina, and WBTW (TV) Florence. Policy editor at NBC named to N.Y. post Gov. Nelson Rockefeller of New York has appointed George Norford, policy editor for NBC, as a consultant to the State Commission for Human Rights, effective Nov. 1. Mr. Norford has been granted a one-year leave of absence by NBC. Mr. Norford's "primary goals," as outlined by the governor, "will be to work with the networks through the commission toward the improvement of the image of minority groups on tv and to increase the opportunities for Negro and other minority group actors within the industry." KSL-AM-TV appoints PGW Appointment of Peters, Griffin, Woodward as national representative for KSL-AM-TV Salt Lake City is being announced today (Nov. 5) by Arch Madsen, president of Radio Service Corp. of Utah, owner of the stations, and H. Preston Peters, president of PGW. KSL-TV operates on ch. 5 with maximum power. KSL has been on the air since 1922 and operates at 1160 kc with 50 kw. PGW's appointment is effective on Nov. 1. National Audience Board folds The National Audience Board, New York, which Peter Goelet founded in 1954 to "serve as a catalyst between the public and the broadcaster," has ceased operations. The board has been financed and directed by Mr. Goelet, who said last week that the organization's increased recognition had not been matched by a sufficient increase in revenue and that he could "no longer afford to carry the load." ABC Radio will raise its rates to advertisers 8% to 35% effective next Jan. 1, with a six-month protection for existing clients (Closed Circuit, Oct. 29). Robert R. Pauley, ABC Radio president, in announcing the rate increase today (Nov. 5), said the percentage hike will depend on the program and time period and is being instituted because of an improvement in station facilities and clearances in addition to greater advertising demand. Rates will be determined by "time" factors such as "total market time, commuting time, family information time, housewife time, shoppers' time and mobile market time." Mr. Pauley said the move should bring radio rates up to a more realistic level while marking a first step toward ABC Radio's objective of obtaining "greater prosperity" for radio as well as for the network's affiliates. Cites Greater Value ■ Mr. Pauley said he doubts that there will be advertiser resistance because the network is "delivering far greater value" than in the past. Suggesting where the increases will come, Mr. Pauley cited a 34% increase in weekday newscast clearances since Oct. 1, 1960, and clearance hikes in that period of 19% in weekend news, 11% in Flair and 6% in Breakfast Club. He noted also that since the first quarter of 1961, ABC Radio's dollar volume has gone up 63%. Mr. Pauley said that in the past two years the network's affiliate roster has grown from 362 to 420, the total including prominent additions in power, audience and community standing. Details have yet to be worked out on time periods but it's indicated that the 7-9 a.m. period — or "commuting time" — will probably have the highest percentage increase. Definitive percentage increases and a rate card are expected soon. MBS adds W. Va. outlets Two West Virginia stations have joined Mutual. They are WCAW Charleston, which became an MBS affiliate Oct. 26, the same day it increased its daytime power to 10 kw. The station, previously 250 w fulltime, is on 680 kc. WKWK Wheeling, on 1400 kc with 250 w, joined the network Oct. 25. Eliminate Propagation Fades From Your TV Signal Now you can end fades and washed-out fringe-area signals simply by inserting a Micromeg preamplifier between your relay receiving antenna and the mixer. Micromeg has the effect of boosting your transmitter power four to ten times or of increasing the size of a six-footdiameter antenna to one of 12 to 20 feet. In new installations, a Micromeg will allow you to space your repeater stations farther apart without deterioration of signal-tonoise ratio. WHAT IS A MICROMEG? It is a lownoise, low-signal-level RF parametric amplifier. It is available in several indoor and outdoor models covering the UHF, 2000Mc, and 6000Mc range. Power requirement: 110V AC. A semiconductor varactor diode causes amplification by pumping power from a local RF source to the signal. APPLICATIONS include translators, remote pick-up broadcasting, inter-city microwave links, community antenna TV systems. Please write for the full story. Installing a Micromeg parametric amplifier is equivalent to boosting transmitter power four to ten times. Micromega Corporation @ 4134 Del Rey Ave., Venice, Calif. / EXmont 1-7137 Creator of advanced microwave systems and components for U. S. space and defense projects. BROADCASTING, November 5, 1962 Mi