Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr-Jun 1963)

vice president; Harold Essex, WSJS-TV Winston-Salem, N. C, secretary-treasurer, and Mr. Lindow, assistant secretary-treasurer. Appointed to the executive committee were Messrs. Harris, Essex, Crutchfield and Rogers, C. Wrede Petersmeyer, Corinthian Broadcasting Corp., New York; John H. DeWitt Jr., WSM-TV Nashville, and John S. Hayes, Post-Newsweek Stations, Washington. Clyde M. Hunt, PostNewsweek Stations, was appointed chairman of the technical committee. No action was taken on the vacant position of assistant executive director. Charles Bevis, who formerly held that post, recently was named executive director of the newly-formed Assn. of Broadcasting Standards Inc. Research projects outlined for ABS The first annual meeting of the newly formed Assn. on Broadcasting Standards Inc. was held in Chicago Monday and heard reports on engineering research projects aimed at proposals in Congress and before the FCC which would extend operating hours of daytime radio stations. Formed earlier this year in Washington (Broadcasting, Feb. 18), ABS has taken no position officially on the daytime controversy pending completion of its research on am technical problems. The new group at its Washington meeting also had indicated concern over moves by clear channel stations for operation with powers in excess of 50 kw. ABS President E. K. Hartenbower, KCMO Kansas City, told representatives of more than 78 am stations at the Chicago session that the association has begun study of FCC Docket 14419 ( to allow pre-sunrise operation for daytimers under certain conditions) and of proposed legislation in Congress to give daytimers extended hours. The study would seek to determine the effect of these proposals on the nationwide radio service. The ABS goal is to "assure optimum radio service for the people of the U. S.," he noted. Jay Wright, KING Seattle, chairman of the ABS technical committee, reported on engineering aspects of this study. Charles C. Bevis, ABS executive director, explained how the technical evidence can assist the commission and Congress in making their basic policy decisions. ABS representatives explained that the organization is not a "regional broadcasters' group" but rather welcomes the membership of all am stations interested in preventing deterioration of am engineering standards and assuring optimum radio service. They Let the networks do it One broadcaster at the NAB convention last week hit upon an answer to the FCC's renewed campaign to force television stations to broadcast local, live programs in prime time. Harold Essex, president of WSJS-TV Winston-Salem, N. C. (an NBC-TV affiliate), told David C. Adams, NBC senior executive vice president: "Dave, the network has got to give us stations a new service — local, live programming." said a total of 92 stations have indicated membership interest to date. The ABS board authorized the technical committee to proceed with the recommended program of research. John E. McCoy, Storer Broadcasting Co. was elected to serve on the board. Mr. Bevis was elected secretary of the association. Andrew G. Haley is ABS' Washington counsel. Clear channel group re-elects its officers Edwin W. Craig, WSM Nashville, was re-elected chairman and Harold Hough, WBAP Fort Worth, was renamed treasurer of the Clear Channel Broadcasting Service at its annual meeting in Chicago March 31. The executive committee also was re-elected. It consists of Messrs. Craig and Hough, with Ward Quaal, WGN Chicago; Victor Sholis, WHAS Louisville, and James Shouse, WLW Cincinnati. John H. DeWitt Jr., WSM, substituted for Mr. Craig and also reported on CCBS defense activities. Other reports were submitted by CCBS Director Roy Battles, R. Russell Eagan as legal counsel, and Mr. Hough as treasurer. CCBS is an organization of non-network-owned radio stations whose aim is to preserve the 25 Class 1-A clear channels from duplication and to seek authority for their use with powers above 50 kw. All 13 members were represented. New NAB committee to study tv's future A new NAB group — the Future of Television in America Committee — was activated at the convention last week. The committee was appointed to study the impact of community antenna tv on regular video stations and recommend a course of action for the NAB in its drive for federal regulation of the community antenna systems. Last February, the NAB boards au thorized the formation of the committee on catv (Broadcasting, Feb. 11). The members, announced by Tv Board Chairman William Quarton, WMT Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Dwight Martin, WDSU-TV New Orleans; Bill Grove, KFBC-TV Cheyenne, Wyo.; C. Howard Lane, KOIN-TV Portland, Ore.; Clair McCollough, Steinman Stations, Lancaster, Pa.; John Murphy, Crosley Broadcasting Co.; G. Richard Shafto, WIS-TV Columbia, S. C, and Willard Walbridge, KTRK-TV Houston. Lee foresees uhf spurt in next few years Development of uhf television will take a definite spurt forward in the next two or three years, the Assn. for Competitive Television was told March 31 by FCC Commissioner Robert E. Lee at its first group meeting. Luther M. Sandwick, director of consumer products, Electronic Industries Assn., said uhf "was on the threshold of assuming its proper role in the future of a truly competitive tv system." He pointed out that requests for uhf licenses in the past year were double those of previous years, with some of the biggest tv operators in the country now starting to develop uhf properties. Mr. Sandwick said uhf operators will find equipment dealers and distributors cooperating enthusiastically with stations to provide maximum efficiency of equipment they sell and service. John English, WSEE-TV Erie, Pa., former chairman of the group, announced plans for an intensive membership drive to build up the ACT membership and its role as the voice of the uhf medium. William L. Putman, WWLP (TV) Springfield, Mass., ACT president, led the meeting. Thad Brown, ACT executive director, presided at a closed meeting, outlining ACT's operating areas. He discussed the FCC's position on uhf. Shapiro named to head ABC-TV Affiliates Assn. Mike Shapiro, WFAA-TV Dallas, was elected chairman of the board of governors of ABC-TV Affiliates Assn. at a meeting March 31 during the NAB convention in Chicago. Thomas P. Chisman, WVEC-TV Norfolk, Va., was re-elected vice chairman; Herbert Cahan, WJZ-TV Baltimore, was named secretary, and Martin Umansky, KAKE-TV Wichita, treasurer. Other new board members: Joseph L. Brechner, WFTV (TV) Orlando. Fla., and Joseph F. Hladky, KCRG-TV Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Incumbent board members: Norman Louvau, KCPX-TV Salt Lake City and WAPA-TV San Juan, P. R.; W. W. Warren, KOMOTV Seattle, and Lawrence (Bud) Rog 64 (SPECIAL REPORT: NAB CONVENTION) BROADCASTING, April 8, 1963