Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1960)

6 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, October 6, 19 World Wide Sold To Metropolitan Special to THE DAILY BOSTON, Oct. 5.-Completed acquisition of World Wide Broadcasting System, with transmitters at Scituate, Mass., was announced here today by John W. Kluge, chairman and president of Metropolitan Broadcasting Corp. Negotiations were begun last December. Kluge also disclosed that Metropolitan will earn $1.25 per share this year on sales of $40,000,000. Last year its sales totaled $16,500,000, and earnings were 90 cents a share on some 150,000 fewer shares. Metropolitan also owns Foster & Kleiser, Pacific Coast outdoor advertising company. Kluge, addressing a luncheon gathtring of some 50 security analysts and investment counselors at the Parker House, said that World Wide, through its key station. WBUL. beams shortwave radio programs from Scituate to two-thirds of the civilized world. Emphasizing its importance as a means of presenting United States views on world affairs, he said that 75 standard broadcast stations re-broadcast WRUL programs to Latin America in Spanish and Portuguese. Kluge also announced that another Metropolitan acquisition— that of ultra high frequency tv station WTVP in Decatur, Illinois— has just been sanctioned by the Federal Communications Commission. The Metropolitan lineup, with these two acquisitions, now includes: TV Stations WNEW-TV, New York City; WTTG-TV, Washington, D. C; KOVR-TV, Stockton-Sacramento, California; WTVH, Peoria, Illinois; WTVP, Decatur, Illinois. ( Both WTVH and WTVP are UHF stations. ) Radio Stations-WNEW, New York City; WHK, Cleveland, Ohio; WIP, Philadelphia, Pa. MPA Program Forming ( Continued from page 1 ) members and the eventual filing of suggestions for treating the industry's problems with equity in the final rules that will be issued by FCC. The industry is concerned that many of its normal trade practices could be misconstrued as violations of the new law. One significant problem, for example, is whether a manufacturer who supplies props for film use must be identified. The industry will suggest how the act should be interpreted to the extent that it is found to apply. In the normal course of such a proceeding, FCC will hold informal conferences with various trade groups. Later, proposed rules will be issued, and FCC will solicit comments. These may be oral or written, in FCC's discretion. After considering comments, FCC will issue its final rules. Parties who take issue with them may petition FCC for reconsideration. If any of the rules are thought to be illegal, court review may be sought. In the event of extensive disagreement, the process may go on for a long time. Television Today FCC Reports Progress on N.Y. Study Of UHF Feasibilty in Populous Areas From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, Oct. 5.— The Federal Communications Commission reports that it is making progress in its New York project to study the technical and economic feasibility of using UHF channels to provide satisfactory coverage in a large metropolitan area. Ad visory committees have been established and are working on the five major technical phases concerned in this undertaking. The transmitting industry advisory committee has considered specific designs for the proposed antenna installation on the Empire State Building. Discussions with the management indicate that it will be possible to use that building for the purpose, providing that a suitable antenna system can be designed. Meanwhile, models of several different configurations are to be tested under contract and their effect on the existing VHF antenna atop the Empire State Building studied. So far, only one of the suggested antennas promises a reasonable approach to coverage in all directions. Other antenna configurations would provide directional operation. To Use Channel 31 Use of two directional antennas operating simultaneously from the Empire State Building would provide both uptown and downtown service but would introduce an unpredictable degree of "scalloping" in service across Manhattan, roughly east and west of the building. Present plans are for use of Channel 31 on the Empire State Building, inasmuch as this channel is available in New York City and is in the power half of the UHF spectrum. At another site near that city it is expected to install another transmitter using one of the upper UHF channels (in the vicinity of 800 mc) to test multicasting and to determine the difference between operation on the upper and lower portions of the UHF band. Discussions with Columbia Univer sity indicate that a presently idle tower across the Hudson River at Alpine, N.J., (formerly used by Dr. Edward Armstrong) can be made available. It is hoped that a standard type of UHF-tv antenna could be mounted on the present tower. A report on "evaluation of receiving techniques suitable for UHF-tv reception," prepared for the FCC under contract, was considered by the receiving industry advisory committee. This concludes that a practical tuner for UHF-tv reception can be constructed with an improvement in noise figure over the better tuners now on the market of about 3 DB. However, inasmuch as single channel amplifiers are available which would give better performance than the 3 DB improvement mentioned, the committee advises that it would not be worth spending money to develop an improved tuner for the project. It reasons that only a few locations would be able to detect die 3 DB improvement and in such locations single channel amplifiers can be used to simulate the improvement. Upper Manhattan Studied Preliminary studies have been made of upper Manhattan. This will help select locations for tv receivers to be used in the project, and in the selection of sites to measure reception. The project is funded by a $2 million appropriation. It is directed by FCC's chief engineer and a special unit, aided by advice from cooperating committees. The work will be done principally on a contract basis. It will extend through fiscal years 1961-62. Cohan Missing ( Continued from page 1 ) 1958, had just begun a three-week, nine-city trip to set up local ad campaigns for "Butterfield 8," for which he had served as unit publicist during filming. Before joining the MGM unit, Cohan had been with Universal Pictures in a similar capacity as well as holding positions of sales executive with the Rubber Speciality Co. and promotion manager for the American Broadcasting Co. Cohan served in the Coast Guard and Maritime Service during World War II following his graduation from the University of Pennsylvania. Felix the Cat Prods. Buys RCA Film Recording Set Felix the Cat Productions has purchased the RCA Film Recording Studios at 411 Fifth Avenue here, Pat Sullivan, president of the production company, and Joseph Oriolo, vicepresident and executive producer, announced. In the 9,000 square foot area of the newly-named 411 Recording Studios are equipment and facilities both for filming and for recording film sound. Studio A in the former RCA Studios is considered one of the finest studios acoustically in the Untied States. Republic Building Nevj Sound Stage for TV Fill From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 5.-Repub Studios this week will complete t terior wall construction of a ne sound stage now being built to provi< additional facilities for the lot's bui est production season in years, Dan J. Bloomberg, vice-president and st dio manager, announced. The new structure, with 200,01 cubic feet interior capacity, will brii the total number of sound stages the lot to 22, and is specially designi for filmed tv production. Nine Stations Added tc ABC Radio Network Nine new affiliations to the AI Radio Network, giving it a total 325 United States affiliates, were a nounced yesterday by Robert Pauley, ABC vice-president in char] of the radio network. The new affiliates are: KAGT, An cortes, Wash.; WMEK, Chase Cit Va.; KOOS, Coos Bay, Ore.; WWH< Hornell, N. Y.; KAAB, Hot Spring Ark.; KWBA, Houston, Tex.; WPG\< Portland, Ind.; KFMJ, Tulsa, Okla WNSM, Valparaiso, Fla. Khrushchev to Appear On 'Open End' Sunday Nikita Khrushev will appear "live on David Susskind's "Open Enc television program over WNTA-T\ Channel 13, here this Sunday at P.M., it was announced yesterda Newsmen will analyze Khrushchev appearance at the tail end of th show, which will be available for n broadcast to any station that ma want it. Bob Hope to Narrate 'Will Roger Story' Bob Hope has been signed by pr< ducer Donald B. Hyatt to narra "The Will Rogers Story," Purex Spi cial for NBC-TV based on the | and times of the humorist. This marks Hope's second Projei Twenty assignment for Purex, his fir being last season's "Not So Lor Ago." "The Will Rogers Story" scheduled to air in late Februar Hope will headline eight specials f( NBC-TV this season in addition the Purex Special and other gue; appearances. 'Steps' to 68th St. Here Oct. 10 has been set for the initif run of "The 39 Steps" at the 68th Si Playhouse here. It is a Rank Organ ization presentation being released bf 20th Century-Fox.