Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1954)
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N.Y. stores, but that this was expected and company officials weren't surprised or disappointed. Whole purpose was to test public acceptance, he said.
Prompted by Westinghouse ads, he added, customers did bombard dealers with questions about v/hen prices would come down, when larger screens would be available, when table models would be produced, etc. Westinghouse plans to make similar tests in other markets, starting in Philadelphia in about a month.
Emerson's decision to try the leasing plan, pres. Benjamin Abrams said, was based on study of public reaction to recent color promotion by N.Y. dept, stores which "convinced [customers] that color represents a relatively poor investment at the present time." Emerson sales v.p. Sol W. Gross said several calls have already been received — mostly from hotels, institutions, etc. — interested in lease plan. Elaborating on reason for leasing, he said; "People who buy 15-in. sets may complain that they were stuck; we don't want anybody to say he was stuck on an Emerson set."
Some manufacturers thought Emerson plan novel, worth studying. Philco and Westinghouse were among these. Others displayed no interest in plan; these included RCA, Admiral, DuMont, Raytheon.
SAN FRANCISCO, CHEYENNE STATIONS TEST: Two "firsts" this week — first uhf station for San Francisco, first TV for Cheyenne — both on air with test patterns, bringing number of stations on air to 371, of which 129 are lihf. Since first of this year,
16 stations have begun telecasting. These started this week;
KFBC-TV, Cheyenne, Wyo. (Ch. 5) opened up new TV area March 2 when it put out first test pattern from 5-kw DuMont transmitter. Its 500-ft. Trilsch tower is on a promontory 7000 ft. above sea level in Borie, Wyo., about 10 miles SW of Cheyenne. Nearest TV is in Denver, 96 air mi. "Reports of good reception as far as 150-mi.," wires gen. mgr. Wm. C. Grove. Starting with kine, it has been promised early interconnection, will be CBS affiliate and will carry ABC & DuMont programs as well. The station is controlled by Tracy S. McCracken newspaper interests (Wyoming State Tribune & Wyoming Eagle), which also operate other newspapers and 3 AMs in state. C.P. Cahill is commercial mgr. ; D.E. Allen, TV sales mgr. ; R.C. Pfannenschmid, chief engineer. Base Class A rate is $150. Hollingbery is rep.
KSAN-TV, San Francisco (Ch. 32) began test patterns March 1 with "many outstanding reports received from the entire Bay area," according to owner & gen. mgr. Rev. Norwood J. Patterson, who also operates radio KSAN and KJAY, Topeka, Kan. The area's first uhf has 1-kw GE transmitter on Clarandon Heights between Mt. Sutro and Twin Peaks, 1200-ft. above sea level. Facing competition from city's 3 pre-freeze stations and billing itself as "Bay area's first and only sports station," the unaffiliated outlet begins 7-8 p.m. daily programming March 9 with films of same day's races at Bay Meadows and of spring training of San Francisco Seals & Oakland Oaks baseball teams. Station will have "official opening" April 6, when it begins 5-11 p.m. programming with the opening game of San Francisco Seals vs. Seattle Rainiers. Asst. gen. mgr. is Roger Skelton, ex-KPIX ; sales mgr. Ralph M. Sacks. Base rate is $500. McGillvra is national rep.
DENVER & SPRINGFIELD TV STATION SALES: Two more TV station sales are in the works — one vhf, one uhf — in addition to sale of two uhf CPs. The vhf sale of KLZ-TV (plus AM-FM) Denver, to Time Inc. , is expected to be announced next week. Uhf sale is 50% ownership, for $250,000, of WHYN-TV (plus AM-FM), Springf ield-Holyoke , Mass, to employes' pension fund of Springfield Republican and Union newspapers.
The uhf CP sales involve transfer of WUTV, Youngstown (Ch. 21) to WFMJ-TV (Ch. 73) which would shift to the lower channel, and transfer of oilman H. L. Hunt's grant for KTIG, Corpus Christ! (Ch. 43) to McLendon family which once operated the Liberty Network, now defunct; Hunt merely says he decided not to go ahead.
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Price of NBC-affiliated KLZ-TV hasn't been disclosed so far, may be about $4,000,000. Time Inc. is seeking 100% ownership, would like Hugh Terry, pres.gen. mgr. and 16% stockholder to continue as manager if his health permits ; Terry recently left hospital after 6-week illness. Other major stockholders are J. Elroy McCaw, Theodore R. Gamble, Harry E. Huffman, Frank H. Ricketson.