Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1954)

MARTIN COREL’S AUTHORITATIVE NEWS SERVICE FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE VISUAL BROADCASTING AND ALLIED ELECTRONICS ARTS AND INDUSTRY with Electronics ; y Reports PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY R(DUI JEWyijlEtU ^ WYAT^BLDG. • WKSHINGTON 5. DC. • TELEPHONE STERLING 31 755 'YOL. ID: No. II , March 13, 1954 In thi9 issuez I» , U ti • '/ " • : 'UHF Problems’ Force 2 More OflF Air,^ fkigie I Cold Economics of the Station Outlook, page 3 Vermont's First CP and Other Grants, page 4 Networks and AT&T Plan Color Expansion, page 4 47 States Now Have Stations, Total 372, page 5 Networks and McCarthy Tangle on 'Free Time', page 5 Complementary Nature of TV and Newspapers, page 7 Transmitter Shipments & Upcoming Stations, page 8 RCA Color Receiver Production Plans, page 9 As Trade Settles Down, More Casualties, page 9 UHF PROBLEMS' FORCE 2 MORE OFF AIR: These are days of decision for some post-freeze telecasters — particularly uhf operators in vhf strongholds. The basic problem; TV's breakneck expansion in 1953 has resulted in more outlets than the market can profitably support at the present time. The decision; To continue operating at a loss, perhaps for a long period, or to throw in the sponge before more losses pile up. For uhf operators, the difficulties are sharper than for vhf. There are the added problems of conversion, higher equipment costs, receiver troubles — and, of vital importance, the difficulty of getting good network affiliation when you have to build up audience from scratch. As Senators and FCC pondered "what can be done to help uhf," there were these developments this week; (1) Two more uhf stations — in Dayton, 0. & Little Rock, Ark. — decided to go off the air, the former this week end, latter March 31, because of problems arising out of vhf competition. [Incidentally, vhf KFOR-TV, Lincoln. Neb. ( Ch. 10) also goes off air this week end as an indirect result of financial distress.] (2) FCC formally proposed that future uhf stations be required to start with transmitter power of at least 5 kw (Vol. 10:8-10). (3) Sen. Johnson (D-Colo. ) introduced his multiple ownership bill to permit any entity to own either 5 vhf or 10 uhf stations — or various combinations of the two (such as 3 vhf & 4 uhf, 2 vhf & 6 uhf) — and to encourage present multiple owners to swap their vhf stations for uhf on 2-for-l basis (Vol. 10:10). ♦ ♦ ♦ ■♦ The 2 uhf stations which decided to call it quits provide study in contrasts. WIFE, Dayton (Ch. 22) was losing money in substantial amounts, had no major network affiliation in a 2-vhf market where only about 10% of receivers are equipped to pick up uhf. KRTV, Little Rock (Ch. 17), CBS-affiliated and a reputed money-maker, in a city with close to 100% uhf conversion, feared the market couldn't support 3 stations (2 new vhf), so decided to quit while it was ahead. WIFE started operation last Oct., competing with pre-freeze vhf WLWD (NBC) & WHIO-TV (CBS-ABC). A "supplementary" ABC & DuMont affiliate, it found itself unable to get good network shows, even when it offered to carry them free. It had an impressive studio building, 12-kw transmitter, with investment of $600,000-$700,000. It lost $30, 000-$50, 000 a month, for a total operating loss of more than $160,000. It's due to leave the air March 13. but principal owners Ronald B. Woodvard and Loren M. Berry asked Commission to let it retain CP until expiration date Aug. 4 to permit it to seek more finances and "see what will be done by the Govt, to help uhf stations." Woodyard, who is also principal owner of profitable radio WONE in Dayton, says he's retaining physical equipment and property and hopes "to be back in the TV business in Dayton in the near future." COPYRiaHT I9S4 BY RADIO NEWS BUREAU