Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1954)

16 Radio station sales, many related to TV acquisitions, continue to crowd FCC agenda. This week, Commission authorized C. Arnholt Smith, chairman of U. S. National Bank, San Diego, to acquire another 50% of KSDO there (5-kw day, 1-kw night on 1130 kc) for $50,000 from Copley Press, which recently bought KLAC-TV, Los Angeles (now KCOP) for $1,375,000 from New York Post publisher Mrs. Dorothy Schiff Sonneborn (Vol. 9:46,49,52). This week, too, WLCS, Baton Rouge, La. (1-kw on 910 kc, ABC) was sold for $135,000 to permit present owners to participate in recently granted CP for WBRZ there (Ch. 2) due on air in Sept.; 10 AM buyers hold 10% each, including Lamar Simmons, commercial mgr. who becomes gen. mgr. Unrelated to TV was Boston Post’s purchase this week of WCOP (5-kw on 1150 kc) for unnamed sum from A. C. Beaman & T. B. Baker, of Nashville, and Roy V. Whisnand, who continues as mgr. Control of KHON, Honolulu (5-kw on 1380 kc) was sold this week to Bryson Ross Gardner, formerly of Tacoma, by Ralph Fitkin & L. Roy Turner for about $5000, buyer also paying Wiramel Corp. $5550 for all preferred stock and assuming note for $27,000. New microwave relay route from Jackson, Miss, to Dallas via Shreveport, La., initially carrying one westbound TV channel, is planned for completion in about a year, according to petition filed with FCC by AT&T this week. Commission this week gave AT&T permission to construct new TV microwave routes from Amarillo, Tex. to Albuquerque, N.M. and from Minneapolis to Duluth, bringing first network service to Albuquerque and Duluth. Last weekend, AT&T linked WSJV, Elkhart, Ind. and KHQA, Hannibal, Mo. to network circuits, and WTRI, Schenectady, was slated for hookup this week end. Due April 1 are KFBC-TV, Cheyenne, Wyo. ; KVAL-TV, Eugene, Ore.; WJHL-TV, Johnson City, Tenn. Time Inc.’s basic reason for buying TV-radio stations is investment — and it’s only a happenstance that the stations thus far purchased (KOB-TV & KOB, Albuquerque; KDYL-TV & KDYL, Salt Lake City; KLZ-TV & KLZ, Denver) lie within a 340-mi. radius. This was explanation of Time’s Wes Pullen to Tide Magazine interviewer. Though not significant, selection of the 3 cities has been fortunate, said Pullen, for they’re “live, dynamic markets.” Big magazine firm, which has just revealed record 1953 earnings of $16,259,000, net profit of $8,144,000 on revenues of $170,449,000, is interested in TV-radio because “we’re in the communications business,” said Pullen, and very likely will acquire some more outlets, Westinghouse asked FCC to give it until April 1, 1955, to comply with decision holding that minority interests of 3 of its directors should be counted under multiple owner.ship rules (Vol. 10:3, 7). Westinghouse argued that holdings of director John M. Schiff shouldn’t be counted, because he has no voting rights in his 15% of Transcontinental Properties, which controls 4 stations. It also reported that director John L. Hall has resigned as v.p.director of Boston Herald-Traveler Corp., which controls WHDH, Boston, removing him from picture. Third director, Dillon Anderson, owns less than 3% of Houston Ch. 13 applicant. FCC approved purchase of KFOR-TV, Lincoln, Neb. (Ch. 10), this week for $300,000. Buyers are Mr. & Mrs. John E. Fetzer, who own WKZO-TV, Kalamazoo, and who last year bought KOLN-TV, Lincoln (Ch. 12) with radio KOLN at distress sale (Vol. 9:30). Seller of KFOR-TV was James Stuart, who continues KFOR. Fetzers will move KFOR-TV to KOLN-TV transmitter site, retaining former’s channel but latter’s call letters, were authorized to increase power to 316-kw. “Economic distress” dictated virtual merger, which eliminates Ch. 12 from Lincoln, only 50 mi. from Omaha. Three new TV applications this week, and week’s 2 grants and 2 applications dismissed, brought total pending to 274, of which 45 are for uhf stations. Applications were for Boston, Ch. 5, by DuMont Network; for Toledo, Ch. 11, by group of manufacturers and professional men including Harold F. Gross, owner of WJIM-TV, Lansing, Mich.; for Washington, N. C., Ch. 7, by local radio WRRF, whose ownership interlocks with upcoming WTIK-TV & WTIK, Durham, and other N. C. AMs, with ex-Army Secy. Kenneth C. Royal as 7.6% stockholder. [For further details about these applications, see TV Addenda 17-L herewith; for complete listings of all grants, new applications, dismissals, hearings, etc., see TV Factbook No. 18 with Addenda to date.] The 1953 Alfred I. duPont Awards, presented in Washington March 26, went to: (1) WBZ-TV & WBZ, Boston, for “consistent, well-planned programming designed to serve the needs of an informed and progressive community and to develop and encourage good citizenship.” (2) WOI-TV, Ames, la., for “leadership in development of programs of practical and cultural value.” (3) NBC commentator Pauline Frederick, for “thoughtful, original, objective and responsible reporting and interpretation.” Awards comprise plaque and $1000. Awards committee also gave special commendation to WBAL-TV, Baltimore; KNXT, Los Angeles; WHAS-TV, Louisville; KFXJ, Grand Junction, Colo.; ABC newsman Martin Agronsky. New TV film chain has been announced by Federal Telecommunication Laboratories (IT&T), Nutley, N. J. Claiming low initial and operating cost, manufacturer says camera chain FTL-105A uses photoconductive tube, has small camera head weighing only 7% lbs., control monitor and rack-mounted power supply. Also available is optical multiplexer FTL-287A, which can be used with new camera to provide pictures from 2 film projectors, one slide and one opaque projector, automatically controlled. Edward Lamb’s request that FCC identify those who allege he sought to conceal former Communist affiliations (Vol. 10:11) was turned down by Commission this week. Lamb, owner of WICU, Erie, Pa., et al, had told Commission he believed Communications Act requires such identification. FCC said it didn’t have to because it conducted the investigation itself. Furthermore, it added, if case goes to hearing Lamb will get full opportunity to protect himself by cross-examining witnesses, etc. Newly merged Peoria, 111. newspapers — Star (a.m.) & Journal (p.m.) — are actively negotiating to buy out WTVH-TV, Peoria (Ch. 19) with its radio WTVH (1-kw on 1590 kc). TV station, which started last Aug., is 52% owned by gen. mgr. Hugh R. Norman, who also controls radio KSTT, Davenport, la. City has one other station: WEEK-TV (Ch. 43). Three amendments to Communications Act, requested by FCC, were signed into law this week by President Eisenhower: HR-4557, waiving CPs for govt., amateur & mobile stations; HR-4558, giving FCC 30 days instead of 15 to act on protests; HR-4559, reclassifying first-offense violations of Communications Act from felonies to misdemeanors. Bill to exempt from FCC regulation carriei-s whose communications between stations in same state are classified as “interstate” only because they use radio (HR-6436) was approved this week by Senate Commerce Committee. It had previously been passed by House. Talent walkout on ABC-TV & ABC radio networks was averted March 25 when AFTRA and AFM settled jurisdictional dispute over employment of 3 musicians by ABC’s Chicago studios. J