Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1954)

3 Comrs. Bartley, Doerfer and Lee dissented. Bartley : "I cannot believe that Congress intended that Sec. 309(c) be so subverted, in the light of the mandate contained in Sec. 1 of the Communications Act to make available to all the people of the U.S. an efficient and nationwide radio and TV system." Doerfer ; "That the protestant has successfully asserted he is a party in interest within the intent of the law is an absurdity..." Lee ; "I cannot conceive of Congress intending to stretch party in interest to ridiculous extremes for the very evident purpose of delay." UHF OPERATORS ORGANIZING 'UNITED FRONT': At least three "nationwide" groups of uhf telecasters are being formed to try to get together on testimony for hearings beginning May 4 before Senate communications subcommittee. Some or all of these groups may merge before the hearings — if they can agree on concrete proposals. Informal regional conferences of uhf operators have also been held, and most of them will be absorbed into new "unified effort." Behind the meetings is desire to thrash out uhf problems, get together on sound, practical suggestions to bring to hearing — rather than have large number of uhf telecasters bewilder Senators with a like number of individual panaceas. So far there's been no agreement on specific proposals. These were the principal groups being convened to prepare uhf testimony; (1) Uhf Industry Coordinating Committee, formed April 12 by representatives of more than 25 stations, named as temporary chairman Harold Thoms, WISETV, Ashebille, N.C., retained counsel and is expected next week to invite all uhf stations and groups to join it in formulating all-industry testimony. (2) Group led by Leon Green, KNUZ-TV, Houston, has meeting scheduled for April 25-26 in Washington (Vol. 10:13), but is likely to merge with Thoms group. (3) Uhf TV Assn. , led by Lou Poller, WCAN-TV, Milwaukee, is calling meeting of its board May 1, and of all interested uhf operators May 3 in Washington. Coordinating Committee met behind tightly closed doors, released no information following meeting. It tentatively selected as counsel Ben Cottone, ex-FCC gen. counsel, and voted also to hire consulting engineer, as yet unnamed. Subcommittees were named to explore various proposals, report to next meeting, possibly next week. Meeting was devoted to informal discussion of uhf problems and possible suggestions for testimony, but no definitive recommendations were approved. The telecasters heard presentation by a Washington engineer urging allocation of additional vhf channels from goyt. and FM bands to replace uhf. Uhf Assn, petitioned FCC to reinstate freeze, withhold all grants pending the outcome of Senate hearing. Petition was filed after Coordinating Committee meeting, which was attended by Poller and gen. counsel Wm. A. Roberts, and at which merger or agreement between the 2 groups was discussed but not accomplished. * * 4: List of witnesses for uhf hearings is growing — and it's doubtful whether the 3 days allotted will be sufficient to hear everyone. Slated to appear so far: FCC ; the 4 TV networks ; RETMA ; GE electronics v.p. Dr. W.R.G. Baker; National Citizens Committee for Educational TV; Storer Broadcasting Co. ; Poller; Green; Wm. Johns, WOSH-TV, Oshkosh, Wis. (now off air) ; Wm. Putnam, WWLP, Springfield, Mass. ; David F. Milligan, WFAM-TV, Lafayette, Ind. NARTB currently doesn't plan to take part in hearings, but v.p. Thad Brown says question is under study and broadcasters' group may decide to come in later. Tied up in the hearings is fate of FCC's multiple ownership proposals (5 vhf, 2 uhf) and Sen. Johnson's sliding-scale substitute permitting ownership of up to 10 uhf. CHATTANOOGA, DES MOINES & WESLACO: Three vhf "firsts" — one opening up substantial new market — went on air this week, bringing U.S. total to 385 (129 of them uhf). Chattanooga area gets first outlet, as does Weslaco, Tex. Des Moines gets first intown vhf to compete with local uhf & pre-freeze vhf in nearby Ames. Week's starters: WHO-TV, Des Moines, la. (Ch. 13) went on 9 a. m. -noon, 1-4 p.m. & 7-8 p.m. daily test patterns April 15, begins commercial programming April 25 as basic NBC