Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1954)

14 Hearings on UHF problems by communications subcommittee of Senate Commerce Committee are now scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m., June 15, in Room G-16, Capitol, then continue 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., June 16-18. Final schedule of appearances won’t be announced until shortly before hearing, but this is tentative unofficial list, arranged in anticipated order of appearance: Raymond F. Kohn, WFMZ-TV, Allentown, Pa. (uhf grantee) ; Melvin Goldberg, UHF Industry Coordinating Committee; Noran E. Kersta, WFTL-TV, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (uhf) ; Farris Rahall, WFEA, Manchester, N. H. (AM) ; Thomas Chisman, WVEC-TV, Hampton-Norfolk, Va. (uhf); Hulbert Taft, WKRC-TV, Cincinnati (vhf) ; Gordon Brown, WSAY, Rochester, N. Y. (AM) ; attorney Joseph Brenner, Beverly Hills, Cal.; attorney Franklin C. Salisbury, Washington; engineer Raymond Wilmotte, Washington; Leon Gi-een, KNUZ-TV, Houston (uhf) ; Philip Merryman, WICC-TV, Bridgeport (uhf) ; attorney J. Howard McGrath, exec, v.p., Edward Lamb Enterprises (vhf WICU, Erie & uhf CP WMAC-TV, Masillon, Ohio) ; Harold Fellows & A. Prose Walker, NARTB; Irvin M. Kipnes, Beachview Broadcasting Corp., Norfolk (vhf applicant) ; George Storer, Storer Stations (vhf) ; attorney Ted Pierson, vhf organization; engineer A. Earl Cullum, Dallas; Ernest L. Jahncke Jr., ABC; Jack Van Volkenburg, CBS; John Esau, KTVQ, Oklahoma City (uhf); Joseph Heffernan, NBC. Note: In summarizing written statements inserted in hearing record May 19 (Vol. 10:21), we erroneously identified Gerald J. Morey with WNHC-TV, New Haven. The comments actually were submitted by Morey in behalf of grantee WNLC-TV, New London, Conn. ■ Knoxville’s WTSK-TV (Ch. 26), which began operating last Oct., within 2 weeks of WATE (Ch. 6), originally known as WROL-TV, has been sold for $300,000 to South Central Broadcasting Co., operator of radio WIKY, Evansville, Ind. and onetime applicant for Ch. 7 there. Purchasers acquire plant that includes 1-kw Federal transmitter, operating with CBS & DuMont network shows on 3-11 p.m. schedule at $250 rate. It’s managed by Harold E. Rothrock, onetime Washington consulting engineer, with Guy Smith as sales mgr. They will remain under new ownership, headed by John A. Engelbrecht, pres, of Evansville firm; George F. Stolz, v.p. & chief engineer; Leighman D. Groves, secy.-treas. Evansville radiomen are understood to have been considerably impressed with uhf in their own area, where WFIE, Evansville (Ch. 62) has been operating since last Nov. and WEHT (Ch. 50), across river in Henderson, Ky., has been on air since Sept. Knoxville station is 80% owned by oilman W. R. Tuley, 10% each by No. Carolina broadcasters Harold Thoms and J. Horton Doughton. It has been operating in the red, reportedly has lost about $100,000 to date, but Rothrock states it’s just about at break-even point now. He says area’s TV sets are about 95% vhf-uhf combinations or conversions since both uhf & vhf got started about same time. Two new TV applications — both for Ch. 10 in Parma, '.lich. near Jackson — were filed with FCC this week, making total of 230 now pending (32 uhf). The applications were by uhf WILS-TV & WILS, Lansing, together with Lansing auto dealer Edward E. Wilson, and by WKHM, Jackson, Mich, (replacing earlier application by same interests). [For further details see TV Addenda 18-V herewith ; for complete listings of all grants, new applications, dismissals, hearings, etc., see TV Factbook No. 18, with Addenda to date.] Next stations due for interconnection to AT&T network circuits: WDBO-TV, Orlando, Fla., June 6; KTTS-TV & KYTV, Springfield, Mo., June 19. Will the Govt, get authority to enter broadcasting business in competition with private TV-radio stations? A little-noted bill, which has already passed through Senate and is now pending House action, could have that effect— though that certainly isn’t its intent. S-3401, introduced by Sen. Saltonstall (R-Mass.) at request of Defense Dept, to permit construction of military-operated TV & radio stations overseas and at isolated military bases in U. S. (Vol. 10:19), is so worded that it doesn’t bar armed forces from operating TV-radio outlets in areas where private U. S. stations already exist. Though intent of bill is to provide information and entertainment for American troops, some observers point out the measure could be opening wedge for competitive govt.-operated outlets. They add that this loophole could easily be closed by amendment stipulating that Defense Dept, is not authorized to establish TV or radio services in U. S. areas where reception is already available and that govt, stations shall go off air when private stations begin in area. Hearings on bill by House Armed Services subcommittee will probably be held June 16-18. Pentagon spokesmen say they have tentative plans for 12 TV stations overseas, none in U. S. Bill to ban transmission of gambling information (S-3542), introduced June 2 by Chairman Bricker (R-Ohio) of Senate Commerce Committee, is scheduled for committee hearing June 7-8. First to testify will be Justice Dept, and FCC. Measure would prohibit TV-radio stations from broadcasting “any gambling information relating to horse racing before the start of any race on the day it is scheduled to be run, or during the one-hour period immediately following the finish of such race or before the start of the next race at that track, whichever period is longer.” Bill wouldn’t preclude station from carrying race as a special event, but would limit stations to one such race a day. “Eurovision” — 8-nation European TV network — is scheduled to begin Sun., June 6 with address from Rome by Pope Pius XII. Hookup will continue until July 4 with pickups of special events and shows from Britain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, West Gei-many, Switzerland and Italy. Main event will be World Soccer Cup matches in Switzerland. The 4000-mi. network wdll utilize 41 TV transmitters and 80 relay stations, with specially designed converters to make possible interchange of programs between Britain’s 405-line system, France’s 819 & 441 lines and rest of Europe’s 625. FCC approved sale of radio WSAU, Wausau, Wis. (250 watts on 1450 kc, NBC), for $170,000 to Wisconsin Valley Television Corp., granted CP for Ch. 7 in Wausau last May 13. Sale was part of agreement whereby WSAU dropped application for Ch. 7, and Charles Lemke (49%r owner) got option to buy up to 25% of Valley TV, with John R. Tomek (51%) to get $15,000 retainer as consultant. Other Ch. 7 applicant. Congressman Alvin E. O’Konski, earlier .shifted to Ch. 16 and got CP for WOSATV last Feb. La Crosse (Wis.) Tribune, having sold its radio WKTY in order to acquire interest in WKBH Television Inc., grantee of upcoming WKBT (Ch. 8), became 41% stockholder this week in transfer approved by FCC, Comr. Hennock (usually opposed to newspaper ownership) dissenting. WKBH Inc. holds 40%; Howard Dahl, who controls radio WKBH, 9'r personally; Charles D. Gelatt, Allan Schilling, Albert Funk Jr., Runge Sletten, Or\'al Nelson, 2% each. Shares outstanding total 1000, sold at $100 per share. NARTB’s TV and radio boards meet week of June 21 at Washington’s Mayflower Hotel to elect chairmen, review recent Chicago convention, select site for 1955 convention, go over current budget, discuss pending legislation. Committees meet June 21 and 22, TV board June 23, radio board June 24, full boai’d June 25.