Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1954)

Record Details:

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4 2 NEW STATIONS ON AIR, ANOTHER UHF OFF: As one more iihf station went off air, 2 new vhf outlets began operation in cities where the only previous local service was uhf. The station going off air is WLBR-TV, Lebanon, Pa. (Ch. 15) which ended telecasts Oct. 16, after exactly one year of service. It retains CP, asking FCC permission to stay dark 90 days while it looks into possibility of new modus operandi. It attributed its difficulties to lack of a network affiliation. To date 26 uhf stations have gone off air (excluding one which came back on again), as against 4 vhf which folded. This week's new starters bring on-air total to 410, of which 121 are uhf. The new stations: KAKE-TV, Wichita, Kan. (Ch. 10) began ABC programming Oct. 16 after day of test patterns, wires gen. mgr. Martin Umansky. It's third outlet in area, KTVH in nearby Hutchinson (Ch. 12) and local KEDD (Ch. 16) having begun in Slimmer of 1953. It has 50-kw RCA transmitter, 1000-ft. Parkersburg tower with 12-bay antenna — "the tallest in the state." Principal owners are pres. Mark H. Adams, v.p. H.E. Zoller, secy. Robert B. Dockum. Production mgr. John Quigley and sales service director N.W. Larson are both from the staff of KMBC-TV, Kansas City. Donivan Waldron is regional sales mgr. ; Harold Newby, chief engineer. Rep is Hollingbery. KLTV, Tyler-Longview, Tex. (Ch. 7) brought first vhf service to rich oil and cattle area Oct. 14 with programming from NBC & ABC, following test patterns which began Oct. 9. Area is served by KTVE, Longview (Ch. 32) and KETX, Tyler (Ch. 19). All station facilities are located on former airport at Tyler's outskirts, where remodeled hangar houses studios and 10-kw RCA transmitter as well as radio affiliate KGKB. Andrews 420-ft. tower is topped by 12-bay antenna. Station is owned by Mrs. Lucille Ross Lansing, local radio pioneer. Gen. mgr. is Marshall Pengra. ex-KSTM-TV, production-program director Bob Norris, chief engineer Hudson Collins. Base Class A hour rate is $200. Pearson is rep. Not sold on Bricker network-control bill (S-3456), Chairman Potter (R-Mich.) of Senate communications subcommittee which held hearings into uhf problems, told meeting of Detroit Adcrafters: “I’m old-fashioned. I believe there is only a certain area where govt, regulation is necessary and that we must proceed with extreme caution on the matter of new control or regulation. For example, how can you regulate a controlled network without at the same time regulating controlled advertising? . . . There is some discussion that the networks [should] be made available to all stations as the Associated Press was made available to all newspapers some years go. This will be considered in full-scale hearings during the next session of Congress.” Discussing uhf, he said: “I confess we don’t have the answer to the uhf problem, but we are confident that it is here to stay In time it will find its niche in our TV system.” Meanwhile, in Washington, Sen. Bricker’s investigators were preparing questionnaires to individual stations, which will follow letters to networks, already drafted by Committee aides but still awaiting approval by the Ohio Senator (Vol. 10:41). KMMT, Austin, Minn. (Ch. 6) & KAUS (1-kw, 1480 kc, MBS) are being acquired by Black Hawk Bcstg. Co., operator of KWWL-TV, Waterloo, la. (Ch. 7) according to application filed with FCC this week. R. J. McElroy, 50% owner of KWWL-TV, is to manage Austin stations without salary for a year, at end of which KWWL-TV has option to buy KMMT & KAUS for $40,000, which can come out of stations’ earnings under his management. Owners of KMMT & KAUS (6 equal stockholders, Harry M. Smith pres.) also agree to advance $25,000 in capital during year. Justin Miller Fund has been established at U of Southern California Law School by NARTB in honor of its ex-pres. and chairman. School will award annual $100 prize to student writing hest article on freedom of infoimation and its importance in broadcasting. New political hazard facing those who campaign via TV is dramatically illustrated by raging controversy over who said “hell” on TV. Incident occurred Oct 13 when Vice President Nixon made TV address in Van Nuys, Cal., carried by Los Angeles’ KTTV. At conclusion of speech, viewers heard the words: “Who the hell did that?” Station was swamped with calls from viewer's demanding to know whether Nixon had uttered the offending phrase. Said the Vice President: “It wasn’t me. I used no such language . . . Someone knocked over a hand microphone and a fellow swore.” Said a KTTV official: “The station doesn’t know who made the remark, but it was not a member of the KTTV crew. The remark could have come from one of 3 spots — the speakers’ platform, the area immediately adjacent to the speakers’ platform, and the first-row audience.” Pension and welfare fund for TV-radio performers was proposed for first time this week by AFTRA as opening gun of contract negotiations with networks. Union asked networks to pay 10% of gross compensation due each performer into special fund to he administered by board of trustees consisting of equal number of network and union representatives. AFTRA also asked for 20% acrossthe-board increase in minimum fees paid to performers. Contracts expire Nov. 15. Meanwhile, International Alliance of Theatrical & Stage Employes signed agi'eement with major TV and motion picture film producers for pension plan covering 18,000 workers. Sale of KFSD-TV, San Diego (Ch. 10), and KFSD (5-kw, 600 kc, NBC) to Fox, Wells & Co. for $3,200,000 was approved this week by FCC. Sellers Tom Sharp, Charles E. Salik and TBC group get one-third each (Vol. 10:38). Principals in new licensee KFSD Inc. (with Fox, Wells holding 95.5%) are: James G. Rogers, pres., exBcnton & Bowles; Glen McDaniel (holding 37o), exec, secy., pres of RETMA; Wm. Lane (1.5%) and Tom Sharp, directors.