Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1954)

5 Hartford area uhf project, brought to light this week when it was rev'ealed there that unnamed interests had purchased a site on Mt. Higby, in Middletown, Conn., between Hartford & New Haven, with the intention of building a new TV station thereon. Check with General TeleradioGannett’s WGTH-TV, Hartford (Ch. 18) and New Haven Ch. 59 grantee WELI-TV elicited denials that they were in any way involved. Hartford Courant indicated it’s one of the “national TV and radio broadcasting companies,” city of Middletown agreeing to $500 rental a year until taxes run $3100 a year and Mayor Clew reporting to Middletown city council that principals had asked for secrecy but that he had been informed the installation will cost $500,000 or more. It’s a fair guess that NBC is awaiting reactions to CBS’s various maneuvers in both vhf and uhf and, being highly sensitive to Washington politics, is waiting to gauge the impact of CBS’s current activities not only on the FCC but on the current Bricker and upcoming Kilgore committee TV-radio probes. CBS’s biggest pitch, of course, is its proposal to buy WSTV-TV, Steubenville, 0. in order to build it up as a Pittsburgh outlet, a project facing strong local opposition (Vol. 10:47,49). Also being kicked around, but given little credence at GE, is a proposal whereby GE’s pioneer vhf WRGB in Schenectady would go to uhf if the FCC would de-intermix and insure that that area, now with 2 uhf, will remain uhf territory permanently. The argument is that GE has a heavy stake in the future of uhf equipment sales, notably its own new 1-megawatt transmitter, and may also go for more uhf outlets of its own. « Only thing clear about the still-scrambled jig-saw is that there are growing cleavages in old network loyalties, suspicions about what’s coming next, deep resentments in powerful places. Paul Porter’s contention is that the bargaining power of talent (Lowell Thomas, Gene Autry) and of group ownei'ship (Storer, Westinghouse, et al.), if exerted for network affiliations, contravenes the anti-trust laws. Whether that’s so or not, it indicates some bitter fights ahead before FCC and the courts — and certainly more grist for the Congressional investigatory mill. The fact is that old radio network loyalties, and many in the relatively new TV field, are not proving to be very binding as TV surges forward as the primary medium. It’s a separate and distinct TV structure that each of the networks is trying to build for itself. Yet there’s an occasional anomaly and contradiction : This week, for example, CBS signed a new 2-year affiliation contract with radio WGAR, Cleveland, despite Storer’s recent acquisition of WJW there and the assumption that he would automatically place it on CBS. ■ Two top FCC staff jobs were filled this week with appointment of Howard Cowgill as chief of Common Carrier Bureau, James Cunningham as chief examiner. Cowgill has been lined up for job for months, and Cunningham has for years been considered preeminently qualified for chief examiner’s position. Cowgill worked for FCC before, handling common carrier matters during 1935-44, then joining law firm of Segal, Smith & Hennessey, leaving them in 1953 to become exec, v.p.-mgr. of WTVP, Decatur, 111. (Ch. 17) which he left several months ago. He takes over from acting chief Curtis Bushnell. FCC veteran Cunningham has been with Commission since its inception in 1934, has been examiner for 7’^ years, handling many of its biggest cases, including current 5-way Boston Ch. 5 healing. He assumes position left vacant by resignation of Edward Stodola, who returned to CAB on advice of physician after holding job Feb. -.June this yeai’. Only majoi’ position still vacant is that of chief of Hearing Div. ; Robert Rawbon is acting chief. Flint area’s upcoming WJRT (Ch. 12), which owners of Detroit’s WJR were authorized to construct in FCC decision reaffirmed this week but being appealed (see p. 6), intends to begin construction “early in 1955” — probably at a newly designated site. Continued litigation, it’s indicated, will not halt construction, but new plans are to find another site, probably north of Flint, and to operate entirely as a Flint area outlet in line with recommendations of local citizens committee. Presently-designated site is at Clarkston, about 15 mi. south of Flint and some 35 mi. from Detroit; original plan was to make station DuMont outlet for Detroit, but that franchise has since gone to CKLW-TV, Windsor-Detroit, and the plan now is to move it farther away from Detroit and not emphasize coverage there. Equipment is already on hand, including 50-kw RCA transmitter and 1000-ft. Emsco tower, and WJRT pres. John F. Patt states $750,000 has already been spent on these and on leaseholds covering studios and offices of old uhf WTAC-TV, which Campbell-Trendle interests gave up for economic reasons last July (Vol. 10:31). Already occupying Flint quarters at 2302 Lapeer St. are A. Donovan Faust, appointed WJRT operations mgr. last Aug. 17; Frank Mitchell, program director; Clarence Jones, chief engineer; Howard Town & Ken Clark, engineers. ^ :;s i’.i ^ Only shipments reported this week were 50-kw RCA amplifier Dec. 6 to WDEL-TV, Wilmington, Del. (Ch. 12) and 2-kw RCA standby unit Dec. 3 to KSTP-TV, St. PaulMinneapolis (Ch. 5). DuMont reports order from WLVATV, Lynchburg, Va. (Ch. 13) for 5-kw transmitter and 50-kw amplifier for Jan. shipment. In our continuing survey of upcoming stations, these are latest I’eports received from principals: KFDM-TV, Beaumont, Tex. (Ch. 6), its CP stayed by FCC until oral arguments by losing applicants are heard Dec. 21, didn’t get 608-ft. Emsco tower ready Dec. 1, as planned. Exec, v.p.-gen. mgr. C. B. Locke writes that it now plans March 1 debut as CBS primary. It has 10-kw RCA transmitter ready, plans to get 12-bay RCA antenna on 608-ft. Emsco tower in Feb. Pres. Darrell Cannan (27.2%) also owns 60% of KFDX-TV, Wichita Falls. Base hour will be $300. Rep will be Free & Peters. WFLA-TV, Tampa, Fla. (Ch. 8) begins wiring 50-kw RCA transmitter over weekend, expects to get going midJan. with test patterns, in Feb. with programming as basic NBC, writes gen. mgr. George W. Harvey. Ideco 1054-ft. tower with 12-section RCA antenna is planned later in 1955. Base hour will be $400. Rep will be Blair. KEYD-TV, Minneapolis (Ch. 9), now getting delivery of 50-kw RCA transmitter parts, hopes to meet Dec 20 test pattern target, plans Jan. 9 programming as DuMont outlet, according to gen. mgr. Lee L. Whiting. RCA 9-bay antenna is ready on Foshay Tower, which is shared also by WCCO-TV (Ch. 4) and time-sharing WTCN-TV & WMIN-TV (Ch. 11). KEYD-TV is controlled by Morris Baker family, owner of Foshay Tower and other Twin City properties. Raymond J. Tenpenny has been named asst. gen. mgr.; Harvey V. Headen, chief engineer. Base hour, first announced as $385, has been upped to $600. Rep will be H-R Television. Requesting maximum height and power, WSJS-TV, Winston-Salem, N. C. (Ch. 12) this week asked FCC to authorize transmitter site on Sauiatown Mt., 20 mi. north of city, where its antenna would be 2000-ft. above average terrain, 3071 -ft. above sea level. Jack Lauderback, ex-Willys Motors Inc. electronics div., now icsi<ling a( 8310 Woodliavi-n Lilvd., Belhesd:i, Md,, named director of sales of Fleetwood Corp., Toledo, newly formed TV station equipment manufacturer (Vol. 10:49).