Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1955)

20 MEMPHIS’ THIRD station, Hoyt Wooten’s WREC-TV (Ch. 3), was readying this week end for probable Dec. 19 start of test patterns in preparation for Christmas Day commercial debut as CBS basic. Finishing touches were being put this week to 25-kw RCA transmitter installation, with 6-bay antenna on 1077-ft. Ideco tower, and new studios in Hotel Peabody, also home of radio counterpart. Most of staff has been mustered from radio WREC, including Charles Brakefield, commercial mgr.; Jack Michael, program director; Wilson Raney, chief engineer. Base hour is $800. Rep is Katz. WREC-TV will bring on-air total to 459, of which 105 are uhf — two more uhf having reported this week that they had quit the air. They’re KTVQ, Oklahoma City (Ch. 25), which left air Dec. 15 pending FCC action on request for temporary operation on educational Ch. 11, assigned still-unbuilt KOED-TV, Tulsa (Vol. 11:50); and WPFA-TV, Pensacola, Fla. (Ch. 15) which notified Commission it was going dark Dec. 18 after having been in opex'ation since Oct. 1953. They are first to quit air since WWOR-TV, Worcester, Mass. (Ch. 14) dropped last Sept. 5 (Vol. 11:37), and they bring to 17 the total of uhf stations leaving the air this year. Altogether, 51 uhf have ceased operation to date, or about half as many as have survived. Oklahoma City station was established in Oct. 1953 by John Esau group, later turned over to attorney-oilman Jack Fai’ris who had advanced it some $100,000. Despite hypos from GE-supported National Assn, of TV Stations (NATS) (Vol. 11:21), it has been unable to meet competition from the 2 local vhf outlets. Pensacola station’s operation was taken over under lease last year by Charles W. Lamar, then part owner of successful WAFB-TV, Baton Rouge, La. (Ch. 28) and still 40% owner of KTAG-TV, Lake Charles, La. (Ch. 25). Televised murder trial in WaCo, Tex. (Vol. 11:50) has given strong impetus to TV’s demands for access of visual reporting media to courtrooms. In Denver, it was cited as a precedent after State Supreme Court Justice E. V. Holland barred photographic and recording equipment from hearing of John Gilbert Graham on charge of murder in bombing of United Air Lines plane — despite fact that trial judge had previously admitted such coverage earlier in same hearing. Denver’s KLZ-TV & KLZ took their case directly to viewers in TV-radio editorial, featuring filmed & recorded statement by pres. Hugh B. Terry and recorded statements of support from NARTB pres. Harold Fellows, CBS news chief John Day & Radio-TV News Directors Assn. pres. Russ Van Dyke. Meanwhile, CBS-TV west coast news director Sam Zelman cited Waco case in plea to Conference of California Judges to overturn ruling of Santa Monica Superior Judge Stanley Mosk barring cameras from trial of John R. Crooker, accused of murdering socialite Mrs. Norma McCauley. Waco’s historic televised trial lasted 4 days, jury finding Harry L. Washburn guilty of murdering his ex-mother-in-law with homemade automobile bomb. Opposition to NCAA game-of-the-week telecasts was reaffirmed this week by NARTB sports committee, which said they “militate against the public interest by depriving large segments of the American people of football broadcasts which they want to receive.’’ Committee chairman George J. Higgins, KMBC-TV, Kansas, said matter would he placted on agenda of NARTB board meeting in Feb. Extension of Lamb case deadline for filing exceptions to Examiner Sharfman’s initial decision (Vol. 11:50) was requested this week by FCC Broadcast Bureau. In asking that date be postponed from Dec. 27 to Feb. 6, Bureau said it needs more time to examine decision and decide what to do. General Teleradio Inc. becomes General Teleradio div. of parent RKO Teleradio Pictures Inc. as result of FCC approval this week of transfer of all TV-radio stations in group headed by Thomas F. O’Neil (Vol. 11:48). Commission also approved $2,250,000 purchase of Macy’s 10% interest in General Teleradio. RKO Radio Pictures will be name of motion picture div. of newly incorporated General Tire & Rubber Co. subsidiary. Stations involved are WOR-TV & WOR, New York; WNAC-TV & WNAC, Boston; KHJ-TV & KHJ, Los Angeles; WHBQ-TV & WHBQ, Memphis; WEAT-TV & WEAT, W. Palm Beach; radio KFRC, San Francisco. General Teleradio div. also has 55% of WGTH-TV & WGTH, Hartford, which is being sold to CBS (Vol. 11:28,36,49). Agreements to purchase more stock in WAFB-TV, Baton Rouge (Ch. 28) have been made by WDSU Broadcasting Co., operating WDSU-TV, New Orleans (Ch. 6) and, if FCC approves transfer, latter will own slightly more than 60% (about 1900 out of 3100 shares). Plan is to continue to operate the stations separately, with local stockholders continuing to hold shares, and to link them via microwave for joint regional programming. Cities are 75 mi. apart. WDSU-TV is NBC basic, as is its AM counterpart; WAFB-TV gets ABC & CBS service, its radio affiliate being MBS. WDSU owners (Edgar B. Stern Jr. group) already own slightly more than 20% of WAFB-TV & WAFB. The Baton Rouge uhf was first station to begin operating in city (April, 1963) and is reputed to be well in profit column. Its pres. & gen. mgr. is Tom E. Gibbens. Detroit stereotypers strike, which has shut down News, Free Press and Times since Dec. 1, has resulted in business bonanza for area’s TV-radio stations as well as big expansion of public service broadcasts. Afternoon network shows have generally been cancelled to make way for local demands, including considerable time sales to dept, stores to advertise Christmas goods. There was no tendency of station management to gloat over bad break suffered by their newspaper colleagues, but added business provided welcome windfall and gave some advertisers first taste of the air media; stations hope many will stay with them. Record-breaking $4,000,000 sale of New York independent radio WNEW (Vol. 11:44, 50) was approved by FCC this week. Richard D. Buckley continues as pres.gen. mgr. & 25% owner, other principals (37%% each) being oilman Jack Wrather, who also owns 39% of San Diego’s KFMB-TV & KFMB, and John L. Loeb, partner of bankers Carl M. Loeb, Rhoades & Co. Sellers are Horace Lohnes estate (25%) and 3 other stockholders who, with Buckley, acquired station last year for then record $2,100,000 (Vol. 10:16). Charleston Evening Post has sold its 29.6% interest in WUSN-TV, Charleston, S. C. (Ch. 2) for $206,310. Stock is now voted by Hazard E. Reeves, of New York, being held in equal parts by his Preview Theatre Inc., Reeves Products, Reeves Sound Studios and Three Hundred Four Corp. Newspaper also turned over option on additional 823 shares in WUSN-TV to pres. J. Drayton Hastie, who with family is largest stockholder. Contracts: Judy Garland this week signed 3-year exclusive pact xvith CBS-TV, providing for one network appearance a year through 1959, with renewal options, her first appearance to be on live spectacular next fall. Martin & Lewis signed 6-year contract with NBC-TV, said to involve “several million dollars.” Shades of 1945: “The day when the expensive nature of TV is overcome, and TV programmes are possible not only from a studio or a nearby play-field but from distant interesting places, television will be accepted on a level similar to the radio (beyond the stage of novelty).” — Editorial in Radio Times of India, Nov. 1966.