Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1956)

10 Subscription tv test in Cuba is immediate aim of Matthew Fox’s Skiatron TV Inc., which holds rights to Skiatron pay-TV system — but no agreement has been reached in negotiations to date, according to a spokesman for Fox. Negotiations are being conducted with “a group of Cuban businessmen” not connected with TV stations there. Under the proposed agreement the Cuban group would buy toll-TV time on Cuban stations, or, if necessary build a station of its own. Skiatron TV is now “hopeful of arriving at an equitable contract” for the pilot subscription TV operation. Cuba was chosen because of its proximity to U.S., where it could be observed by American TV industry and FCC, and because there are “no laws there that would hinder subscription TV.” Said Fox’s spokesman: “All that would be required is a presidential decree.” Other foreign countries are being explored for commercialization of Skiatron fee TV. Annual report of patentholding Skiatron Electronics & TV Corp. (which would receive 50% of profits from foreign operations of Skiatron system) says: “In preparation for possible foreign operations, patents and patent applications have been filed in Great Britain, West Germany, Australia, Cuba, Spain and many other foreign countries.” Meanwhile, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Magnuson (D-Wash.) announced that more than 20 witnesses are scheduled to testify as Committee takes a week-long look-see at subscription TV issue beginning April 23. He released this schedule for the 5 days of hearings (all in Room G-16, Capitol) : Mon. April 23, 10 a.m. : James Landis, Skiatron; Paul Raibourn, International Telemeter; Ray Kohn, offair uhf WFMZ-TV, Allentown, Pa.; April 24, 10 a.m.: “Television Exhibitors of America Inc.;” W. Theodore Pierson, accompanied by 4 witnesses for Zenith Radio. April 25, 2 p.m.: Pres. Abe Stark, N. Y. City Council; pres. Harold Fellows, NARTB; AFTRA. April 26, 10 a.m.: Richard S. Salant, CBS; Andrew Biemiller, AFL-CIO; Lawrence H. Rogers, WSAZ-TV, Huntington, W. Va.; Mort Farr, NARDA; Wilton D. Radford, N. Y. ; Marcus Cohn, Committee Against Pay-As-You-See TV. April 27, 10 a.m.: Milton Shapp, Jerrold, and “limited rebuttal by selected representatives of proponents.” WSVA-TV, Harrisonburg, Va. (Ch. 3), with WSVA (5 kw, 550 kc, NBC), is second TV-radio property in which Transcontinent TV Corp. has bought an interest, to share ownership equally with Hamilton Shea, who leaves NBC as v.p. in charge of WRCA-TV & WRCA, N. Y. to manage WSVA-TV & WSVA. Price is approximately $800,000. Last week. Transcontinent and General Railway Signal Co. bought Stromberg-Carlson’s WHAMTV & WHAM for $5,000,000 (Vol. 12:14). Seller of Harrisonburg properties was Frederick L. Allman, broker Blackburn-Hamilton. Salute to Armed Forces was theme as Storer Broadcasting Co. dedicated new WJW Radio & TV Bldg, at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, April 15. Featured were bands, singing groups, drill teams, planes, blimp, etc. — of Army, Navy, Marines, Naval Air Reserve, National Guard, Ohio Air National Guard, Civil Air Patrol, ROTC unit of John Carroll U. Change in call letters from WXEL to WJW-TV is effective same day. Former WXEL owner Herbert Mayer is receiving FCC permission to employ WXEL for his uhf Ch. 38 CP in Boston, changing from WHMB. UNDECLARED “FREEZE” on vhf decisions in deintermixture areas is still in effect, but FCC continues to knock off decisions in other markets as fast as they’re ripe. This week. Commission finalized Bristol, Va.-Tenn. case by granting Ch. 5 to WCYB over Tri-Cities TV Corp., controlled by owners of WOPI, Bristol, and WKPT, Kingsport, Tenn. Commission also finalized grant of Ch. 8, Presque Isle, Me. to WAGM. In Bristol case, FCC chose WCYB on grounds of superiority in “integration of ownership with management, and as to concentration of the media of mass communication.” It found applicants equal in local residence, civic participation, past performance records, broadcast experience, program proposals. NBC’s efforts to purchase WKNB-TV, New Britain, Conn. (Ch. 30) became more complicated when Commission ordered full evidentiary hearing on charges of WNHC-TV, New Haven (Ch. 8) and WATR-TV, Waterbury (Ch. 53) that sale would increase concentration of ownership, restrain competition, etc. Allocations shifts requested this week: (1) Substitution of Ch. 26 for Ch. 61 in Anderson, Ind., and Ch. 77 for Ch. 26 in Indianapolis — by Ch. 61 grantee WCBC-TV. (2) Addition of Ch. 8 to Missoula, Mont., substitution of Ch. 23 for Ch. 9 in Sandpoint, Ida., Ch. 9 for Ch. 8 in Kalispell, Mont. — by radio KBTV, Missoula. (3) Addition of Ch. 9 to Nadine, N. M., substitution of Ch. 35 for Ch. 9 in Monahans, Tex. — by Video Independent Theatres. (4) Addition of Ch. 25 to Coos Bay, Ore. — by Pacific TV. General Tire’s RKO Studios in Hollywood & New York were opened this week to TV film producers needing space, with Fred Ahern — ^who moved to RKO from CBS — given new post of supervisor of TV operations, and with movie veteran Raymond A. Klune as exec. mgr. of studio operations. RKO exec. v.p. Charles L. Glett said “ultimately, RKO will produce its ovm films for TV, but our basic intention at this time is to make our facilities available to the TV industry.” Two radio station sales approved this week: (1) KTLN, Denver, for $300,000 from Leonard Coe to group including Colorado Gov. Edwin C. Johnson and ex-Sen. Burton K. Wheeler, both former Democratic chairmen of Senate Commerce Committee (Vol. 12:12) — FCC approval coming in record time. (2) KCNA, Tucson, for $35,574 for some 40% from author Erskine Caldwell to minority owners George W. & Harry B. Chambers — Caldwell retaining about 12%. Resignation of. Sen. Thurmond (D-S. C.) from Senate leaves Senate Commerce Committee — at least momentarily — with 7 Democrats and 7 Republicans. Several Democratic Senators have requested the vacant Committee seat, with appointment due early next week. Thurmond’s Senate successor, Thomas Wofford (D-S. C.) is not expected to get the assignment. Thurmond resigned to campaign for full term in Senate. County-by-county data on TV households, as of June 1955, will be released April 30 by Advertising Research Foundation, 11 W. 42nd St., N. Y. ARF projected Census Bureau data showing 32,000,000 households, or 2 out of every 3 homes in U. S., owned a TV set in that month (Vol. 10:34). Tenth anniversary of Meet the Press will be celebrated by NBC with dinner at Washington’s Sheraton-Park Hotel April 28, principal speakers to be Senators Barkley (DKy.) and Knowland (R-Cal.). New reps: WARM-TV, Scranton, Pa. to Bolling (from Hollingbery); upcoming WITI-TV, Milwaukee-Whitefish Bay (Ch. 6), due this month, names Branham.