Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1956)

16 New Haven’s WNHC-TV (Ch. 8), along with radio WNHC, will be taken over on Aug. 28 by Triangle Publications Inc., FCC having approved $5,400,000 deal after protest by WICC-TV, Bridgeport (Ch. 43) was withdrawn (Vol. 12:32). No changes in station personnel are contemplated by Roger W. Clipp, gen. mgr. of Triangle’s TV-radio div., and Katz representation continues under contract. WNHC-TV gen. mgr. Aldo DeDominicis and ex-pres. Patrick Goode, founder and former chief owners, remain under long-term consulting contracts with new owner (VoL 12:18,21,25). Triangle also owns WFIL-TV, Philadelphia (Ch. 6), WNBF-TV, Binghamton, N. Y. (Ch. 12), WFBGTV, Altoona, Pa. (Ch. 10) — with their radio adjuncts — and 50% of radio WHBG, Harrisburg. It also has deal pending to acquire off-air WLBR-TV, Lebanon, Pa. (Ch. 15). This week, approval of WLBR-TV purchase was recommended in initial decision by FCC examiner J. D. Bond, who rejected protests of one Reading & 3 Harrisburg uhf stations that Lebanon station would be WFIL-TV satellite; that Triangle would acquire undue competitive advantage; that undue concentration of interests would result (Vol. 11:27, 31, 39, 45). Bond said resumption of WLBRTV would “provide needed local facilities where none are now operated,” adding that evidence failed to show “Triangle will utilize unfair or oppressive competitive practices to the disadvantage of other broadcast operators.” Henry J. Kaiser, of wartime shipbuilding fame, who now rules his vast industrial empire (aluminum, chemicals, steel, cement, electronics, etc.) from his home in Honolulu, is casting about for TV-radio outlets of his own in Hawaii — but as yet hasn’t decided whether he will buy or build. He wants at least one TV and one radio station of his own to operate in connection with his recently completed $10,000,000 Hotel Hawaiian Village at Waikiki. For TV, Ch. 11 & 13 are still available in Honolulu, as well as Ch. 7 educational, and presumably have not been applied for up to now because the 3 networks, served by kinescope recordings, already have their affiliations and there’s question whether more stations could survive economically. Sales deal was recently made with Crowell-Collier for sale of Honolulu’s KULA-TV (Ch. 4) for $600,000 (Vol. 12:17). For details about Honolulu’s 3 existing stations and 3 satellites, see TV Factbook No. 23, pp. 250-251. Syrians will see first TV when U. S. & British firms open studios at Damascus Fair, Sept. 1-30. Pye Ltd. (Britain) will make on-the-air telecasts; RCA plans closedcircuit broadcasts to 15 monitors throughout Syrian capital. Among other exhibitors will be Admiral & Zenith, the former showing its solar-powered portable radio. Closed circuit TV with 3 monitors, 3-D displays of TVradio-phono history, will be features of U. S. “industrial progress” exhibit at International Trade Fair, Izmir, Turkey (Aug. 20-Sept. 20). Colo. Gov. Edwin C. Johnson, who’s serving as his own “FCC” by telling operators of unauthorized vhf boosters they can keep going under his executive oi’der (Vol. 12:31), has made at least 2 “grants” in addition to first one in Steamboat Springs. Latest are to groups in Rifle & Glenwood Springs, Colo. No other governor has emulated Johnson, who admits he sought no legal advice on moves. He’s former Democratic Chairman of Senate Interstate & Foreign Commerce Committee. Fear for their jobs because of TV was expressed by American Federation of Teachers union, when 700 members at annual convention in Pittsburgh this week voted unanimou.sly for resolution stating in part: “While we champion the use of TV as an audio-visual aid to the individual in a classroom, we are unalterably opposed to mass education by TV as a substitute for professional cla.ssroom techniques.” Another closed-circuit TV “first” came this week when CAA announced system will be used to help unscramble congested air traffic in N. Y. area. Pictures of long-range radar screen at N. Y. Air Route Traffic Control Center — where “blips” of approaching aircraft are numbered for positive identification — will be transmitted via TV to approach control towers at LaGuardia, Idlewild & Newark. Control center employes can “hand off” planes to one of 3 fields simply by pointing at numbered “blip” on radar screen, avoiding lost time, confusion. “I don’t dare to estimate how much faster it will handle planes,” said James V. Bernardo, CAA aviation development advisor, “but it surely will be more efficient. It surely will improve the situation.” Other newly reported closed-circuit uses: (1) Three TV cameras guard N. Y. Central railroad crossings in Springfield, 0. (2) Twin cameras provide safe view of new Navy gun tests at Chincoteague, Va. (3) Carrier USS Hancock has installed own closed-circuit system financed out of recreation funds. Two applications for stations and 3 for translators were filed with FCC this week. Seeking Ch. 13 in Sioux Falls, S. D. is Video Independent Theatres Inc., Oklahoma movie chain and grantee of KSPS, Hot Springs, Ark. (Ch. 9) and KVIT, Sante Fe, N. M. (Ch. 2). WLAN, Lancaster, Pa. filed for Ch. 21, asking mileage waiver. Translator applications were for Ch. 70, 74 & 82, Kingman, Ariz., by Mohave County Board of Supervisors (George C. Ricca, chairman), to relay KLRJ-TV, Henderson, Nev., KTVK-TV & KOOK-TV, Phoenix. Total applications on file: 123 for stations (25 uhf), 16 translators. [For details, see ry Addenda 23-G herewith.] Community antenna operators are appealing recent decision of Judge Rabe F. Marsh, U. S. District Court, Pittsburgh, that they must collect 8% “wire & equipment service” tax from subscribers. Test case had been invited by National Community TV Assn., using Meadville, Pa. system as guinea pig. On another legal front. Cal. Supreme Court will hear argument in San Francisco Sept. 4 on appeal of Martinez system and NCTA from ruling of state utilities commission declaring system to be public utility; NCTA’s E. Stratford Smith will present argument. Two microwave systems for community antenna systems, sought in applications filed with FCC this week: (1) Montana-Idaho Micro-Wave Inc., 233 E. Main St., Bozeman, Mont., requested approval of $16,154 LambdaPacific system to bring signals of KID-TV, Idaho Falls (Ch. 3) to Bozeman system. It proposes $712 monthly charge. (2) Black Hills Video Corp., 908 Pyramid Life Bldg., Little Rock, Ark., filed for $15,000 Philco system to relay Lubbock station signals to Clovis, N. M. CATV operator, plans to charge $1100 monthly. TV goes to the races: American Totalisator Corp., Baltimore, biggest manufacturer of racetrack tote boards, has purchased zoom-lens GPL closed-circuit system for new installation at Hagerstown (Md.) racetrack. Using remote pan & tilt in weatherproof housing atop clubhouse, picture of tote board is relayed to monitors in tote room and calculating room to check on operation & accuracy of board at all times. Harvard and MIT scientists have agreed to participate in series of 23 filmed programs, aimed at giving better understanding of science & scientists and at correcting popular misconceptions about science, to be produced at WGBH-TV, Boston (Ch. 2, educational) and distributed to educational TV stations through Educational TV & Radio Center, Ann Arbor. Finland begins regular TV programming this fall with 6 hours weekly from Helsinki station operated by govt.’s Finnish Radio Co. TV expansion plan calls for 4 stations by 1960, total of 15 eventually.