Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1957)

4 BOSTON’S hotly-conlested Ch. 5, worth millions, went to YnH.T>Yi-HeTald-Traveler April 24 in final 4-2 FCC decision, Comrs. Hyde & Bartley dissenting, Comr. Craven abstaining. Losers were DuMont, Greater Boston TV Corp. (initially favored by chief FCC examiner James D. Cunningham), Mass. Bay Telecasters Inc. Action by Commission, which had been foreshadowed (Vol. 13:13), brushed aside protests by non-applicant Boston Globe that Herald-Traveler threatened to use station to drive it out of business (Vol. 13:5). FCC favored WHDH largely because of its “strong showing” in all “local factors,” added to long broadcast experience & record in Boston area. DuMont was “weak” in local residence and ownership-management integration. Greater Boston and Mass. Bay had “modest” showing over WHDH in “civic participation” & diversification of business interests but lacked in broadcasting background. Comr. Hyde in his dissent said he favored a “higher degree of diversification” than WHDH offered but indicated no choice. Comr. Bartley, who had favored Mass. Bay in earlier FCC voting in case, said record demonstrated WHDH is “adjunct” of Herald-Traveler, which used broadcasting facilities for competitive “leverage.” In dismissing Globe’s petition to intervene, FCC said Herald-Traveler’s rival had displayed “lack of diligence” in pressing its complaints while hearing record was open. Comr. Bartley concurred but dissented from Conomission’s Radio station sales approved by FCC: KMOD, Modesto, Cal. by Radio Modesto Inc. (John E. Griffin, pres.) to Modesto Bcstg. Co. (Ruth W. Finley, pres.) for $161,500 (Vol. 13:10). KATZ, St. Louis, by Mrs. Cora Lee Garrett & Bernice Schwartz to Rollins Bcstg. Inc., operator of WPTZ, Plattsburgh, N. Y. (Ch. 5) and 6 AMs, for $110,000 (Vol. 13:13). WELL, Battle Creek, by Battle Creek Enquirer & News (Federated Publications Inc., R. B. Miller, pres.) to Frederick A. Knorr’s Southern Michigan Bcstg. Corp. for $100,000 (Vol. 13:11). WAIT, Chicago, Oscar Miller family acquiring control from Adele & Louis E. Moulds and Grace V. & Wm. T. McNeill, paying $98,000 for their holdings (Vol. 13:16). WTRL, Brandenton, Fla. by Howard A. Donchoe to Blue Skies Bcstg. Corp., headed by Lockwood (Dick) Doty, ex-WHAM, Rochester, with 79% control held by Dr. James H. Lockhart Jr., Genesee, N. Y., for $81,427 (Vol. 13:14). WJVB, Jacksonville Beach, Fla. by J. Lyle Williams Jr. & associates to Andrew B. Letson, owner of AMs in Ocala & Quincy, Fla., for $60,000 (Vol. 13:13). WKPT, Kingsport, Tenn., pres. C. P. Edwards Jr. acquiring 59%% control by paying Howard Long $54,000 for 22%% (Vol. 13:16). Radio station sales reported this week: KHEP, Phoenix, by A. V. Bamford and Harvey R. Odom (also co-owners of CP for radio KMOP, Tucson) under 5-year lease for $252,000 (with option to buy within 2 years for $145,000) to Grand Canyon Bcstrs. Inc. KEPO, El Paso, by Austin attorney John W. Stayton for $150,000 to A. V. Bamford & Harvey R. Odom and E. 0. Smith, Phoenix. KSTB, Breckenridge, Tex., by Coy Perry and C. M. Hatch (owners of KCLW, Hamilton, Tex.) for $50,000 to Hugh M. McBeath, chief engineer of KXOL, Ft. Worth. KEPO broker was Hamilton, Stubblefield, Twining & Assoc. Record sale for $7,500,000 of radio WNEW, N. Y. to DuMont by Buckley-Wrather-Loeb interests (Vol. 13:12) was approved this week by FCC. Price includes $4,815,407 cash, remainder 281,889 shares of DuMont Bcstg. stock fixed at 8%. rejection of pleas by Greater Boston and Mass. Bay to reopen case to explore influence by Herald-Traveler in death of Boston Post. * sf: * ♦ One court appeal was filed this week — as Broadcast House sought reversal of FCC decision giving St. Louis’ Ch. 11 to CBS. Demand for newly assigned channels in major markets is going to be mighty strong. This week, WJMR-TV, New Orleans (Ch. 20) filed for experimental grant to operate on new Ch. 12 — stating it wants to compare vhf & uhf operations simultaneously. WNOX’s efforts to dislodge WBIR-TV, Knoxville (Ch. 10), which had defeated WNOX and Tennessee TV Inc. in comparative hearing, suffered setback this week when Commission turned down its petition for rehearing. WNOX had attacked on many fronts but FCC found all its arguments insubstantial. One site move was authorized — WEAR-TV, Pensacola (Ch. 3) getting permission to shift from spot near city to point 25 mi. northwest, increase height to 1000 ft., power to 100 kw. Radio WIP, Philadelphia, filed protest against authorization given to WPFH, Wilmington (Ch. 12) to move transmitter near Pitman, N. J., 26-mi. east of Wilmington, 7-mi. closer to Philadelphia. WIP asked for hearing, claiming it would suffer competitively. Translators authorized: Jolm Day, Ore., Ch. 72 & 77, to John Day Valley TV; Rock Springs, Wyo., Ch. 74, to Translator TV Bcstg. Corp. FCC quietly laid to rest 2 long-pending proposals to require filing of information on patents owned by its licensees. First proposal, initiated in 1951 as aftermath of bitter color hearing in which Commission grilled RCA sharply about patent pool and licensing procedures (Vol. 7:48), would have required everyone with patent rights on communications equipment to disclose mass of information on such patents to Commission. Second proposal, initiated in 1954, would have required those participating in rule-making proceedings to show their patent interests in equipment involved (Vol. 10:50). In rejecting proposal, Commission majority this week said it already has power to require and obtain patent information on case-by-case basis “when situations arise.” Comrs. Bartley & Lee dissented from this week’s order. Sale of KERO-TV, Bakersfield, Cal. to WratherAlvarez was protested this week by Robert K. Strauss, 10% owner of WITI-TV, Milwaukee, who asked FCC for hearing — noting he has suit pending in Cal. court charging abrogation of his previous contract to buy KERO-TV. He also cited suit by Mrs. Maria Helen Alvarez against J. D. Wrather & George E. Whitney, v.p.-gen. mgr. of KFMB-TV (Vol. 13:7) et al, seeking $10,000,000 damages for alleged fraud. The 30% of Guy Gannett Publishing Co., publisher of Portland Press Herald and other Maine newspapers, held by Public Welfare Foundation Inc., has been bought back by parent firm for sum understood to be $1,260,000. Public Welfare was established by Charles E. Marsh, 48% owner of Alexandria (Va.) Gazette. Guy Gannett Bcstg. Services, subsidiary of publishing firm, operates WGAN-TV, Portland (Ch. 13) & WGAN. Broker was Allen Kander & Co. Sale of 25% of WDAK-TV, Columbus, Ga. (Ch. 28) by Radio Columbus to Martin Theatres of Ga. Inc. for $25,000 is requested in application filed this week. Martin Theatres gains 100% control and Allen Woodall, present gen. mgr., receives $20,000 over a 4-year period as consultant. Station seeks change of call letters to WTVM.