Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1949)

TV IN COLUMBUS, 2 CPs GET THE EYE: Latest to go on test is WLWC, Columbus — now asking for STA to begin scheduled operation Mon., April 4. It will operate 3:45 p.m. to 8-10 p.m. daily, same as its sister Crosley-owned stations WLWT, Cincinnati, and WLWD, Dayton, with which it's linked via microwave. Without studios as yet, WLWC had $33,000 in local business signed (base rate $200) and is carrying national for time being without charge via films and feeds from Cincinnati. Manager is James Leonard, production chief Richard L. Rider. FCC ordered another alleged "laggard" to hearing on eve of March 28 hearing on CP extension request of Maison Blanche's WRTV, New Orleans, also charged with stalling. Even after being told last January it wouldn't wink at CP holders doing nothing while freeze is on (Vol. 5:2), FCC apparently found need to cite WSAZ, Huntington, W. Va. , for lack of diligence. It has held CP since July 1948, is owned by same (John Kennedy) interests applying for Charleston, W. Va. Only holder of CP for a non-existent channel, Wm. Gleeson’s KARO, Riyerside, Cal., was finally told this week CP extension is denied because Channel No. 1 was deleted year ago (Vol. 4:19). CP was held 27 months. Notes on upcoming new TV stations: WKRC-TV, Cincinnati, nearly set for April 4 commercial debut .. .WGAL-TV, Lancaster, Pa., started test patterns March 18, but no definite commercial date set yet . . . WSYR-TV, Syracuse, has set target date for Sept. 12. . .WLAV-TV, Grand Rapids, now aiming for July 15 test patterns, commercial start Aug. 15. .. Cleveland ' s WXEL has about completed transmitter building, but installation awaits reallocation decision whether it must go to Channel No. 11 instead of originally assigned No. 9...ABC-TV Television Center, 7 W. 66th St., New York, will house WOR-TV studios when that station starts this summer. Note : Our new TV Directory No. 7: Television Rates & Factbook should be ready for mailing with your Newsletter next Saturday. It will bring your log of stations on the air, CPs outstanding, applications pending up to date . TV' network sponsorships: A. S. Beck Shoe Co. on March 31 starts Candlelight Revue variety, on NBC-TV, Thu., 10-10:20 p.m. . . . Summer vacation signoffs of major TV shows include Texaco Star Theater (NBC) from June 14: Admiral’s Broadway Revue (NBC), from June 10; The Goldbergs (CBS), from June 27, meanwhile on April 11 shifts to Mon., 9:30-10 p.m.; Chesterfield’s Arthur Godfrey and His Friends (CBS), from June 15 . . . Ford Theater on CBS-TV starting April 11 shifts to Mon., 9-10 p.m., once 10-10:20 p.m. . . . Summer vacation signoffs of major TV monthly . . . Quaker Oats, for Ken-L-Ration, sponsors International Kennel Club’s big dog show in Chicago on 12 NBC-TV stations. Sun., March 27, 10:30 p.m. Station sponsorship notes: General Mills reported to be readying The Lone Ranger for TV serial release on films . . . “Natural” for TV was auctioneer sale of antiques in Beverly Hills this week, KTLA selling 9:30-11 p.m. time . ABC-TV has sold co-op sponsorship of Tomorrow's Champions, amateur boxing, to Miller Beer, WJZ-TV; New York; Courtesy Motors (Hudson), VV'ENR-TV, Chicago; Miles xVuto Stores, WEWS, Cleveland; A. Sagner & Son (Northcool suits), WAAM, Baltimore; Fort Pitt Brewing Co., WDTV, Pittsburgh . . . WENR-TV signs Morris B. Sachs clothing chain for simulcasts of Amatuer Hour, Sun., 12:30-1:30 p.m. . . . W^NBQ, Chicago signs Edward Hines Lumber Co. for Walt's Workship, 26 weeks starting April 4, Mon., 7-7:30 p.m. . . .Charles A. Eton Co. (shoes) and Benrus Watch buy 7 p.m. station breaks on VVNBT. Add to new firms in our 1949 Directory of Consulting Engineers Specializing in Radio (Supp. No. 12-C) the following: W. M. Witty, Broadcast Facilities Consultant, 6923 Snider Plaza, Dallas 5, Tex.; phones L-7118 and J8-2402. Also, Forbes & Wagner Inc., consultants and manufacturers, 339 Central Ave., Silver Ci’eek, N. Y.; phone 514. New York Sun TV edition is due March 28, and f^ew York Times publishing Radio-TV section April 24. NBC Research counts 1,315,000 TV sets in use as of March 1, according to its monthly ‘census’ report estimating sets installed and no. of families within 40-mi. service area (.5 Mv). Detailed listing of TV towns to date: No. No. No. Area Stations Families Sets Eastern Interconnected Cities New York 6 3,597,000 500,000 Baltimore 3 732,000 44,700 Boston 2 1,175,000 53,600 Philadelphia — 3 1,184,000 130,000 Richmond 1 130,000 7,700 Schenectady 1 258,000 17,900 Washington 4 691,000 37,400 New Haven l 557,000 20,700 Midwest Interconnected Cities Buffalo 1 323,000 15,500 Chicago 4 1,438,000 100,000 Cleveland 2 695,000 30,400 Detroit 3 839,000 43,500 Milwaukee 1 327,000 19,000 Pittsburgh 1 742,000 9,500 St. Louis 1 474,000 22,500 Toledo 1 241,000 8,500 N on-interconnected Cities Albuquerque 1 22,000 600 Atlanta 2 233,000 5,900 Cincinnati 1(a) 384,000 17,100 Dayton 2 291,000 4,600 Erie 1 112,000 500 Fort Worth 1 269,000 3 100 Dallas (b) _ 277,000 4,100 Houston 1 217,000 3,000 Los Angeles 6 1,372,000 102;000 Louisville 1 188,000 5 700 Memphis 1 177,000 3,400 Miami — 1 117,000 1,700 Minneapolis-St. Paul._ 1 333,000 12,300 New Orleans 1 225,000 4 000 Salt Lake City __ 1 93,000 3,300 San Francisco 1 825,000 4 600 Seattle 1 307,000 5,000 Syracuse l 199,000 2,300 Stations Not Yet Operating Indianapolis _ 281,000 800 Providence _ 1,011,000 5.500 Wilmington _ 728,000 3,300 Others _ 61,300 total . „ 1,315,000 (a) Second station (WKRC-TV) due to start April 4. (b) In cluded In coverage of Fort Worth station (WBAP-TV).