Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1953)

7 EDUCATIONAL TV proponents got some welcome reassurance this week from 2 top-level sources on future of their channel reservations after June 2. New FCC chairman Rosel H. Hyde told Senate Interstate Commerce Committe April 21 he felt there should be no deadline on filing applications for educational channels. And committee Chairman Tobey (R-N. H.), always ready with a fast phrase, shouted: “I hope the Commission announces these educational stations are available until hell freezes over. Let the Commission say ‘hands off, private industry.’ ” Hyde’s statement was particularly gratifying to educators, though they recognize he’s not the educational crusader former chairman Paul Walker is. Yet his statement— “if there’s any doubt about it, now, on the record, I would reiterate that there is no time limit on our educational reservations” — was strong enough to breathe renewed hope into the eduactional TV camp. Next step, educators hope, will be a formal statement by FCC backing up Hyde’s declaration as a matter of of policy. Tobey, among other committee members, has urged such a statement. It was also advocated by Comr. Hennock, but not until she had done a flip-flop which threatened for a time to dissipate much of the goodwill her testimony last week had engendered (Vol. 9:16). She admitted that under Section 4(d) of the Administrative Procedures Act, Commission could not legally enter into any rule-making to bar petitions for changing educational allocations to commercial— a power which only last week she stoutly maintained Commission had. Section 4(d) establishes right of any American citizen who feels he has been injured by administrative regulation of Govt, to petition for change. Sen. Pastore (D-R. I.), one of her staunchest sup FIVE APPLICATIONS filed this week included 2 for channels already granted. Application by group headed by auto dealer Albert B. Wagner for Youngstown’s Ch. 21, which was granted last September to Polan Industries (WUTV) , was accompanied by charge that WUTV has shown lack of diligence, seeks competitive hearing for channel. Application for Durham, N. C., Ch. 46, already granted to T. E. Allen & Sons (WCIG-TV), was resubmitted by group protesting the grant; it’s headed by Internal Revenue employe P. M. Sawyer and includes Harold H. Thoms, who has holdings in several other grantees and applications. Other applications filed this week were for Phoenix, Ch. 3, by gi’oup of local businessmen headed by ex-Asst. Navy Secy. H. R. Askins, now auto supply dealer; North Miami, Fla., Ch. 10, by 10 business & professional people headed by steel man Frank Bryson ; Claremont, N. H., Ch. 37, by local WTSV, also applicant for Manchester, N. H. [For further details about this week’s applications, see TV Addenda 16-P herewith; for complete listings of all post-freeze grants, new stations, applications, dismissals, amendments, hearings, etc., see TV Factbook No. 16 with Addenda to date.] in Terms of Birmingham News Co.’s purchase of WAFMTV, and assumption of leasehold on radio station WAPI (Vol. 9:15), were disclosed in applications filed with FCC this week. Deal involves payment of approximately $2,400,000, with Thad Holt, 23.636% stockholder, to receive $567,272.75 cash at time FCC authorizes transfer. Majority stockholder Edward L. Norton (76.364%) was paid $91,636.36 upon signing of sale agreement, will get same amount at time of transfer, then same amount annually for 18 years “on each successive anniversary date of said transfer and conveyance” — the unpaid balance drawing interest of 4% payable quarterly. Canada has abolished $2.50 license fee on radios, has no plans to levy tax on TVs. porters last week, was particularly irked by her reversal, which she admitted it was, under questioning by Sen. Johnson (D-Colo.). And she got deeper into trouble when she urged that FCC deny all commercial petitions for educational channels unless it could be proven that entire philosophy of educational reservations “should be disregarded and nullified.” When she tried to explain that this permanent policy is necessary because “other members and I won’t be on this Commission forever,” Sen. Magnuson (D-Wash.) interrupted to say: “Yes, I know. I tried to keep you off originally.” Other educational TV developments this week: (1) Zenith adv. director Erik Isrig urged educational TV leaders to consider subscription TV as one way of raising money for stations, in address to Ohio State U’s Institute for Education by Radio-TV. (2) Mrs. Gertrude Broderick, U. S. Office of Education TV-radio consultant, elected president, Assn, of Education by Radio-TV; Armand L. Hunter, TV development director, Michigan State College (holder of CP for commercial Ch. 60), elected regional director. (3) Bill to appropriate $850,000 for educational TV stations in Philadelphia, Erie & State College was introduced in Pennsylvania legislature. (4) Chicago Educational TV Assn., comprising 20 organizations, received non-profit charter to apply for non-commercial Ch. 11. (5) Valuable tips for educators on station construction, based on commercial experience, published in booklet, available without cost from RCA Victor’s educational div., Camden, N. J. Also this week, first tests of educational TV’s first station, the well-endowed (privately) KUHT, Houston, scheduled for April 20, were again postponed another week because of delay in arrival of Federal transmitter. Dedication is set for May 4. Valuation of $2,900,000 on WIND, 5-kw Chicago radio station granted uhf Ch. 20 last month (Vol. 9:12), is indicated in application to FCC for change of ownership in compliance with Commission’s conditions on TV grant that part-owner H. Leslie Atlass, who is also CBS Chicago div. v.p., should divest himself of his stockholdings. To proposed new WIND Inc., Atlass would sell his 19.47% interest for $564,498.60; Philip K. Wrigley Jr. his 38.85% for $1,126,566.42; Chicago Daily News its 41.68% for $1,208,938.98. It’s largely paper transaction, however, for new officers and stockholders would be: Ralph Atlass, pres., 11.1% (brother of Leslie); John T. Carey, v.p. & secy., 5.5%; H. Leslie Atlass Jr., treas., 9.9%; Frank Atlass, 9.9%; Harriet Jane Atlass, 9.9%; Helen A. Wrigley, 6.5%; Blanche W. Hagenah, 6.5%; Dorothy W. Rich, 6.5%; Wm. Wrigley, 6.5%; Chicago Daily News, 27.7%. TV winners of George Foster Peabody Awards for 1953 were presented April 24 at luncheon meeting of Radio-TV Executives Society of New York: special award, Victory at Sea (NBC-TV) ; news, Meet the Press (NBCTV) ; education, Johns Hopkins Science Review (DuMont) ; entertainment, Mister Peepers, and Your Hit Parade (both NBC-TV) ; children’s, Ding Dong School (NBC-TV) ; local public service, WEWS, Cleveland. Radio winners: news, Martin Agronsky (ABC); music, New York Philharmonic Symphony (CBS) and Standard Symphony (NBC) ; regional public service, WIS, Columbia, S. C. Transfer of KHMO-TV, Hannibal, Mo., holder of CP for Ch. 7, from Courier-Post Publishing Co. to WTAD, Quincy, 111., is proposed in application filed this week. The towns are 15-mi. apart, and plan is to sell Courier-Post 20% of WTAD, dispose of KHMO (AM), dismiss WTAD application for Ch. 10 in Quincy. WTAD would pay KHMO out-of-pocket expenses of $7580 incurred in pursuit of CP.