Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1953)
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FEDERAL’S ORDER for 1-kw transmitter for upcoming WTSK, Knoxville, Tenn. (Ch. 26), formerly allotted call letters WCEE-TV, is due for shipment about mid-Sept., when Federal also ships similar plant to WACH, Newport News-Norfolk (Ch. 33) — and these will bring to 7 the number of Federal uhf transmitters so far sold. Other 5, all now on air: WICC-TV, Bridgeport (Ch. 43) ; WNAO-TV, Raleigh (Ch. 28) ; WTVI, Belleville, 111St. Louis (Ch. 54); KFAZ-TV, Monroe, La. (Ch. 43); WTVU, Scranton (Ch. 73).
GE this week got off 100-watters to WCOC-TV, Meridian, Miss. (Ch. 30), to be followed by 12-kw later; WLTV, Wheeling, W. Va. (Ch. 51), with 1-kw to go in Oct.; KBMT, Beaumont, Tex. (Ch. 31), 1-kw to go in Oct.; WPFA-TV, Pensacola, Fla. (Ch. 15), 1-kw to go in Sept. These holders of 100-watt transmitters, none on air as yet, this week got their 12-kw: WILK-TV, WilkesBarre, Pa. (Ch. 34); WKLO-TV, Louisville (Ch. 21); WIFE, Dayton (Ch. 22).
RCA’s only vhf shipment this week was 2-kw transmitter to WROL-TV, Knoxville, Tenn. (Ch. 6), while scheduled shipment of 10-kw to WCIA, Champaign, 111. (Ch. 3) was held up until week of Aug. 24. Week’s uhf shipments went to WTAP, Parkersburg, W. Va. (Ch. 15) ; WOKY-TV, Milwaukee (Ch. 19) ; WLBR-TV, Lebanon, Pa. (Ch. 15). Held up were shipments originally announced to go this week to KSTM-TV, St. Louis (Ch. 36) ; WNAM-TV, Neenah, Wis. (Ch. 42) ; Capital City TV Co., Sacramento, Cal. (Ch. 40).
DuMont this week shipped new Ch. 9 transmitter to Cedar Rapids (la.) Television Co., grantee last week (Vol. 9:33) which is aiming for Oct. start.
* * * *
In our continuing survey of upcoming new stations, these were the reports received this week:
KGBS-TV, Harlingen, Tex. (Ch. 4), whose acquisition of radio KSOX from Houston Mayor Roy Hofheinz for $225,000 has been approved by FCC, this week was to get GE antenna, and with 5-kw transmitter having been shipped by GE about month ago, it’s due to get on air about Sept. 15. It will provide first competition in Rio Grande Valley to XELD-TV, Matamoros (Ch. 7), opposite Brownsville, Tex. Pearson will be rep.
WAPA-TV, San Juan, Puerto Rico (Ch. 4), granted Aug. 12, hasn’t ordered equipment yet but owner Jose Ramon Quinones, sugar cane grower, reports radio station was built to accommodate TV with addition to building and he wants to get on air “as soon as possible.” National rep will be Melchor Guzman Co., N. Y.
KHQA-TV, Hannibal, Mo. (Ch. 7) expects to begin testing about Aug. 31, reports Walter J. Rothschild, gen. mgr., its DuMont transmitter having been shipped July 27. Station is controlled by Lee Syndicate interests (Lee P. Loomis, pres.), operator of WTAD, Quincy, 111. and recent purchaser of Hannibal Courier-Post’s KHMO, sold to new owners (Vol. 9:32). Wayne Cribb, ex-KHMO mgr., is now in WTAD national sales dept. Courier-Post acquires 20% interest in TV outlet. Other KHQA-TV executives: Herbert R. Ohrt, exec. v.p. ; Merritt Milligan, program director; Ernie Gray, chief engineer; Charles Lotz, film editor; Don Nicholson, news editor; Gene Terry, promotion. Rep is Weed.
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, N. M. (Ch. 7) now has DuMont transmitter on hand, plans Sept. 15 debut, reports v.p. & gen. mgr. Phil Hoffman, recently with KECA-TV, Los Angeles, formerly mgr. of KOB-TV & KOB, Albuquerque. Hollingbery will be rep.
KOMU-TV, Columbia, Mo. (Ch. 8), II of Missouri’s commercial grant, which last reported Sept. J target, is due to get 5-kw GE equipment in early Sept, and plans
tests as soon thereafter as possible, according to advices from office of mgr. George J. Kapel. It has already published a rate card quoting $200 base rate. H-R Television will be rep.
WSTV-TV, Steubenville, O. (Ch. 9), granted last week, has ordered RCA equipment, but has not begun construction, set target date or named rep, according to exec. v.p. John Laux, whose group also controls WFPGTV, Atlantic City (Ch. 46).
WIS-TV, Columbia, S. C. (Ch. 10), headed by G. Richard Shafto, with ex-NARTB’s Charles A. Batson as v.p. & managing director, last reported Sept. 1 target date but now aims for early Oct. RCA 10-kw transmitter was shipped June 30, and 580-ft. tower is being erected. Radio WIS will continue to be controlled by interlocking stockholders, but owners of radio WMSC, which had competing application but joined with WIS group for early grant, are divesting selves of WMSC stock. This week, WIS engineer Barnett Goldberg was named technical supervisor of WIS-TV and Stephen Wesley, ex-WNAO, Raleigh, named chief transmitter operator. Free & Peters will be rep.
CHCH-TV, Hamilton, Ont. (Ch. 13) now expects RCA equipment to be delivered sometime after Oct., is building studio & transmitter house meanwhile, aims to begin testing next Jan. or Feb., reports gen. mgr. Kenneth D. Soble, who heads group of 3 local radio stations which combined to get grant (Vol. 9:14). Rep. will be All-Canada TV.
WIRK-TV, West Palm Beach, Fla. (Ch. 21) now has RCA equipment on hand, has taken quarters on 12th floor of Harvey Bldg., plans test patterns by Sept. 1, reports operations mgr. Arthur L. Gray. Weed will be rep.
KPIC, Salem, Ore. (Ch. 24) has RCA transmitter scheduled for Sept, delivery, plans to begin 1-kw interim operation early in Oct. from new Silverton Hills site approved July 29 by FCC, goes to 10-kw in Feb. (Vol. 9:28), according to v.p. Joseph Brenner, ex-FCC attorney, now practicing in Los Angeles. Project is headed by grantee Lawrence A. Harvey, attorney, son of Leo Harvey, pres., Harvey Machine Co., Torrance, Cal. (aluminum & brass products). Rep not yet chosen.
WTSK, Knoxville, Tenn. (Ch. 26), its call letters changed from originally assigned WCEE-TV, has engaged ex-Washington consulting engineer Harold B. Rothrock as gen. mgr. and Guy Smith III, ex-WKGN, Knoxville, as commercial mgr., and hopes to begin test patterns with Federal transmitter and Workshop Associates antenna by end of Sept. This might make it first on air in that city (though WROL-TV, Ch. 6, got RCA 2-kw transmitter shipment this week). Tower and studiotransmitter building are being built at Sharps Ridge, 3 mi. from center of city. Rothrock announces CBS affiliation contract signed this week. Pearson will be rep.
WNBH-TV, New Bedford, Mass. (Ch. 28) ran into site problem when airport proved to be too close to “best” transmitter location and a projected move farther north had to be resolved with Worcester uhf allocations, reports grantee Basil Brewer. RCA equipment has been ordered and “full speed” is now planned, but no target date has been set as yet, said Mr. Brewer, publisher of New Bedford Standard-Times and holder also of CP for WBOS-TV, Boston (Ch. 50).
WRTV, Asbury Park, N. J. (Ch. 58), following ground-breaking ceremonies Aug. 15 attended by theatreman Walter Reade Jr. (pres.) and local celebrities, began footings for 425-ft. Stainless Steel tower, to be topped by 40-ft. antenna. Work on new studio-transmitter building at rear of Reade chain’s Eatontown Drive-In Theatre begins immediately, with early Dec. tests of 1-kw RCA transmitter planned. Rep not yet chosen.