Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1953)

6 on sale of KOLN-TV, Lincoln, Neb. (Ch. 12) to Fetzer interests, approved by FCC (Vol. 9:30); proposed sale of KDZA-TV, Pueblo, Colo. (Ch. 3) to Gene O'Fallon, of KFEL-TV, Denver (Vol. 9:31); sale of control of WABI-TV, Bangor, Me. (Ch. 5) to ex-Gov. Hildreth (Vol. 9:31); transfer of control of KRTV, Little Rock, Ark. (Ch. 17) granted to Rowley-Brown interests (Vol. 9:30); acquisition of CP for WTVQ, Pittsburgh (Ch. 47) sought by Edward Lamb. There also was projected $2,000,000 deal to buy W ALATV, Mobile, Ala. (Ch. 10), which didn't come off (Vol. 9:25), and we've reported on sundry AM station transfers involving TV considerations. STATION SALE deals are mostly in negotiation stages at this writing, some still quite secret — but you’ll be hearing about more and more of them in coming weeks. Only new TV transfer-of-ownership actually filed (besides those mentioned on p. 5) was the one involving IvRBC-TV, Abilene, Tex. (Ch. 9), with KRBC for purchase price of $500,000. Purchasers are Lewis J. Ackers, local oilman & rancher; Mrs. Sybil Ackers, his wife; Dale Ackers, son, who is sales mgr. for local Ford Agency; Jack Andrews, district mgr. for big cotton brokers Anderson-Clayton Co., Houston. They would own 25% each, buying out 64% holdings of Mrs. Eva May Hanks, widow of newspaper publisher Bernard Hanks, plus those of all other stockholders. Purchase price includes guaranteed acquisition of $125,000 in assets over liabilities. Assets of present company include some $85,000 worth of equipment, with net worth reported as $204,468, including about $180,000 in earned surplus. WATV, Newark, with its AM adjunct WAAT has long been quarry of various interests eager to crash New York market. Approach recently was made on behalf of George Storer, already owning limit of 5 TVs, 7 AMs (3 of the TVs acquired by purchase). Though station is reputed to be in the black, it’s currently faced with necessity of moving transmitter to Empire State Bldg., involving cost of some $200-250,000 as well as high rentals. Hence possibility station may be sold. Price of WATV is said to exceed $3,000,000, with chairman Matthew Rosenhaus, who owns control with mgr. Irving Rosenhaus, a brother, understood to want to retain a stock interest. Matthew Rosenhaus also heads Serutan Co. All stock except Frank Bremer’s 10% is in family hands. If Storer should buy, he’d presumably have to sell one of his present TV properties — most likely either the one in San Antonio or Birmingham. Fact that Storer discussions were under way apparently gave rise to rumor that he’s interested in acquiring WOR-TV, New York, reputed to be deep in red. But that was flatly denied on behalf of General Teleradio’s Tom O’Neil. There was story current, too, which may have some substance, that Newark News’ prospective sale of its radio WNJR (5-kw independent on 1430 kc) is prelude to possibile acquisition of WATV and WAAT. Several weeks of negotiations have gone into proposed acquisition of 8-month-old KXLY-TV, Spokane, with ICXLY, for reported $1,750,000. Owners are 50% group headed by E. B. Craney, with Bing Crosby holding 47.6% and said to be leaning toward selling for sake of capital gain. Purchasers would be group headed by Joseph Harris, wealthy N. Y. insurance man who controls rights to Swperman and who is principal backer of big TV film syndicator, Motion Pictures for Television, Inc. Engineering the deal is Richard E. Jones, ex-mgr. of Storer’s WJBK-TV, Detroit, recently mgr. of DuMont’s WABD, N. Y. Among other principals are MPT’s Sy Weintraub and David Wolpert. KXLY-TV, it’s reported, has been operating in the red, but recently began to show a profit. There were reports again that KLAC-TV, Los Angeles, was about to be sold, but, though admitting it can be had at a price, spokesman for owner Mrs. Dorothy Schiff Sonneborn denied anything cooking. Also flatly denied was rumor that City of St. Petersburg was about to sell its 3-month-old WSUN-TV (Ch. 38) to undisclosed N. Y. interests, though city manager Ross Windom admitted there have been frequent approaches — none lately. Filed with FCC this week were 2 proposed California radio station transfers with TV overtones. Lincoln Dellar proposes to sell KDB, Santa Barbara, for $75,000 to F. Robert Baer — as he said he would at recent competitive FCC hearing on Ch. 3 for Sacramento, where he operates KXOA. Other deal involves FM station KSBR, San Bruno, Cal., owned by Eitel-McCullough (tube mfrs.) with transmitter atop Mt. Diablo. Hoffman Radio’s H. Leslie Hoffman proposes to buy control for $62,000 and form new company to take over KSBR with its TV application for Ch. 13 assigned Stockton. Competitive applicants are Stockton’s KXOB & KGDM, and it’s now No. 13 on new FCC priority list. Crosley isn’t buying or buying into Mutual Broadcasting System, despite published rumors, but it is completing a program origination deal whereby it will feed shows daily from Cincinnati to full MBS Network. That’s reply from Crosley spokesman Aug. 26 to inquiries by Television Digest. Crosley recently sold its 50-kw radio WINS, New York (Vol. 9:32) and it has no “gleam in its eye” for acquiring either TV or radio there again, spokesman said. He added: “While we have been a basic NBC station at WLW-radio for many years, we have always carried Mutual shows, and we were one of the founders of Mutual, along with WGN & WOR, several decades ago. At present we carry 6 Vz hours of commercial shows a week from Mutual, and before long we’ll most likely be carrying more, originating shows of varied type daily beginning Sept. 1, union conditions permitting. We are in no way interested in any part of Mutual, nor in any other subsidiary of the General Tire & Rubber Co.” KONA, Honolulu, which went silent last March but resumed June 24 under new owners Honolulu Advertiser (50%) and Jack Keating & J. Elroy McCaw (25% each), has been sued by its first gen. mgr. George H. Bowles for $237,000 for alleged breach of contract. He claims he signed 5-year irrevocable contract at $1500 per month plus 15% of net, but was dismissed after 2 months “without cause.” Mgr. John Keating says Bowles was fired before new owners took over. Keating is also operator of KYA, San Francisco, may shortly buy KGW, Portland, which had CP for Ch. 3 but dropped it pre-freeze and whose present owner, Portland Oregonian (Newhouse), is due to acquire 50% of upcoming KOIN-TV (Ch. 6). TV is druggists’ best sales aid, according to 33-city survey by Fact Finders Associates Inc., 400 Madison Ave., N. Y., which reported 86% of druggists giving TV first place. Magazines achieved poor second place with 29.2%, newspapers 25.6%, radio 23%, outdoor 10.2%, displays 2.6%, others 3.6%. Votes for more than one medium bring total to more than 100%.