Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1953)

3 grant, Comr. Bartley raised question whether Jefferson Standard’s ownership of some Storer Bcstg. stock places it in conflict with new TV ownership rules (see pp. 1-2). Grantee called on carpet was WHFB-TV, Benton Harbor, Mich. (Ch. 42), which was told Commission can't grant its application for additional time to build on the basis of available information. It gets opportunity to reply. MANY IMMINENT AS 4 MORE GET UNDER WAY: Only 4 new starters this week — but there were several dozen with equipment delivered who said they would begin in November or early December, and cur records show 44 with equipment on hand who have promised to be on air before end of year. Not all will make it, of course, but it looks like the month of December will be exceptionally active in the way of new stations. Except for a sort of satellite operation in Maine, week's starters meant no new TV areas, included second vhf in Nashville. They brought to 328 the total now on air, 216 of them vhf, 112 uhf. CPs total 248 --86 vhf, 162 uhf. Latest starters: WSIX-TV, Nashville (Ch. 8), city's second, began testing Nov. 26, using old 247-ft. FM tower on hill about 8 mi. south of Nashville with GE transmitter and antenna. Planned on same site is 630-ft. tower, as well as new combined office-studio building in downtown Nashville. Commercials start Dec. 1 with CBS affiliation and base rate of $425. Chief owner-gen. mgr. is Louis R. Draughon, with E.S. Tanner as commercial mgr. ; Shelton Weaver, operations mgr. ; Charles Duke, chief engineer. Grant last July permits withdrawn applicant WMAK to acquire 25%. Rep is Hollinbery. WITV, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Ch. 17) began tests Nov. 25 for Thanksgiving Day commercial debut, following closed-circuit testing since Sept, and heavy promotion via theatre trailers, newspaper ads, radio spots, window cards, direct mail. It gives city its second uhf, WFTL-TV (Ch. 23) having started last April. Located just 8 mi. north of Miami, 6 mi. south of Ft. Lauderdale, with 762-ft. Ideco tower having RCA "peanut pattern" antenna, station is designed for maximum effect "below Miami to beyond Palm Beach" and will sell that area at $150 rate. It affiliates with ABC & DuMont. Its prime mover is Comdr. Mortimer E. Loewi, ex-DuMont executive, who with son Bob operates resort known as Out-of-This-World at nearby Hallandale. He owns 25%, along with similar holdings by realtor L.C. Judd, contractor E.J. Richardson, lawyer George English. Robert W, Standart is gen. mgr. ; Wallace E. Stone, sales mgr. ; J.R. Troxel, operations; Stan Shaw, programs; Wm. Latham, chief engr. Rep is Taylor. WLAM-TV, Lewiston, Me. (Ch. 17) began test patterns Nov. 22, regular programming Thanksgiving Day — with unique "interconnection" whereby it operates as a virtual satellite of WPMT, Portland (Ch. 53) , both stations controlled by broad caster Frank S. Hoy, their transmitters only 35 mi. apart. WLAM-TV picks up WMPT programs — network, film and local — directly off the air and rebroadcasts them at option of sponsor. WLAM-TV base rate is $150, WMPT's $200, but in combination they are available for $225. They carry ABC, DuMont & NBC shows, and Hoy has arranged with 4 big film distributors for special combination purchases. His station mgr. is Elden H. Shute Jr. , with Lester J. Richards as program director and Henry G. Root as chief engineer. Equipment is RCA. Rep is Everett-McKinney. KTVA, Anchorage, Alaska (Ch. 11), second outlet in that boom town, started test patterns Nov. 26, and gen. mgr. A. G. Hiebert, who also heads KENI there, wires it gets "excellent coverage of all Anchorage and vicinity plus Palmer and Matanuska Valley, 40 mi. distant." First station in city was Kiggins & Rollins' KFIA (Ch. 2) which started Oct. 16. New KTVA has DuMont transmitter with GE studio equipment, will get NBC & DuMont programs. C.M. Connor is commercial mgr. ; Jack Walden, chief engineer. Neither rate card nor rep has yet been announced. # £ * * Our records show these promised November starters, who may be delayed into December but who have equipment ordered and delivered: KTVU, Stockton, Cal. (Ch. 36) ; WJHP-TV, Jacksonville, Fla. (Ch. 36) ; WJDN, Panama City, Fla. (Ch. 7) ; WBLN, Bloomington, 111. (Ch. 15) ; KOAM-TV, Pittsburg, Kan. (Ch. 7) ; KSLA, Shreveport, La. (Ch. 12) ; WWTV , Cadillac, Mich. (Ch. 13) ; KOMU-TV, Columbus, Mo. (Ch. 8) ; WAYS-TV, Charlotte , N.C. (Ch. 36); WNAM-TV, Neenah, Wis. (Ch. 42). These have stated they will start in early December, all having equipment: