Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1960)

6 MAY 16, 1960 ETV construction grants would just be starter for continuing demands by states for more & more federal money to keep stations going, Avery said. "I don't feel we are looking at this time for new federal aid programs," he told Rules Committee. "If we're going to authorize any, this probably is as meritorious as any." Testifying vainly for Roberts bill were its author and Commerce Committee Chmn. Harris (D-Ark.). Killing tie vote came in an unrecorded show of Rules members' hands at closed session, all 4 Republicans— Reps. Allen (Dl.), Brown (O.), Reece (Tenn.), Budge (Ida.) — turning thumbs down. They were reportedly joined by Rules Chmn. Smith (D-Va.), deserting his committee's fellow Democrats on issue. "Well, it probably would have been vetoed anyway if it got through Congress to the White House," exec. dir. Ralph Steetle of Joint Council on Educational TV told us philosophically. He said ETV proposals undoubtedly would be revived at next session. Stations NEW & UPCOMING STATIONS: First use of a uhf translator to deliver programs to a TV station marked the May 15 debut of satellite KHJK (Ch. 13) Hilo, which is repeating KHVH-TV (Ch. 4) Honolulu ABC-TV affiliate. The stations’ owner is Kaiser Hawaiian Village TV Inc. (Henry J. Kaiser), which also operates the translator, K76BB Honohina, on the east coast of Hawaii island, about 20 mi. N of Hilo. KHVH-TV programs are first picked up by satellite KMVI-TV (Ch. 12) Wailuku, Maui, which is operated by the owners of semi-weekly Maui News. The KMVI-TV signal is then picked up by translator K76BB, which relays via microwave to KHJK. The new Hilo outlet has a low-power RCA transmitter with superturnstile antenna on an 80-ft. wood pole near Naniloa Hotel. KHJK is sold as a bonus to KHVH-TV which has a $400 base hour. Rep is Young. The U.S. on-air count remains unchanged at 564 (87 uhf) because the addition of KHJK is counteracted by the deletion of KCIX-TV (Ch. 6) Nampa-Boise, Ida., which got FCC permission last week to remain off the air until July 11. Because it had planned to resume operation May 11, we didn’t deduct KCIX-TV from the operating total when the station went dark last March 24. * m * In our continuing survey of upcoming stations, these are the latest reports from principals: WJPB-TV (Ch. 5) Weston, W. Va. began testing May 15 according to Pres. & exec. dir. J. Patrick Beacom. May 25 is target for programming with ABC-TV, May 29 with CBS-TV, latter on an on-order basis. It has 5-kw GE transmitter, 25-kw amplifier and 510-ft. Blaw-Knox tower with 5-bay antenna at studio-transmitter site on Fisher Summit, Jane Lew, W. Va. Base hour will be $225; Rep, Gill-Pema. KORN -TV (Ch. 5) Mitchell, S.D. has 5-kw Gates transmitter on hand and hopes to begin programming soon, as an NBC-TV outlet, writes R. V. Eppel, pres.-gen. mgr. of grantee Mitchell Bcstg., which also operates radio KORN. It has RCA antenna on 500-ft. Utility tower. Base hourly rate will be $150. Rep not chosen. KSOO-TV (Ch. 13) Sioux Falls, S.D. plans July 1 start with NBC-TV writes Morton H. Henkin, pres, of grantee KSOO Inc. It has studio-transmitter building ready for 25-kw RCA transmitter which has just arrived. Stainless 1,000-ft. tower awaits installation of antenna. Base hourly rate hasn’t been set. Rep not chosen. WPCA-TV (Ch. 17) Philadelphia, Pa., is wiring 1-kw RCA transmitter and plans July 3 programming, reports Donald B. Crawford, station mgr. for grantee Young People’s Church of the Air. RCA antenna has been installed on 581-ft. tower formerly used by radio WRCV. Calling self “World’s First Christian TV Station,” WPCA-TV is planned as religious-cultural-educational non-profit operation, which will charge $270 for base half-hour. Rep not chosen. KCBY-TV (Ch. 11) Coos Bay, Ore., plans Sept, start with NBC-TV programming as semi-satellite of parent KVAL-TV (Ch. 13) Eugene, Ore., reports KVAL-TV gen. mgr. S. W. McCready. RCA 2-kw transmitter and 6-bay antenna are on hand and it will use 200-ft. Fisher tower. Base hour will be about $150. Rep will be Hollingbery. KCDA (Ch. 3) Douglas, Ariz. is still planning on summer programming, although construction hasn’t started as yet, according to Mike Ling, national sales mgr. of owner Electron Corp., which is also providing equipment for lowpower outlet. It will use 100-ft. Rohn tower with Alford antenna. Base hourly rate hasn’t been set, rep not chosen. KEYC-TV (Ch. 12) Mankato, Minn, has 25-kw RCA transmitter scheduled for summer delivery and plans fall programming, writes Herbert R. Ohrt, exec, vp of Lee Radio Inc., 70% owner. It will use RCA traveling wave antenna on 1116-ft. Kimco tower. Network affiliation hasn’t been signed. Base hour will be $300. Rep will be Branham. Upsalquitch Lake, N.B. satellite on Ch. 12 (allocated to Campbellton), planned by CKCW-TV (Ch. 2) Moncton, N.B. has a July target, reports asst. gen. mgr. Murray L. Goldsborough. RCA equipment has been ordered, and foundation is in for studio-transmitter building. Microwave towers, supplied by Micro-Tower, are scheduled to be ready in May at Rogersville & Ashton Hill for link to Moncton. Upsalquitch Lake will have a 700-ft. tower. CJAY-TV (Ch. 7) Winnipeg, Man., with fall target, has 25-kw RCA transmitter scheduled for Aug. 15 delivery, reports gen. mgr. Jack M. Davidson for owner Channel 7 Television Ltd. Construction has begun on footings for 1,000-ft. Dominion Bridge tower, which will have traveling wave antenna. Reps will be Weed and Stovin-Byles Ltd. CFCF-TV (Ch. 12) Montreal, Que. (call letters awaiting official approval), plans Jan. 30, 1961 start, writes R. E. Misener, broadcasting div. mgr. of owner Canadian Marconi Co. It will use two 18-kw transmitter units operating in parallel. It plans 2-story studio building and will share tower with CBC’s 2 Montreal TV outlets and with upcoming French-language Ch. 10, recently granted to Paul L’Anglais & associates. R. E. Misener will be gen. mgr., with V. Dittmer as business mgr. and J. C. Douglas, dir. of engineering.