STATIONS CONTINUED

WJZ -TV, Ampex Demonstrate Tv Tape Remote for WBC Clinic Television tape- recording was demon- strated Thursday in Baltimore by WJZ -TV and Ampex Corp., with a program from historic Fort McHenry sent by remote gear to the Westinghouse Public Service Pro- gram Conference. The program was viewed live and repeated immediately by tape. Ben Wolfe, WJZ-TV chief engineer, di- rected the pickup with the help of Ampex officials. A production model VR -1000 was set up on the stage of Shriver Hall auditori- um on the Johns Hopkins U. campus. A water scene was picked up at Fort McHenry by a Vidicon camera mounted atop a sta- tion wagon and relayed by a 50 w, 2000 me transmitter to the WJZ-TV tower. It was fed over a telephone line. Mr. Wolfe said some drifting in the live version was eliminated on the tape reproduc- tion, tracing it to the 10 kw gasoline power EDITORIALIZING is a good prestige and audience builder, according to members of unit towed by the station wagon. Ampex Westinghouse Broadcasting Co. panel at Baltimore conference last week. Front row representatives included Thomas Merson, (1 to r): Leon Goldstein, WMCA New York; Sherwood WSAI Gordon, Cincinnati; Robert Paulson, Lou McDonald, John William Dempsey, (TV) San Francisco. Back row: John KPIX Crohan, WICE Provi- Hauser and Charles Luscomb. dence, R. I.; Ralph Renick, WTVJ (TV) Miami; Robert Forward, KMPC Los Angeles; The conference audience cheered as the Merrill Panitt, Tv Guide, panel chairman. remote telecast, including a mock tugboat fire, was played back a few seconds after suggestion -an alignment with other sta- are short, usually not over two minutes, and the live broadcast. No one in the audience tions interested in editorializing to conduct are aired six times a day. "We're selling could detect any deterioration in the picture. campaigns on subjects of regional and thought like we've been selling soap," he Joel Chaseman, WJZ -TV program man- national interest. explained. ager, narrated the demonstration with Keith Leon Ralph Renick, WTVJ (TV) Miami, said Goldstein, WMCA New York, McBee, news director, handling description. agreed radio that station's evening two-minute editorial management "must sell ideas In a discussion session, Cal Jones, KDKA- as well had built ratings of the 6:30 newscast since as products," contending that editori- TV Pittsburgh, said the mobile unit would alizing gives last September from 15 to - the station "personality in the have many program uses. Besides the normal community." WMCA 10- month period. Thus far, 114 editorials have airs to 15- minute delayed programming he suggested that com- editorials Friday been carried. He showed a film of an edi- evenings, touching every- mercials could be recorded at night for day- thing from fluoridation water a torial sharply critizing the courts and of to critical time broadcast. He said the 50-w remote appraisal of Secretary governor for the life sentence given a Negro of State John Foster transmitter is good up to 35 or more miles Dulles. , youth for a robbery offense after a plea and can be easily transmitted via station of guilty. Mr. Goldstein played tapes of one- minute wagon. editorial techniques. John Crohan of the Elliott stations A quick telephone in- A truck would be needed to haul the en- terview with (WICE Providence, R. I., and WCUE authoritative persons on topics tire recording unit, weighing 1,300 pounds of the day was Akron, Ohio) said the stations editorialize demonstrated plus a cartoon - but this was described as quite practicable. regularly "as part of an aggressive news like quickie based on a limerick with musical Among remote programs Mr. Jones background and an sug- policy." Opposition views are voiced to as- extra line that doesn't gested was the recording of a half-dozen rhyme. sure a well- rounded presentation of issues, programs in that many outlying towns dur- "Broadcasters should not hide he explained. One controversial editorial editorial ing one day, with broadcasts scheduled over opinions," he continued, "or they will be series was directed against the A&P stores, a period of perhaps a week. known as cowards. He scoffed at a network a WICE sponsor, for store policy in a long Mr. Wolfe said the 50 -w unit at Fort Mc- distinction that bans opinion but permits strike of bakers. Henry successfully shot through smoke- elucidating. Lack of use of the editorializing William Dempsey, KPIX (TV) San Fran- stacks and buildings on the power handicaps efforts line-of-sight cisco, showed hew editorials dealing with to gain access to transmission. courts and public events, he insisted. traffic congestion and need for joint action In the discussion period, Mr. Renick said by a number of communities had led to WCAU -FM Starts Multiplexing WTVJ opposes allegiance to candidates for legislative action. The editorials were pro- public office because the candidate, if WCAU -FM Philadelphia has added mul- moted by handbills, radio station spots, elected, might feel an obligation to the tiplexed music service, becoming, it claims, newspaper space and other means. medium. the first station in its area to adopt the Sherwood Gordon, WSAI Cincinnati, said technique on a fulltime commercial basis. the city's newspapers express "one shade At present Corson, WLS Assistant Head, Dies WCAU -FM, through the WCAU of editorial opinion," creating an attractive Muzak Div., is broadcasting a commercial field for station editorializing. A campaign Final rites were held Wednesday for music background service by the "beep" in a council election, where newspapers Bernard F. Corson, 45, assistant manager system. This will be maintained during a maintained "a conspiracy of silence" against of WLS Chicago and onetime advertising 90-day period while customers make the a Negro candidate, drew tremendous public manager of Tidy House Products Co. He transition to the multiplex sub-channel, and response, he said. In another instance, local died March 2 of complications resulting at mid -year WCAU -FM will switch to re- traffic judges were induced by station edito- from pneumonia. Mr. Corson came to WLS broadcasting WCAU -AM local and net- rials to end a 21/2-year calendar congestion last November after being with Tidy House work programming. Opening of the multi- by sitting in the afternoon. He recalled that Products Co., Shenendoah, Iowa, for 12 plex operation was marked March 3 at brief a controversy with a newspaper music critic years and serving on its board of directors. ceremonies presided over by Edward J. happened as WSAI -FM was about to return Survivors include his wife, Wynne; three Meehan, manager of WCAU's Muzak Div.; to a classical music format. "WSAI -FM is daughters, Natalie, Sue and Wynn, and a Elliot Baker of Browning Labs., and sold out," he added. The WSAI editorials son, Bernard Finley III. Adron M. Miller of RCA. Page 84 March 10, 1958 BROADCASTING