Evening star., 1925-11-01
WAVE [ENCTRNOW
/ VALUED PROPERTY
Good Broadcastng Channel
Assigned Today May Bring
| Exc .lient Market Price.
BY CARL III BUTMAN.

Within a short time there may be
a new commodity on the market
broadcast wave lengths. The posses
sion of good hroadcaSting channel.
of say 400 nieters. is worth far more
today than 400 shares Of any radio
stock Ia Is probably worth four
times that apount, due to the
scarcity Of broadcast channels suit
able for class Is stations. \ good
hroadcasting station or a seat on
the air may I've worth Just as much
as d seat on the Stock Exchange.
At any rate, it is reported that
Chriiles L. F,rbstein of Elgin, ILL.,.
has sold his two stations TO the Lib
erty Magazine for S250.000. The value
of these stations was perhaps S5o,U0o
each-they could certainly be dupI-
Gated for half the amount paid Tor
their possession. But their owner
ship without a DroadcaSting wave
channel would be valueleSs, and wave
lengths are exhausted.
This leads to the estimated value OF
some wave lengths at about $Io,0OO
each, dependent upon certain factors
location, tor example. Evidently
the Liberty Magazine wanted to go
on the air. and as there were no
available channels for hroadCaSting,
1hi% COMPANY bought two stations.
wave lengths included. This transac-
tion is altogether proper as far as
can lie determined. The Department
OF Commerce is understood to be as
posed 10 O. X. the transfer OF own
crship, provided the station Is not
moved The Government VIII prop
ably renew the broadcaStlnS incense
when il is expired in the name OF the
nov owner. But the station with its
wave channel could not be removed
TO another city. due to ALLEGATIONS.
Erbstein Of Lists.
Station WTAS of Elgin, with 1000
waits power and d wave length OF -ol
meters. will soon be designated as
NNLIB. Station WCEE, also in ElGln,
rated at 900 watts and operating on
27J meters. will be listed as owned ny
| Liberty Weekly, with the same call
and rating. and Mr.. ErbStein'S name
will be off the lists. He is out OF luc-
however, if he wants another wave
length; there are not any more. Inc
department would not issue one 10
anybody if it was secured for resale TO
another party.
During the past few months some =
broadcast transmitterS have changed
hands, some of them through combi-
nation with other interests, but sew
eral of them were believed TO have
been sold outright. wave length anu
all. Apparently nine manufacturing
interests have acquired the whole or
share of as many stations, while SIX
newspapers have at least become as
SoCiated in broadcaSting. Two thea
terS appear to have gained ownership
of stations, and several individuals
whose business is not known appear
as new owners.
The other day the owner of small
station appeared at the Department
of Commerce in search of another
wave length, admitting that he had
recently sold his station and its chan
nei to a prospective broadcaster, max
ing a good profit. He was disappoint-
ed TO learn of the scarcity of broad
casting channels, as he thought he
might turn over a few wave lengths
to his financial advantage. 4 bit dis
rruntled, he appealed OF his congress
sional friends, who declined to sup
port his plea when it was found that
lie was hopeful of selling the aI!oca
1ion when opportunity appeared. Traf-
fic in wave lengths will not be looked
upon with favor by the Government,
which issues wave lengths for broad
casting service to the public. and not
as marketable commodities.
License May Be Cancelled.