Evening star., 1933-01-14
B.C.LEASES WMAL
FOR BLUE NETWORK
Request fo" 5-Year ACquisi.
ton to Be Filed With Com
mission Next Week.

The National Broadc:sting Co. today
! leased WMAL for period of five years
and will operate the station as link
! in its blue" network beginning Feb
-ucry /.
! Announcement Of the lease was made
| in a JOINT statement, issued by Frank
M. Russell, vice president of N. B. c.
| IL Washington, and Martin A. Leese,
owner of WMAL.
The lease is subject to the approval
of the Federal Radio Commission. An
application Seel;ing this approval will
be filed with the commission next week.
StaG:cS Continue in Use.
| The coz1t---.s for the lease provides
| that n. B. G. shall take over the op-
Grafton and management of WMAL as
| well as the stations studios at f10-712
Eleventh street. These studios. of the
latest design, with equipment of the
| most modern type, will continue in use
| While both WRC and WMAL will re-
| tain their individual identity, general
officers for both stations will be To-
Gated in the NJ B. c. Washington
| headquarters In the National Press
Building. AL local programs for WMAL
/ will be broadcast direct from the Elev-
enth street studios.
In turning WMAL over to N. B. C.
Mr.. Lease will not step out of the radio
| picture, as he was Immediately ap-
pointed advisory counsel for the broad
casting company in Washington, serv-
| ing without salary In this capacity
| he will help guide the activities Of
WRC and WMAL.
| The change also brought promotions
for two announcers, Herluf Proyensen
/ and Carleton Smith, who were named
assistant managers. Milton Baker,
manager of WMAL, also will join the
N. B. c. staff
The technical and operating staff of
the two stations will be under the
direction of Vincent F. Callahan, as
s'stant to MIR. Russell, and Kenneth
II. Berkeley, manager of WRC.
All commercial sales and publicity will
come under the direction of Mr.. Gala
han. In addition, he will relieve Mr..
Russell Of certain other responsibilities.
/ blue" Programs for City.
Through the acquisition of WMAL
the N. 3. C. will bring to the Wash
ington area all of its outstanding net
| work programs originating on both the
"red" and blue" networks. At pres
ent WRC Is served by the red net
work The only "blue" network program
broadcast by WRC is the Amos n
Andy" episodes. In order to adjust
WRC's schedule to avoid any conflict
between the two networks, WMAL will
take over the Amos n Andy" pro-
grams Monday
Il am happy to announce that Sta
ton WMAL Is to become associated
with the National Broadcasting Co,
Mr.. LeeSe said Through the arrange
ment5 made today, the people of Wash.
ington will receive the programs of tht
blue network of N. B. C.. I am SURE
these programs will be welcomed il
every home in Washington"
Mr.. Russell declared it had been tht
desire Of N. B. c. for several years t
bring the blue network in Washing
ton. This network" he said, Ii
broadcast daily and Sunday some Of thu
finest radio programs in the country
Heretofore Washington listeners have
: been compelled to tune in on out-of
7 town stations to get these programs
The many letters we have received hav'
convinced us that the people of Wash
!, ington desire to hear these program
, over a local station.