Evening star., 1946-03-08
Star Company
ToGet Permit
For TeIeviision
Bomberger and NBC
Requests Also to
Be Given Approval

NA&@ c~ASfAo4S44 COat1011S IlClC WcIc
proposed by the Federal Communi-
cations Commission yesterday fol
The Evening Star Broadcasting Co.
the National Broadcasting Co. and
the Bamberger Broadcasting Sery-
ice, Inc.
The commission reserved decision
on a fourth permit pending oral
argument by Philco Products, Inc.
and Allen B. Du Mont Laboratories
Inc. The sixth application, that OF
Capital Broadcasting Co., was de-
MED
Under commission procedure. I'm.
successful applicants may object
within 20 days by oral argument
before the permit grants are made
final.
Channel 4-66-72 megacycles-was
assigned to the National Broadcast
ing Co. on the basis of testimony
at a hearing in January that it
possessed equipment designed for
that channel which could not be
converted readily for use on any
: other. Channel 7-174-180 mega
cycles-was assigned to The Eve
ming Star Broadcasting Co., and
channel 9-186-192 megacycles-was
assigned to the Bamberger Broad
casting Service, Inc. Channel s.
1882 megacycles-was reserved for
the fourth successful applicant.
Tower at American U.
The Evening Star Broadcasting Co.
Will construct an antenna tower and
transmltter-studio building on the
campus OF American University, pur-
suant to an agreement between the
hrm and the trustees of the uni
versity.
Initially, all Star Broadcasting
Co. television operations will be con-
quoted there. At a later date the
teleVlslon station will have the use
OF studio facilities ip the company's
projected sl.OoO,0OO radio center at
Twelfth and K streets NV.
The Star project is subject to ap-
proVal by the Board of Zoning Ad-
Justment and the Civil Aeronautics
Authority and to issuance of a local
nulldlng permit. The FEC, how
ever, under its licensing system. will
join the applicant in seeking the
approvals necessary.
Local Interests Preferred.
Under Conclusions of Law" in its
announcement yesterday the FEC
stated:
The commission has consistently
held that where the number of ap-
pllcantS exceeds the facilities avail
able, in choosing among the appli-
cants preference will be given, other
factors being substantially equal, to
local interests. In the commissions
opinion, maximum opportunity for
local expression and development of
community activity is afforded by
licensing local persons who are
qualified rather than persons from
other cities. In this case The Eve
ming Star Broadcasting Co. is the
only local interest. The Capital
Broadcasting Co. is the licensee of
local station, but all of its stock
holders reside in Baltimore and.
aside from their interests in WWDC,
have their business interests out
side of Washington. AS to The Eve
ming Star Broadcasting Co., it has
selected a transmitter site which
will render service to the entire
Metropolitan Area of Washington
and has made extensive plans for
downtown studios. It is well
equipped financially to undertake
the construction and operation of a
television station. Although it has
had no experience in the operation
OF a televiSion station, it has had
extensive experience in the cpesa-
tion Of an AM station in Washing
ton.
"The commission concludes that
The Evening Star Broadcasting Co.
is qualified to operate a television
station. The commission also con-
cludes that since The Evening Star
Broadcasting Co. is composed of
local people, public interest, con-
venience, or necessity would be
served by the issuance of a con-
struction permit to it.
The remaining five applicants
fall into two groups. In the first
group is Bamberger Broadcasting
Service and Capital Broadcasting
Co.-Which are not the licensees of
any commercial television stations
and in the second group are Ma
tlonal BroadcaSting Co., Allen B.
Du Mont Laboratories, Inc, and
Phllco Products, each of which is
the licensee of one commercial tele-
vision station"
Gratifying Challenge.
S. H. Kaufman, president of
The Evening Star Broadcasting Co.,
made the following statement today:
The proposed decision of the
Federal Communications Commits
sion has presented us with a rare
and gratifying challenge which we
hope. to meet in the near future by
offering the television audience of
the Nations Capital the best pos
slble service available. Arrange
ments have already been made for
the construction of television
transmitter and studio on the
grounds of American University, a
site which will provide a most excel
lent signal for reception in the
Washington area. The association
with the university will lend a val
liable cultural flavor to our program
ming which will assist us to serve
better the public interest. Opera
tions will later originate in most
part from new radio and television
center in the downtown area of
Washington, plans for which have
already been announced.
las has been the case in all enter
prises of The Evening Star, which
includes radio station WMAL. our
new television station will be dedi-
Gated to entertainment and cultural
standards Of the highest order, and
to the development and furtherance
of the best community interests of
the Nations Capital"
The National Broadcasting Co
will establish studio and transmitter
facilities in the Wardman PARK
Hotel, using the theater there.
The Bamberger Broadcasting
Service, Inc, will erect an antenna
tower and transmitter building on
land purchased at Fortieth and