Evening star., 1946-03-08
Star Company
|ToGet Permit
For Te|eviision
Bombereer and NBC
Requests Also to
Be Given Approval


cial television stations here were
proposed by the Federal Commune
cations Commission yesterday for
The Evening Star Broadcasting Co.,
the National Broadcasting Co. and
the Bamberger Broadcasting Serv-
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, un-
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
transmitter-studio building on the
campus of American University, pur-
suant to an agreement between the
firm and the trustees of the uni
versity.
1nitially, all Star Broadcastinp
Co. teleyision operations will be con-
Quoted there. At a later date the
television station will have the use
OF studio facilities in the companys
projected 100000 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
building 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 commission's
opinion. maximum opportunity for
local expression and development of
community activity Ii afforded by
licensing local persons who's are
qualified rather than persons from
other cities. In this case. The Eve
ming Star Broadcasting Co. Is the
only LOCAL interest. The Capital
Broadoa$ting Go. Is the .ucensee Of
9 local station, but al 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. 1t 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 opera
ton 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
tional Broadcasting Co., Allen B.
Du Mont Laboratories, Inc, and
Philco 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:
sible 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 most excel
lent signal for reception in the
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
tons will later originate in most
part from new radio and television
center in the downtown area of
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