Los Banos Rotary Club History
KFRE Owner Tells Of T-V Prospects

A concise, complete review of Television as it effects the San Joaquin valleys, especially Los Banos, was given to members of the Rotary Club Tuesday noon by Paul R. Bartlett, owner of Fresno radio station KFRE.

With television programs improving every day, and with more and with several new television stations to go into operation in the fairly immediate future, Bartlett said that television is fast coming into its own in the valley, and that Los Banos, considered a "fringe" area for most present stations, can look forward to good reception from new and more powerful stations within the next two years.

As to color television, Bartlett advised that color television will not become a real factor here in the valley until probably sometime in 1956, and added that persons contemplating the purchase of T-V sets will not regret it if they go ahead and buy black and white television sets now. New York stations will transmit color this fall, he said, but manufacturers say it will be at least two or three years before they are able to go into mass production of the color sets. And the price—probably well over $700.

As to the Fresno area facilities, present and future, Bartlett related the early television history to its west coast beginning, telling of the original assignment of channel positions, the development of interference between stations and the governmental freeze that stopped all station building for three and a half years until a satisfactory solution and re-allotment of channels could be worked out.

With relaxation of the "freeze" three UHF and one VHF station channels were allocated for Fresno. KMJ was assigned a UHF wave channel, KGDO-T-V has since been assigned a channel and will be in operation by this October; two applicants are competing for the third UHF channel; and two stations, of which KFRE is one, is seeking assignment of the VHF channel 12. Bartlett said that hearing on the application will be held this fall and that the station, whoever owns it may be in operation within 18 months.

Comparing UHF and VHF frequencies have shorter tune-in distance than VHF, but are generally more quiet and give improved reception in the immediate area. Electronic engineers, he said, generally concede that, all points considered, channels 7 to 12 are generally the most advantageous.
He said, that on the basis or of specifications new presented, the two proposed UHF stations in Merced would probably provide only indifferent reception in Los Banos, unless the receivers were augmented by special equipment and high aerials. By contrast, he predicted that a proposed VHF station in Bakersfield will probably be received better in Los Banos than are the present San Francisco stations.

T-V Is Expensive

Bartlett said that today the minimum cost of building and equipping a television station is some $200,000. The Fresno Bee TV lists its costs at $500,000 and predicts an operating expense of $740,000 a year. The proposed KFRE T-V station, if approved, will cost $511,000.

As to program advertising costs, Bartlett said today's price over KMJ-TV is $250 an hour, but this expected to go to $800 to $1000 an hour as more receivers are installed in the area. In New York today the average price of a 15-second T-V announcement is $900.

As to popularity of television, Bartlett stated that within six months after the installation of the first television set in Denver, 53 per cent of the homes in that area had receiving sets. Later, in Portland, 47 per cent of the homes had television within six months. In our own valley, he predicted utilization of the newest radio entertainment.

Boy Scouts

Also at the Rotary Club luncheon Tuesday, a group of five Boy Scouts, members of the special Jamboree Troop, were guests, together with their assistant Scoutmaster, Art Edwards. Edwards, after introducing the boys, turned over to Scout Don Germino the job of giving the Rotarians a brief summary of the Jamboree Troop history, purpose, and plans for their coming big adventure—the National Scout Jamboree to be held in southern California next month. He said the Troop is organized of West Side Scouts from Dos Palos north to Vernalis for the sole purpose of attending the Jamboree. They are practicing every weekend in camping, cooking and craft techniques, and also drilling as a Drum and Bugle Corps. He said more than 50,000 Scouts from all states in the Union will attend the Jamboree and participate in its various activities.

Germino told something of the exacting plans that have been made for the Jamboree in the way of camping facilities, entertainment, providing of food, etc. He said the boys would sleep in small 2-man tents, and would do all of their own cooking over charcoal fire, closely following menus that have been formulated by the National Council. Special lifeguards have been assigned the beach area where the boys will swim and even a helicopter will patrol the swim area. Religious services will be a regular part of Jamboree Week, with participation by all denominations.

June 26, 1953

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