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Station fil for TV permitBy ROBERT R. LEE Record Staff WriterRoswell could have a second local television station by this time next year, depending on how the Federal Communications Commission rules on a broadcast license renewal application.KGGM-TV of Albuquerque has challenged KOB-TV of Albuquerque for a license to broadcast on Channel 8 in Roswell.KGGM is proposing to build its own transmitter and studio here. The station, which would be an NBC affiliate, would have a news department, interview shows, public affairs programming and public service spots, said Bruce Hebenstreit, president of New Mexico Broadcasting Co. Inc.New Mexico Broadcasting owns KGGM, the CBS affiliate in Albuquerque. If the FCC approves, the Roswell station would be operated by Western Sun Broadcasting Co., a subsidiary of New Mexico Broadcasting.Western Sun filed an application Aug. 30 with the FCC for a construction permit to build a transmitter and studio here.Earlier this year, Holsum Baking Co. of Roswell, which owns KBIM-TV here, bought NBC affiliate KCBD-TV in Lubbock. KCBD owned a satellite station in Roswell, KSWS.Because Holsum cannot own two stations in the same market, it had to sell KSWS. Hubbard Broadcasting, owner of KOB, also an NBC station, agreed in principle in May to purchase KSWS pending FCC approval.Hebenstreit filed a'protest of the proposed sale with the FCC July 20. When KSWS’ broadcast license came up for renewal this summer, KOB filed to renew the license. Hebenstreit filed achallenge of the renewal with the FCC in September.Hebenstreit’s protest of the sale of KSWS contended that provisions in the sale contract would give KBIM effective control of KSWS programming.Hebenstreit said he understands the contract provisions have been eliminated, but he is nonetheless arguing that New Mexico Broadcasting will offer more service to the area than KOB, because New Mexico Broadcasting plans a full-service local station and KOB intends only a satellite station.If KOB does not contest his challenge, said Hebenstreit, “we could have the license in three to five months.”He said construction of a tower at the Caprock and a studio at a yet-to-be-determined location in Roswell would take about six months and would represent a $3.5 million to $4.5 million investment.He said KOB could challenge his proposal by offering to build a full-service local station.Jerry Danz;iger, general manager of KOB, said today, “We’ll be making some filings in the next 30 days” to challenge Hebenstreit’s protest.Asked if KOB would propose a full-service station, Danziger said, “I can’t answer that. I really don’t know.”He said the FCC would first rule on Hebenstreit’s protest of KOB’s proposed purchase of KSWS, and then on the license renewal challenge.If the FCC awards the license for the frequency on which KSWS broadcasts to New Mexico Broadcasting, said Danziger, KOB could conceivably get a license to broadcast on anotherfrequency.
Newspaper Details
Roswell Daily Record
Roswell, New Mexico, US
Tue, Oct 04, 1983
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Sammi B.
NA 05 Dec 2021
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Roswell Daily Record
