Arizona Daily Star from Tucson, Arizona • Page 23

Entertai nmen' Sbt Arizona Bmlfl Slar Tucson, Monday, December 31, 1984 Comics 6C TV 7C Page Three New stations take optimistic outlook Towers spawned in bitter battle station to attract viewers of all four commercial and the one public television station in Tucson. "I think we would be picking up shares from all the stations." David Polan, manager at Tucson's other new station, KPOL-TV, said his station also should attract viewers away from each of the five existing Tucson stations. But the station is not likely to take advertisers as well, Polan said. "Historically, whenever a new station has come into a markeC'the market grows with it," Polan said. "We won't be taking pieces of the business away from other stations.

We'll be bringing new people into the market." Indeed, no one at the four existing commercial stations professes jany real concern about the new competition. While station executives predict that increased bidding pressure for syndicated programs may drive up their cost, they say the real impact of both stations won't be felt until after the February ratings results are available in middle-to-late March. "We certainly don't intend to go out of business," says KVOA-TVs Jon F. Ruby. "And the primary impact, because of the nature of their programming, should be on Channel 11." But KZAZ general sales manager Hank Lominak says he isn't worried, either.

With the new owners scheduled to take over the station tomorrow, Lominak says, "We feel fantastic about 1985. "I agree that the new stations might drive up syndicated rates, but judged by their proposed programing we aren't worried about competition. For the next five years we already have the best programming tied up, series like 'Magnum, P.I.,' 'Police 'Fantasy 'Too Close for and many more, and we own a number of the major movie packages." Yet Ruby says he "can't help but wonder about the viability of two more stations in this town. After all, this isn't Houston." But David Reaban, KPOL vice president and general manager, said he believes the station can attract 7 percent of the viewing audience See SUIT, Page 8C By Kristen Moulton The Arizona Daily Star The Catholic Diocese of Tucson projects that its new station, KDTUTV, will break even in its third or fourth year of operation, said Robert Nordmeyer, the station's general manager. By that time, the station should have revenues capable of matching the operating expenses, roughly estimated at $1.5 million a year, Nordmeyer said.

The station, owned by the diocese, is to have non-profit status, and its revenue is expected to come from advertising, contributions and production of advertisements. The profits, if any, will accrue to the diocese. Advertising should account for about 80 percent of the revenue, and the other two sources each should produce 10 percent of the revenue in the beginning, Nordmeyer said. After several years, however, production services may make up a bigger portion of revenue, and contributions may be a smaller part, he said. So far, the diocese has spent close to $3 million to build the studio and office building at 1855 N.

Sixth and to purchase equipment for the new station, he said. The diocese had a $3.2 million line of credit with a major local bank for the start-up phase, and is now converting that debt into a long-term commercial loan, Nordmeyer said. The. name of the bank doing the original financing is not available, and the long-term financing is still being negotiated by the diocese's accounting department with several banks, he said. The interest rate on the loan probably will be 11 percent y4 percent above the prime-lending rate, the typical current rate for commercial borrowers, Nordmeyer said.

The diocese expected the term of the loan to be between 10 years and 15 years, he said. The station, which employs 42 people, should have a 3 percent to 5 percent share of the Tucson viewing audience in its first two months, Nordmeyer said. Beyond that, he is not making predictions as to the station's success. "I wish I had that crystal ball," he said. Nordmeyer said he expects the But opponents said that no public need existed and that alternative sites could adequately meet the needs of the community and private interests.

Although the Pima County Planning and Zoning Commission opposed the zoning change, the Board of Supervisors agreed to the request after Teal and his attorneys threatened a lawsuit: Supervisor David Yetman said last week that the board's unanimous vote was based on legal advice from the Pima County Attorney's Office. "We were told that if we litigated it, we'd lose, and they could put everything and anything they wanted there," Yetman said. So, the county deeded land for as much as six towers and the Tucson Mountain Park was given more than 40acres by Tucson FM in the agreement. Yetman said he regrets the board's decision, calling it "one of the most shameful actions the Board of Supervisors has ever done." "That was a terrible loss, a terrible intrusion of, and violation of, the integrity of Tucson Mountain Park. Whether or not we got bad legal advice, I'll never know," he said.

From there, the battle was fought on a number of fronts, which eventually included the Justice Department, the Federal Communications Commission, the Interior Department and the Pima County Transportation Department. In 1979, the FCC said the towers would have no significant environmental impact. In the end, Teal was given permission to construct three towers two 200-foot towers and one 100-foot tower. Three more towers may be constructed eventually if Teal or any future owner can prove the need. There was one more obstacle for Teal getting use of the private road through the Trail's End Estates to get to the mountain.

The residents fought that, but in the end, after costly legal fees, they agreed to allow Teal use of the road for a monetary settlement of between $35,000 and $70,000. Teal could not be reached for comment last week. And a Federal Com- Thus is the second of a two-part series focusing on Tucson's two new independent television stations. KPOL-TV, Channel 40, is scheduled to begin broadcasting on Saturday. A commercial station, it will offer off-network reruns, old movies, syndicated series and religious programming.

KDTU TV, Channel 18, licensed to the Diocese of Tucson of the Roman Catholic Church, will begin broadcasting at 7 a.m. today. It will offer reruns of family-oriented TV series and movies, including old Westerns on weekends, and sports programming. Religious broadcasting will be between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Sundays. By Susan M. Knight The Arizona Daily Star Reruns of "Family Feud" and "My Favorite Martiair" will be little consolation to the hundreds of people who opposed "scarring" the second-tallest peak in the Tucson Mountains with broadcasting towers. To members of the Tucson Mountains Association and others, the three towers on the peak, transmitting for the new KPOL and KDTU stations, marked defeat, at least temporarily, in a battle that lasted more than six years. Homeowners, environmentalists and other opponents say that what they predicted would happen if the towers were erected has indeed occurred: The towers scar the skyline and mar the fragile environment for the plants and animals of the nearby Tucson Mountain Park and Saguaro National Monument.

The Tucson Mountains Association, the Sierra Club, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, the Arizona Wildlife Federation and several other groups launched their, opposition soon after John Teal, of Tucson FM Broadcasting Corp. applied for a zoning change on the peak in 1976. At that time, Teal made a plea for the rezoning, saying towers on the site would improve two-way communications for emergency and public service agencies. Teal was also quoted as saying the towers would be used for an FM radio station he hoped to start and for other television and radio stations. lowered into place below regardless of the color.

It's darn sure visible." Bob Smith, president-elect of the Tucson Mountains Association, said "What finally and ultimately was installed is atrocious. We still believe that it is completely inappropriate for that skyline to be cluttered with structures of that kind." Bill Waller, another Tucson Mountains resident and longtime towers foe, said: "The area is simply not appropriate for commercial use. "The scenic values are diminished for one thing. There's disruption to wildlife and vegetation and erosion from the road going up the mountain. I think if you're someone using the park either by hiking through that area or simply enjoying the beauty of the area it has to affect your experience of what once had See MOUNTAIN, Page 8C Dinner with horn, turkey, salods, rolls and destert Music for your dancing pleasure after midnight Champogne to toast in the New Year Noisemakers, hats, and balloons for a real midnight celebration Super two-hour stage show KDTU's broadcast tower is munications Commission official said he could not locate the application last week to determine the exact size of the towers installed.

Robert Nordmeyer, general manager for KDTU, which is leasing a tower and transmitter building on the peak, said he understood that "the environmental issues had been settled." A press release on the towers pointed out that the 150-foot tower is "painted sky blue, to render it all but invisible from the valley below." Furthermore, aviation lights weren't put on top of the towers. But opponents vehemently disagree that the towers are invisible. Gale Bundrick, superintendent of parks for Pima County Parks and Recreation, said: "I don't know if it's painted sky blue. But I can assure you it is visible from the valley NEW YEAR'S EVE EXTRAVAGANZA Come see our LAS VEGAS style show from 9:00 to 1:00 pm (Doors open at 8:30) $15.00 Per Person at the Door RIP DOLCE VITA RESTAURANT Heov tyecvt'd Sue Tanfo 'til FREE champagne toast at midnight FREE favors NO COVER charge OPEN NEW YEAR'S DAY 4 P.M. FOR DINNER ONLY Call for reservations 2520 N.

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