The Times-Tribune from Scranton, Pennsylvania • 12

12 LOCAL SC RANT ON, PA THURSDAY. AUGUST 15, 1996 She Shsts WBRE-TV Executive 'Not Happy' with Plan for Sale station was to be sold in 1989, but the deal fell through when WBRE's tower fell over iduring an ice storm. 1Y MCM HATCS THE SCRANTON TIMES I. Martin Pompadur is not 'happy to be putting WBRE-TV up ifpr sale, he explained. The 61-year-old general partner in Northeastern Television Then, about 100 of the 200 limited partners started a class-action suit in Connecticut against Pom- padur.

Pompadur said none of the investors has received a check for participation in the venture and, in recent years, the tax writeoffs they enjoyed have turned into "phantom profits," which means investors have been forced to pay taxes on profits they never put into their wallets. The station was to be sold in 1989, but the deal fell through when WBRE's tower fell over during an ice storm, knocking it off the air and keeping it on reduced power for a long time. That hurt WBRE'i market position for years. Then TV station prices fell, and NTP opted to keep running WBRE until conditions improved. In February, Congress changed the rules, letting companies own a lot more television stations.

Prices soared, and the limited partners wanted cash. Pompadur wanted to wait until prices climbed higher. Eight months ago, the limited partners pressed for a sale. They hired three law firms and sued Pompadur for a "forced sale." He figures the station has made big strides with "Seinfeld" and its 7 p.m. "Wheel of Jeopardy" block.

He also touted major improvements in the Eyewitness News market share. With another good year expected for NBC and high hopes for the local news to nip at WNEPB heels, Pompadur expected more money would flow into the station's coffers and the sale price would rise accordingly. He said the $40 million The New York Times Co. paid for WNEP-TV a decade ago would not buy WBRE today. Suitors with $40 million in their wallets should not be in short supply.

Pompadur said tion's executive offices on Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre. Wednesday to explain the settlement of a dispute among the partners which will lead to a sale. When he and his then-partner, Ralph Becker, bought WBRE-TV, the region's first TV station, 12 years ago from the family of the late Louis Baltimore for $21 million, the deal was backed by a firm called Integrated Resources which sold its interest to 200 limited partners, investors who would have no role in station management Three years ago, Pompadur and Becker broke up their partnership, making Pompadur sole managing partner in WBRE. i Limited Partners Inc. which owns the station, was at the sta- AIR CONDITIONING Ductless Split Air Conditioning Sales Servict Installation SK1URL fc'ju aoii, Cmm Nn edh Chack hOlf ct Lender -Not Broker or Find 13 CDlJ (Saturday) Rainbow Tours (717)49-4761 Claridge Proof of Income Not Required No Appraisal F.a Approval BUDGET FROM PAGE 3 table is an attempt to buy time to put together its own proposal The mayor defended the administration's attempt to move forward with the borrowing but said he will consult with his solicitor, Frank Bolbck, to determine what procedures must be followed to win council approval "I am not wedded to anything," Connors said of the timetable.

"We are just trying to get as much done as quickly as we can." 1 Connors said he will have Bo-lock meet with council's solicitor, Eugene Hickey, to discuss the process. "If council wants it done or submitted differently, we will do that," the mayor said. "I can't get this passed without council. I want to give it to them in a form that is acceptable." The mayor said he thinks Cawley was anxious to get the DELTA FROM PAGE 3 "They told me they would take a look at it, and if at all possible would (re-consider)," he said, adding that Delta's new startup low-cost carrier is "necessary for them to compete in the long haul." Centini said he relayed to Delta officials the history of the airport's attempt to lure the airline to the region four years ago. "That's the way it happened.

I told them that everyone worked very hard to make the service work." While Delta's total year-to date numbers are up, the Atlanta service dropped between June and July. In June, there were passengers to Atlanta and to Cincinnati. In July, Delta flew 2,682 to Atlanta and 1,375 to Cincinnati. "They're trying to build the Cincinnati hub, and there's not a lot of capacity in Atlanta," Centini explained. "This was the best tr'Loans To til 00,000 7 Mm.

Loans 5.000 48 SI44 12.34 J6-53 For 10,000 84 S203 14 J0 J76 Afly 20,000 120 $346 1481 16.87 Purpose 50.000 1 180 I $770 I 15.36 16.9fr groundwork done on the financing to enable the city to move quickly once the budget is approved by council Still, Pocius said he is very upset with the administration over what he called irresponsible action in seeking the proposals. Pocius said there are so many steps that must be taken that contracts for financing probably could not be awarded until next year. The council president said the administration has known for a long time it needed to update its computer system and the roads were in need of paving but is now rushing to get things done without given consideration to the legislative process. Pocius said council is not opposed to the expenditures but thinks the administration should follow proper procedures when presenting and financing its first capital budget in six years. 35 Are Killed in Fireworks? Accident in Peruvian City about 50 companies may be interested in the station.

Pompadur said an NBC affiliate in a top-50 market (we're 49) is a pri2e. r. Because of the lawsuit and possible settlement. Pompadur could not confirm that he tried Jo buy out his limited partners and assume sole ownership of WBRE. He and the limited partners reached their agreement Friday, and now the U.S.

District Court in Connecticut must approve he pact Then. WBRE will go on sales block within 60 days. court action is expected until, pe falL ifr move for them at this timer although I'm very Centini is hoping that Delta will reconsider, and didn't kfrow whether another carrier could be found for the Atlanta service. Centini said he did not hay a chance to directly negotiate wth the airline, and was initially told of the company's decision a Delta manager. Since then.

Centini has tafced to people in Delta's schedu department who recommer the suspension of service. I'm not optimistic they change their mind, but I'm ing they will," he said. Centini stressed that Del not abandoning the regional airport "This is only the Atlanta service. They're optimistic the Cincinnati service will grow.he said. "They have made a commitment to service this area, and that's what they're doing." Television footage from the scene showed dozens of motionless bodies, some of them aflame, strewn across a cobblestone plaza.

Red-jacketed firemen and police in green uniforms were seen scurrying about, at (me point trying to move the live cable with a long pole. Gonzalo Rodriguez, spokesman for the Arequipa police, said 41 people had been hospitalized with burns. He said in a telephone interview that so far only 12 of the 35 dead had been identified. He said a rocket fired into toe air hit a high-voltage cable ovBfc the Grau Bridge. ycxu? beart cat! ASSOCIATED PRESS LIMA, Peru Thirty-five people were electrocuted, some of them bursting into flames, when a high-tension cable was knocked to the ground by an errant fireworks rocket in a southern Peruvian city.

Festival-goers were packed tightly together in downtown Arequipa to watch a concert and fireworks show when current from the exposed wire surged through their bodies shortly before midnight Wednesday, police said today. The accident occurred while residents were celebrating the 456th anniversary of the founding of Arequipa during Spanish rule. IVI terns iccck uuuu Aug.16 Special "FAMILY FEUD" Show Aug. 17 Mini-Masters ShowTimca -7-9 year olds -10-11 year olds -12-13 year olds Only the irst 1 00 kids to register in each age group may play. Register 15-45 minutes before show time.

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