El Paso Herald-Post from El Paso, Texas • 51

1 Page 9 EL PASO HERALD POST Friday July 10 1W FCC grants channel exchange On October 28 1980 the Federal Communications Commission issued an approval of the channel exchange between KV1A-TV (ABC) and KCOS-7V (PBS) In approving the two stations' joint proposal to exchange channels the FCC indicated that such a switch was allowed because of the public interest In ruling on the request the commission noted that it had a long-standing policy of not allowing channel number exchanges except in cases where circumstances" could be shown and in which the public would benefit The FCC felt the KVTA-KCOS case was an exception to their general policy and that both stations would better serve the Paso area TV audience by exchanging their respective channels KVIAKCOS channel exchange only 3rd in CL histoiy When the Federal Communications Commission in Washington approved the channel exchange between KVIA-TV and KCOS-TV in October 1980 it was only the third time in histoiy it had approved such an agreement for two VHF stations The first move took place in New Orleans in 1969 when the Commission approved a proposal that the educational station in that city be changed from channel 8 to 12 Channel 12 (WVCJE -TV) was then owned by Screen Gems Broadcasting In 1973 the Commission approved a joint proposal by General Electric Broadcasting Company and the Metropolitan Board of Education in Nashville Tennessee for a similar exchange In that case General Electric owners of WNGE-TV channel 8 were allowed to trade with WDCN Public Television for channel 2 a umi ii buo nuvmoi vnwiis Dear Pasoans WeatKVIA-TV (ABC) andKCOS-TV (PBS) are happy to announce that tonight at 7:30 pm our two television stations will exchange channels KVIA is owned by Marsh Media of El Paso and KCOS is licensed to the El Pbso Vlevlstan Foundation a nonprofit organization When the Federal ntwunnniwiMniM Oommifinion approved this exchange in October 1930 it was the result of several years of hard wort by both stations We requested the exchange in order to closer align ourselves with affiliated stations across the oountiy Public hwwAwnHng riattma urn trariWnnrifr fannri on channel 13 and the ABC television network's five ownedand-operated stations are licensed to 7 In addition many ABC aflfflataa broadcast (Hi channel 7 and Marsh Media's other television station (KVII in Amarillo) is on 7 The exchange also Improves KVIA's competitive position ly grouping it with other commercial stations rather than being separated from them by a non-commercial station In addition KVIA has long been a supporter of public television in Paso and has provided KCOS with space on Its antenna tower and In tts transmitter buMng on Mount franklin This effort helped KCOS begin its broadcast service in 1978 Both stations are pleased with the exchange and hope you eitfoy our new channel numbers KVIA and KCOS are bringing a new look to El Paso television tonight at 7-30 pjn We invite you to Join us at that time-for our mhut chmnri changB ceremony And we extend our promise that both stations will oontinue to strive fir exoeDenoe in television programming Sincerely Wayne Roy John Siqueiros General Manager KVIA General Manager KCOS ji i 1 1 i 4 1- i jii eu liji ii si Hi j- o'! Mi I sl i-tTir 1 1 1 ii rr rr i i mr jl Ui xuxv t-it-t-n.