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Channel 21

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(Coutnued From Page 19) region of the state has changed that feeling. "There wasn't a market to support a station until pow," Gregg said. "I don't want to be quoted as being unfavorable or derogatory to Channel 9 in any way, but they have never seized the opportunity. But I think maybe the opportunity wasn't available until now." Channel 21 wasn't the only group to pursue that opportunity. A California company wanted to start Channel 21, but the company agreed to sell out its claim to Gregg and his group. Gregg said one of the reasons he was able to put together his partnership with the others was because of the unacceptability of a non-resident group owning a station in the state. "My guess is that their interest would be in making a dollar than in bringing the need of the communication to us," Gregg said. By seizing the opportunity, Channel 21 has taken the lead in what appears to be a new era for statewide media. Three groups have applied to operate Channel 50 in Manchester. They include Channel 50 Inc., led by Robert Pauley, an executive with E.F. Hutton in Boston and a former president of the ABC Radio Network; Golden Triangle Broadcasting Co., led by former Gov. Walter Peterson, William Green, a Manchester attorney and Samuel Tamposi, a developer from Nashua; and CTV of Derry Inc., a group led by William Smith, a school administrator from Sudbury, Mass. Smith has financial backing from Gerald Nash, another developer from Nashua who has been a long-time business partner of Tamposi. And Channel 9, for years only televison station in the state, may be purchased by a group from Mississippi that vows to drastically upgrade the station's facilities and staff. Many people affiliated with the state's media look at the developments with interest. Richard Osborne, for one, said a major factor in the success of Channel 21 rests with its ability to appeal to New Hampshire viewers. Osborne, the general manager at radio station WKXL in Concord, said there is room in the regional advertising market to handle a new television station. But Channel 21 could face problems, too, he said. Although television sets are made for UHF and VHF viewing, people are accustomed to watching VHF. Cable television is grow- HUGH GREGG ... opportunity knocked ing and it gives people the opportunity to watch many shows. And without network affiliation, Channel 21 may discover that the cost of local production is too much for what the station has planned. *I wouldn't put to much stock in what someone puts on an application the FCC," Osborne said. "Much can change before the time comes to go on the air." Bob Baxter, manager of Continental Cablevision, the local cable television outlet that produces local shows on Channel 12, said he hoped that Channel 21 would connect with his company's system. He said there was plenty of room in a regionstatewide advertising market handle a new commercial station. And Channel 21 posed little threat to Channel 12's programs, he said, because Channel 12's shows are of local interest rather than regional or statwide. "I think. it would be more complimentary than competitive," Baxter said. "We have established programs like Speaking of Concord and Coaches that have substantial viewers.' While Greg 1 concentrates on things that need to be done in the next few months, he has his eyes on the years ahead. If Channel 1 21 succeeds, it may boost its signal to reach the rest of the state. And if Channel 50 becomes strong, the two stations may become significant factors in how other stations operate. "We may be able to develop a market up here," Gregg said, "and we'll take national business away from the Boston market." *50)
Article from 01 May 1981Concord Monitor(Concord, NH)
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