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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Hdtv May Change Future Of Broadcasting

What could possibly make all four major Spokane TV stations agree on anything?

An issue called “broadcast spectrum.”

“There are few things we agree on, but this is one thing where there’s unanimity,” said Barry Barth, general manager of KREM-2.

According to Barth and the station bosses from KXLY-4, KHQ-6 and KAYU-28, the issue could spell the end of free over-the-air television and, not coincidentally, the demise of Spokane’s local stations.

This is a complicated issue, generating hours of debate in Congress. But here’s the gist of the problem, as seen by local TV stations:

The future of television appears to lie in high-definition TV (HDTV), which requires the use of a different part of the broadcast spectrum.

Existing stations believe that they should be allowed to trade their existing channel for the new one.

Some in Congress believe that the new channels shouldn’t be traded away; they should be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

If that happens, said Barth, the big conglomerates like AT&T will easily outbid local stations, thus ending local broadcasting and local newscasts.

Of course, this contention is a matter of considerable debate. There are those in Congress who say that broadcasters are essentially asking for a giveaway. Others accuse broadcasters of crying wolf. But local broadcasters around the nation are convinced it is a serious threat.

And here’s one other problem that could affect consumers directly: If broadcasting is converted wholesale to HDTV, everybody in America would have to buy a new TV set, which Barth said are now in the $6,000 range.

Is a better TV picture worth all of this expense and disruption?

Barth said broadcasters are asking Congress and the Federal Communications Commission to take this slowly, to get all of these questions ironed out.

That’s why KREM-2, among others, is airing spots urging people to contact their members of Congress.

Diamond sell-out

I’m not sure I gave good advice last week about Neil Diamond ticket-buying strategies. I said that ordering by phone would probably be just as good as ordering in person.

As it turned out, the phone lines were jammed for hours after the 10 a.m. Monday start time, and many people couldn’t get through. I talked to several people who gave up calling about noon and went to a ticket outlet, where they were able to buy tickets right away.

The concert sold out all 12,000 tickets in four hours.

The lesson here is that ordering by phone can be better than standing in line, but it’s too arbitrary. You have to be one of the lucky callers to get through. For a show like this, hundreds or maybe thousands weren’t getting through at all.

So it seems clear to me that most Diamond-heads would have been better off at a ticket outlet. At least they wouldn’t have been at the mercy of the phone system.

According to Jack Lucas of G&B Select-a-Seat, about 50 percent of the Neil Diamond tickets were sold at the outlets, 35 percent by phone and 15 percent from the Arena box office.

Beating around Bush

Don’t fritter away too much more time if you want to see the April 28 concert with Bush, the Goo Goo Dolls and No Doubt at the Spokane Arena.

A few tickets are still left, but it should sell out by show time.

This is good news for the future of rock concerts at the Arena, since this is the first big test of rock’s drawing power.

Gorge announcement

By the way, look for the summer Gorge lineup to be announced early this week.

A few shows have already been announced (Moody Blues, Alanis Morrisette, Sting, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Steely Dan), but a number of other shows will be added in this announcement.

Bickel back?

Jim Bickel, who made national news a year ago when he quit as a KXLY talk show host, is back on the air.

Bickel has been hosting some of KXLY-AM’s Talk Back segments in the evenings since Alex Wood quit to run for the state Legislature.

However, Bickel said he is just filling in temporarily. He has his hands full operating his cafe in the Flour Mill.

Fox Kids Club hosts

Two new hosts have been chosen for the Fox Kids Club: Bryan Shoemaker, 20, a student at Spokane Falls Community College, and Wysteria “Wystie” Johnson, 18, a Ferris High School student.

They will appear on the afternoon Kids Club broadcasts.

Second ACT

The ACT Theatre in the Valley is going through a re-birth as a nonprofit corporation. A new producing organization, Second ACT, has been formed.

The goal, according to Jerry Kraft, president of the new board, is to “provide a support structure to allow proven theater artists to present work they’re passionate about to a loyal audience.”

Jamie Flanery, the man behind ACT since its inception two years ago, will serve on the new organization’s board, along with Scott Dunckley, Holly Ferguson, Dawn Reinhardt, Jack Lippard, Laxmi Seth and Bob Farley.

, DataTimes MEMO: To leave a message on Jim Kershner’s voice-mail, call 459-5493. Or send e-mail to jimk@spokesman.com, or regular mail to Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210.

To leave a message on Jim Kershner’s voice-mail, call 459-5493. Or send e-mail to jimk@spokesman.com, or regular mail to Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210.