Shutdown of Assn. of Local TV Stations (ALTV) was made official T...
Shutdown of Assn. of Local TV Stations (ALTV) was made official Tues. with expected announcement that it would be closing its doors permanently in spring. While no date was given, Pres. James Hedlund told us “it will be immediately…
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in terms of filing stuff [at govt. agencies and lobbying Congress]. I don’t know how long it will be before we turn the lights off permanently.” Move became necessary, ALTV board decided in conference call last week (CD Jan 29 p7), after loss of most of its dues-paying group members brought on by industry consolidation. Because of that, said ALTV Chmn. Ray Rajewski of Viacom TV Stations Group (which we're told planned to resign its membership this year), board “reluctantly concluded that a combination of events had conspired to put the long-term viability of ALTV in jeopardy.” Despite loss of more than half its annual dues income over last 2 years, Assn. still has $1.4 million surplus -- more than enough to pay off all obligations and provide severance for its 5 employees, we're told. Other than rent contract for Washington hq, ALTV’s largest outstanding obligation is $75,000 in legal fees owed NAB in their joint successful fight for satellite must-carry. ALTV was formed Aug. 7, 1972, in St. Louis as Assn. of Independent TV Stations (INTV) and chartered later that year in N.Y. Original purpose was to fight for lower AT&T transmission rates (before days of satellites) and to overcome recognized bias of national advertisers against buying time on independent stations. To that end, INTV at one time had marketing offices in N.Y. (where its hq also was located until 1979), L.A., Chicago and Dallas. Hedlund (onetime lobbyist for NCTA) has been pres. since 1990, succeeding Preston Padden, now head of Disney-ABC Washington office. Group changed its name to ALTV in 1996 to reflect fact that majority of its members were affiliated with fledgling TV networks. Often working jointly with NAB and/or MSTV, INTV/ALTV had several successes over years at FCC and in congressional lobbying efforts. “We should never lose sight of all the proud moments ALTV has had,” said Vice Chmn. Peter Walker of Tribune TV -- Assn.’s largest remaining dues-paying member by far. “For a small organization with a limited budget to have accomplished so much for so long is a real tribute to ALTV’s members and staff.”