TV’s big switch By DAVE MONTOItO Times-Union Staff Writer ABC affiliate WJKS Channel 17 and NBC affiliate WTLV Channel 12 will be switching those affiliations on March 31,1980. The date was confirmed Tues day in New York by Ray Timothy, an executive vice president for NBC. It follows the announcement made by TV-12 parent company Harte-llanks Communications seven months ago that it would nol renew its contract with NBC upon expiration in Septem ber 1980. At that time, Harte-Hanks stated its desire to switch TV-12 (o ABC at an earlier dale, but that move liingcd on the cooperation of NBC and the network had given no indication of willingness to do so prior to Tuesday. Nevertheless, it had been expect ed NBC would allow TV-12 out of the contract prior to expiration so its new affiliate would benefit from NBC’s airing of the Summer Olympics, which is expected to draw large num bers of viewers, reasoning which Timothy confirmed Tuesday. “We plan to do it (sw'itch) in a gentlemanly fashion," TV-12 general manager George Anderson said. ’’We' know Uiere will be a lot of confusion and questions from the public, but we think the transition can be a smooth one.” Gary Adler, general manager'of Channel 17, agreed with Anderson’s assessment, stressing that, “What ever we do will be in a positive way to educate and inform the public.” Adler said he sent a Telex to ABC Tuesday canceling Channel 17’s affiliation with the network effective at 3 a.m. March 31. The change will probably be made in time for that day’s early-morning programming. The announcment also put to rest the possibility that NBC would affiliate itself with Channel 30, the proposed Jacksonville station which had been expected to be on the air by the first of the year. TV-30’s difficul ties at achieving that end made the NBC affiliation virtually impossible since the station may not be oper ational Until the end of 1980. The stations and networks will be most affected by the switch, but viewers will notice certain changes. For instance, ABC’s prime-time programming (8-11 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 7-11 p.m. Sunday) will appear on Channel 12 rather than Channel 17. The same holds true for ABC's daytime programming (such as “All My Children”) and late-night programming (such as “Baretta”). Conversely, NBC’s programming will appear on Channel 17. There will be no switching in volved with any of the local program ming or personnel associated with WJKS and WTLV. Bert Roselle will continue to anchor TV-17s evening news shows while John Matthews and (See CHANNEL. Page E-2)