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When Hoffman Radio Corp.'s energetic President H. Leslie Hoffman announced a fortnight ago that he had bought the Don Lee radio network (TIME, Oct. 23), he was sure he had sewed up the biggest broadcasting deal of the year. Hoffman's offer had been accepted by the public administrator of Los Angeles County, who was disposing of the West Coast's biggest chain for the, heirs of Don Lee. Hoffman had bid $11.2 million; the only other bidder, an Akron bank representing the General Tire & Rubber Co.'s salaried employees pension fund, had offered only $10,525,000.

But California law permits a new bid to be made directly to the probate court, providing the bid is at least 10% higher than the previous high bid. Hoffman had been sure that General Tire would not be willing to go that high. But he reckoned without the Columbia Broadcasting System, which was eager to buy KTSL, the Los Angeles television outlet of the Lee chain. Bolstered by assurances from General Tire that it would buy the broadcasting network and radio stations, and by CBS that it would buy the television station, the bank boosted its previous bid to $12,320,000, the necessary 10% more. Wailed astounded Les Hoffman: "It's this crazy California law."

Though the court approved the sale, there were still several obstacles. General Tire, which already owns New England's Yankee Network, will also have to get FCC approval to take over Don Lee. Before CBS can buy KTSL, it will also have to get FCC approval and sell its present 49% interest in the Los Angeles Times's competing television station, KTTV. On the off chance that some hitch would develop, Les Hoffman let his bid stand. After last week's surprise, radiomen would not believe that the Don Lee network had been sold until General, CBS, Hoffman or somebody actually moved in and took over the stations.