How SJL Is Part Of The Problem of "Dumbing Down Erie. "
Some of you won't believe this, but it really pained me to write those conclusions in Monday's post. I don't consider it fun. Broadcasting has been part of my life since I first watched Howdy Doody as a 5 year old. Over the last few weeks I have given every opportunity to SJL to respond anyway they wanted. (That offer still stands) However, it seems that SJL will continue to do in Erie what they have a reputation for everywhere else...diminish local broadcasting. I have received emails from across the pacific pond to Oregon with shades of what has and will continue to happen in Erie. Based on the SJL model in other markets, both stations will continue to loose jobs to automation. (The AXE) There is nothing wrong with automation if it works and if you still keep enough hands there to make sure it does its job. The on-air product has to be seamless to the viewer and without error. This is not happening at SJL stations and it is not the fault of engineering.
I have been out of the advertising scene for almost a decade now. Back in the 80's, my agency was a paid consultant to WSEE's previous owners. Some things they followed that we suggested and some they didn't. One of the things we did suggest was that they change the call letters as the current ones were associated with tons of negatives, but nothing as troubling as it is today.
The future is clear even if a few in Erie broadcasting are blind.
FCC has ordered digital and all analog frequencies to be handed over no later than February 17, 2009. The FCC can't change that because it was written into law by the congress and signed by President Bush. It would take another law to rescind it and unless you want to continue to have 911 disasters or Katrina chaos with major losses of life, it is doubtful in the current political climate that it will happen.
Why should Erie accept being treated as discarded piece of waste material? It is that attitude that keeps Erie from progressing. Sunday, Pat Howard wrote a very good article about just that point. Erie people keep Erie down. And Erie people can change Erie for the better.
The current operators of WSEE don't know how to market the station. I have given suggestions in this blog on how to make lemonade out of lemons, but they seem to want to continue to operate in a sour environment
CBS wants 100% HD compliance from all its affiliates. It has plans....exciting plans. If WSEE doesn't want to fit the CBS model than it should find another major network or sell. (good luck)
There will always be a CBS affiliate in Erie. It may not be the current one, but there will be CBS in Erie. It will be a digital CBS affiliate. It may be the first commercial station to go HD in Erie.
The FCC requires that the digital station replicate the same signal quality as its current analog. Currently WICU, WJET and WFXP as well as other stations are broadcasting digital at very low power. When the switch comes in 2009 or before, the signal quality is expected to be the same or better as digital does not have snow or ghosting.
Those who depend on over-the-air will be given 2 coupons for two converter boxes so that at least two of their current analog sets will not become obsolete. (Even I will have to toss out 2 existing sets when the big day comes.)
Erie can't hold back and continue to fall behind the rest of the country and that is what the current management of SJL unintentionally is letting happen. There have been several comments from former Erie residents that show that quality of life in all respects is important. Quality of life includes having the opportunity to what the rest of the country can now experience. Otherwise, our young people will continue to move where there is not only job opportunity but choices.
But Erie won't be left out on HD, at least at WFXP, WJET TV, WQLN and I hope, WICU. Cost is a consideration when upgrading transmitters. I wrote about a month ago that WICU and WJET will probably have digital 12 and digital 24 respectively. From what engineers tell me, the analog and digital signal can't both occupy the same frequency spectrum. In short, those two digitals can't go on the air or full power until their analog counterpart signs-off. Nobody expects either of them to build twice, at nearly twice the expense just to have a digital High Definition station now. But I would hope they along with the Erie Times-News would take the option and the time of educating the public about the coming transition so that the transition date could be moved up from their planned date of October of 2008. This is how you make lemonade, take a leadership position in the community and you can justify the million to upgrade.
It is my real hope that SJL will use some of the money they have made brokering stations to upgrade Erie and all their properties and invest for the future; not just invest in technology that cuts jobs to increase a profit margin. The profits will follow if you have vision. Ed Lamb did and so did Myron Jones. (Ed Lamb put WICU on on the air when there were no TV sets. That took guts and big money back in the 40's. I mean really...Who would think of sitting in front of a box watching just 3 or 4 hours a day of back lighted movement) Come on guys... have some imagination?
Digital and HD are the future and the future is today. It can't be stopped...it won't be stopped.
"Congress passed a law on February 1, 2006, setting a final deadline for the DTV transition of February 17, 2009. Most television stations will continue broadcasting both analog and digital programming until February 17, 2009, when all analog broadcasting wistopop." FCC www.dtv.gov
Just 3 days To Go Before WSEE DT Channel 16 Construction Permit Expires. The EYE is watching and doesn't like what they can't (W)SEE.
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7 comments:
As I see it, broadcasting as it was for the past 50 years is a dying entity. Cable, even Internet video has forever changed the landscape of broadcasting. It seems the expense of digital conversion for over the air broadcasting is a very poor return on investment. Cable/dish will continue to grow as the prefered method of TV reception. Even verizon is getting into the game with its FIOS service. (Whether or not it ever gets to Erie is another story).
Plus, if you look at it from the perspective of selling advertising a cable audience is much more appealing as they are much more affluent than someone who won't spend the $30/ month for basic. I realize that is a generality, but that is how advertisers think.
As far as the poor quality of local programing, that seems to be the trend. Look at the failed experiment of sinclair broadcastings "News Central" product. It was a mix of a brief local news segment with 45 minutes of national news. Even the weather was done out of a central studio for all of their stations. While that experiment didn't quite work out, I think that kind of local news will rear its ugly head yet again as small stations get bought up by the chains. From a business standpoint, it makes a lot of sense to share resources.
Your general observations are very valid and you make some very good points. There is a lot of info that backs your postion up. Les Moonves, CBS CEO, addressed those very points in an interview with Newsweek back in February of this year. I think I will dig them up and print them.
Thanks for the observations.
Media boy. I can see why Anonymous might think that way. Local competition hasn't really challenge cable or satellite. However, I also believe that OTA is not dead and might have a new life in multicasting (as long as it doesn't screw up the HD)
I mentioned, an interview with Les Moonves that I was going to excerpt from. You might want to read that. It will probably be on Thursday.
There are too many leaders without money in Erie. If the owners of network stations can't keep up because of money, they should get out of the equation. Maybe if more leaders in Erie had money, Erie would have a vision and more energy.
Don't let us suffer and please don't let your station people suffer.
Let's see if I understand this correctly: CBS is keeping an eye on what a market 142 affiliate is doing? Do you really believe this, Jack? Do you really believe it possible that a multi-billion dollar corporation cares about a station in a dying market?
I think you have been lead asunder by those who would lead you to believe CBS cares. Erie doesn't even rate a blip on the CBS radar scope. CBS needs WSEE. If WSEE goes under (because of your incessant negative comments) then there will be no CBS affiliate in Erie. The other stations already are locked into long-term affiliation agreements and couldn't pick and choose CBS programming even if they wanted to.
Perhaps the time has come for you to divuldge where you are getting your information from?
By the way, the party tonight was a lot of fun! Grilled Chillean Sea Bass and Shrimp Cocktail...YUMMY!!
Doug and Brian send their regards!
Interesting. I called Brian Tuesday, as he asked me to, but have not received a call back. There was a party tonight and I wasn't invited?
Boy you didn't get the point of that post at all. The AXE I was referring to was the heads of more employees. But I guess you don't care about your fellow employees. Also, if Erie is a dying market, your helping to carry the casket.
But we do agree on one thing. CBS does need Erie, but it doesn't need a dying station with questionable policies as an affiliate.
You also forget that there is another channel DT 16. The station has CP for just hours unless they are granted an extention again and again and again. But WSEE doesn't have a license yet for DT 16 because it isn't on the air.. A big difference.
Your post will be forwarded.
Aug. 31, 2006
I see where the cowards at WSEE waited until the last minute to file their request to delay construction on Digital Channel 16. What is even more distressing is they claim to have lost $691,520 in the first six months of 2006!
Believe me, CBS cares! You are only as strong as your weakest link. If Lilly doesn't turn this fucker around and fast the FCC or CBS will take things into their own hands.
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