Erie Radio Can Beat TV’s Ass!

In several posts, I have referred to the FCC’s digital information website, http://www.dtv.gov/. In the website there is a section called Outreach Tool Kit. It contains press releases and radio public service announcements in 60’s, 30’s, 15’s and 10 seconds. (http://dtv.gov/outreach_samplePSAs.html) Now Erie radio can do for the consumer what Erie TV won’t.

I can’t think of a more perfect way for Erie radio to fill-up unsold time in evenings and weekends. The Erie consumer has to be awakened to what consumers in Cleveland, Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Meadville already know. Also, Erie radio could sell time to Best Buy and Circuit City. Perhaps they could be a co-sponsor of the message. Use the 15 second version and combine it with a pitch for digital big screen TV’s and home theaters. (Any Erie Radio salespersons out their listening?) What a perfect message for the holidays and going into the NFL season. (Problem is, Erie can’t watch the Steelers, Browns or the Bills in high definition unless the game is on ESPNHD, TNT or NFLHD) I hope at least WERG--Gannon Radio) will get the PSA message.

The FCC has a digital clock on that website counting down the days, minutes and seconds to February 17, 2006. We’re almost at the 900 day mark. Of course that doesn’t seem to mean much to the television moguls who continue to buy and sell stations like baseball cards and then tell the FCC they can’t get their credit raised to finance digital full power or HD. The Lilly’s of SJL will be taking part of that 56 million after the sale of Channel 10 in Altoona. But wait---that means that Nexstar will be 56 million dollars poorer! (Anybody gotta a scorecard?)

Where did that money come from? Well, Altoona and Erie now have many things in common.

"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 will stop.” FCC ww.dtv.go

Just 22 Days To Go Before WSEE DT Channel 16 Construction Permit Expires.