Don’t look to Erie Commercial Television for HD Leadership.
On September 13, the granddaddy of all morning shows, Today, gets a new studio and the HD treatment. They join Good Morning America to get the network banner… “In High Definition Where Available.” The CBS Morning Show studio is currently being readied for the same glossy treatment but no date has been announced.
In Erie that is not the case. We need a new warning banner for SJL and NEXSTAR stations. How about…“Sorry Erie, This Program Is Not Available In High Definition Because Management Decided You Don’t Deserve The Best Quality. You Have to Earn It Our Way. That Means Waiting Until We Are Forced To.” (I know…way to long.)
We, who have a genuine love of broadcasting in Erie, are missing that feeling from our TV stations, but there are some companies out there that still have high broadcast ideals and commitment to the industry, employees and the public it serves. Several weeks ago I posted the ideals of Hearst-Argyle Television. They are not the only ones to demonstrate broadcast leadership.
We believe in providing superior value to customers through high quality,
technologically advanced, fairly priced services designed to meet customer needs better than all the possible alternatives.
We believe Clear Channel's people are our most important asset. Our teams make the critical difference in how we perform and their skills, talents and determination separate us from our competitors. We also believe people can achieve their full potential when they enjoy their work, so it is a priority to provide a workplace where growth, success and fun go hand in hand.
We believe we have an obligation for the well-being of the communities in which we live. We further believe the future success of our communities and the industries where we do business is dependent upon the responsibility we feel, the high standards we set and the positive impact our actions have.
That is the published 30 year old creed of Clear Channel, a major communications company that operates over 40 television stations. And not just big markets, but markets such as Elmira, NY; Binghamton, NY and the thriving metropolis of Watertown, NY. (Until you have been in Watertown in the winter, Erie has nothing to complain about).
Take a look at another thriving communications giant with a core value of integrity, Media General.
Values
Our mission is driven by our core values of Integrity, Quality and Innovation. We have a long-term commitment to our employees, our customers, the communities we serve and our shareholders.
Media General operates 30 television stations mostly in the Southeast. “Integrity, Quality and Innovation”-- who has heard of such a thing... and making money too? The point is that the ideals of all 3 of these broadcast conglomerates have not compromised quality or profit, but believe in investing in their properties and in their communities. They did it the old fashion way…they worked hard at it.
I particularly like Clear Channels reference about “We believe we have an obligation for the well-being of the communities in which we live. We further believe the future success of our communities and the industries where we do business are dependent upon the responsibility we feel…” This is a very important point that I have brought up before in reference to broadcasters responsibility to the communities it serves. Erie television can’t be just a reflection of what is wrong with Erie. It has the ability to lead the discourse as to what is right and can be done to grow the area.
If all the media would use the power they demonstrated in slamming the Harrisburg late night give-a-way by legislators to themselves, or in organizing the public attitude in fighting National Fuel Gas’s current proposal, they can also show how Erie can grow it’s economy and jobs.
It is time that they put up or sell to real broadcasters who have a demonstrated ability to do the job.
It is also the right moment in time that the networks really take a hard look at their affiliations in Erie. It would be my suggestion to start with the current CBS affiliate. In my judgment, CBS is not being well served or represented and neither is Erie. CBS and the FCC couldn’t pick a better community to make a definitive statement to all of broadcasting. It's time that the public gets back its airwaves through the commision charged by the federal govenment to look after the public's interest. The plan for digital has been firmly decided. Now is the time to make it stick.
"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 www.dtv.gov
Just 4 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.
21 comments:
Oh for Christs' sake, Jack! what the hell are you suggesting??? You want CBS to yank its network affiliation from WSEE!!?? May I ask "WHERE" you think it should go? WICU? (taken by NBC!), WJET? (taken by ABC!), WFXP? (taken by FOX!) no, wait WQLN??? (PBS).
You need to have a drink! You need to have a lot of drinks! There is no place for CBS to put its affiliation other than WSEE! Are you suggesting Erie go without a CBS affiliate? THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN!
To suggest yanking affiliations from stations is irresponsible. To suggest the FCC would pull a stations broadcast license is the height of arrogance and stupidity!
The ONLY reason the morning news programs are taking the lead in HD is they are owned by the networks who are, in turn, owned by corporations with DEEEEEP pockets!
I enjoy your cute little blog but you have to realize none of this will make a difference. Brian Lilly of SJL/Montecito/Lilly just does not care. Nexstar is going to wait until the bitter end before doing anything! This is ERIE PENNSYLVANIA not NEW YORK CITY. Id we do get Digital or HighDef it will be some cheap ass resolution not the good stuff in the big markets.
IF YOU WANT DIGITAL MOVE TO CLEVELAND! Please Stop It!!!!
Stinger... WSEE has 4 days to have a digital on the air. Not going to make it and has said they will re-file...again. How much delaying tactics and excuses are the FCC going to stand for? I don't have that answer but my hope is that they will refuse the waiver and assign the channel 16 to a differnt party who is really committed digital. That is in their power. CBS is free to do what ever they want. As you said Erie is a small market in the scheme of a major network.
In addition, you haven't read my post on multicasting. Eventually, we will see multiple networks on WICU, WJET FOX and whom ever. And all at the same time. The magic of digital.
I have a feeling your going to be out shouted.
Who gives a rats ass. With the wages that are paid in Erie now, no one but you can afford a HD set anyway. You got some investment money tied up in transmitters or something? Geeesss man move on to something that matters.
Investing in HD! What a brilliant idea. Lots of money to be made and is being made. mmmm Good idea.
On a side note, This blog at the top clearly states my purpose and point-of-view. If you don't agree than there is no reason to read further. That is your choice. My choice is to publish what I say I am going to publish.
I think the two posts are from the CBS affiliate.
Wait a minute...Clear Channel says that people..."are their most important asset?" Tell that to the radio air personalities put out of work thanks to CC's voice tracking various dayparts from one amrket to the next. Clear Channel has done nothing but lead the charge in the "dumbing down" of radio. I would HARDLY hold them up as ideal broadcasters. They may spend the bucks on technical innovations...but as for caring about their PEOPLE??? Only when it suits their "suits."
While I agree Erie has bigger problems besides HD, I think it is a reflection of a much bigger problem that has long haunted the town. I grew up in Erie, graduated from college in Erie and moved away 7 years ago. While I moved on, Erie has seemed to stand still. I'm still waiting to log on to goerie.com someday soon and read about someone being burned at the stake in Perry Square because they were using new technology.
Trust me, nothing would make me happier than to move back to Erie someday, but after visiting this past weekend, I really don't know if there will be much of a town to come back to.
Technology is no longer a luxury, it is a neccesity for surrivival. Can we live without HD TV? Of course. However, I really think this is a reflection of a much bigger problem with the area. Manufacturing and tourism jobs just won't cut it, Erie needs to embrace emerging technologies and learn how to use them to make life better.
As far as the comment about nobody being able to afford an HD set, you really should shop around. They are really not all that more than a tube set and all the big box stores agree as they will no longer offer the bulky boxes starting next year. One more tip, if you are waiting for a job to provide you with a decent wage in Erie, keep dreaming. However, if you want to make a decent living, start a small business. Look around town, those individuals are doing just fine. After all, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. Take a risk, you have a huge advantage in Erie with it's low costs of living and doing business.
Sorry for the long reply, but those are just some things that have been on my mind after reading several posts to this blog. Keep up the good work Jack, it's nice to know someone is thinking progressively in the gem city.
PS- WSEE is very sloppy. While home I watched the bills vs. browns crapfest on channel 35. They were running Buffalo market commercials durring the entire broadcast. Why? If you can't sell time on a football game what can you do? Very sad.
You wrote "Eventually, we will see multiple networks on WICU, WJET FOX and whom ever. And all at the same time. The magic of digital. "
Be careful what you wish for.
Yes, it is possible to multicast several programs at once. But the ATSC 6 MHz channel can only carry 19.39 Megabits/second (19,390,000 bits/second). The bits used for those SDTV (standard television) channels have to come from somewhere. Decent MPEG-2 HDTV, especially on screens larger than 40", is generally regarded as requiring the full available bitrate of 19+ Mbps or quality will suffer (noticeable to the discriminating viewer which you seem to be). Each of those additional programs ---albeit in SDTV--- eats up somewhere around 4 Mbps (average give or take a little depending on content and how much its quality suffers from compression).
Bottom line, digital broadcasters typically transmit either a single HDTV program **or** multiple SDTV programs. (There may be exceptions out there but if so they are very few).
So if the broadcasters decide to multicast on their digital channel, you can kiss your HDTV goodbye. At least given today's MPEG-2 technology; MPEG-4, AVC, etc. does hold some promise here of allowing an HDTV program to be squeezed to 8-10 Mbps (and an SDTV program to around 2 Mbps average) which does give some room for either an additional HDTV program or a bunch of SDTV channels to be transmitted along with the original HDTV show. But that is still under development and in the future. Given how expensive the current DTV conversion is, and how slowly it's going, I would think broadcasters would be pretty reticent to spend $$ to upgrade all their newly installed MPEG-2 encoders, etc. Not to mention that viewers would require a new TV or set-top box (depending if the ATSC tuner were built-in or external) to decode the newer incompatible transmissions.
Finally, if you want to examine a real-world case study about DTV multicasting in the US, just Google on "USDTV" or look at its Wikipedia entry. Hint: they are currently in Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
So maybe Nexstar, SJL, etc. are not so dumb after all for delaying dumping a bunch of $$$ into full-power Erie DTV. Especially for what will be essentially an expensive "throwaway" in many cases (e.g., an entire additional UHF transmitter plant for WICU who will eventually be on Ch 12 with its digital signal ...same for WJET who will end up digital on Ch 24... --- or a bunch of MPEG-2 encoding equipment, etc., etc. for all the stations). All for a relative handful of home theatre A/V enthusiasts....ummm, I don't think so !!
Also consider the current regulatory environment regarding cable TV carriage of those multiple streams of multicast programming (in short, they don't have to) and the high % of homes who get their TV over the cable.
Just some more food for thought.
Yes I have to admitt I have been worried about the bandwith. I wrote about that several weeks ago about the CBS plan for multicasting up to 5 networks. I said that I hope the engineers have better compression as the HD signal will suffer greatly.
I don't object to NEXSTAR or 12 waiting for their final digital assignments in order to build out to full power on the new channel. I think I even said so. But they could do it faster than October 2008 just a few months before the analog close-out. I think the commission will act a little faster than that on their request if they already haven't.
Correction...I have seen on the FCC website that WICU has been tentatively assigned digital channel 12 and WJET has been assigned tentatively digital channel 24.
Thanks to all the posters on here who understand OUR position.
Broadcasting in Digital would put us out of business.
Broadcasting in Digital at the current time is not economically feasible.
Erie is a dying market that has a finite number of potential advertisers.
You cannot get blood out of a turnip!
You seem to be having fun, Jack! (Why bite the hand that feeds you?)
Regards,
Doug
Sorry boys! The rules of the game have been posted by the FCC. Erie TV has no choice but to follow merrily along. It may not seem fair to some (12, 24, 35, etc.) but if you want to play you're gonna eventually have to pay.
By the way, CBS can pull (and has done so in the past) its affiliation from a station. CBS is getting testy about WSEE. It may seem stupid that a mega-corporation like CBS would care about Erie, PA but trust me...it is CLOSELY watching!
The cost of new Digital/HighDef TV sets is dropping all the time. What are you going to do in 2009? All Analog will cease to exist and you'll have to buy a converter to get TV.
It's not arrogance or spite on Jack's behalf, just spreading the gospel of CHANGE. People hate CHANGE! The one constant in life is CHANGE! There are a lot of people in Erie who HATE CHANGE!
Do Not fear CHANGE! CHANGE is Good! It will help Erie grow and ACTUALLY move into the 21st Century!
ROCK ON, JACK!!!!!
Doug…you share a major blame in that irresponsible management and you should be ashamed. You destroyed a good station. SJL didn’t have to gut the news department or the production department. You have no more marketing savvy than you have sales savvy or else you would have seen the marketing advantage you could gain.
The station should be sold to someone who can afford to do what is mandated and replace the current management. That is the source of all your trouble. Keep the grunts.
Jack,
Is Doug in Erie broadcasting? Is it someone posing as Doug? Who is Doug? Why are you so negative towards WICU/WJET/WSEE? Didn't you own an ad agency? Don't you have any friends in Erie TV? Did someone piss you off and now its payback time?
Someone sure has issues?
"FILM AT 11"
Let me get this straight, you think Clear Channel is a company with strong morals? Are you in the early stages of dimentia? Clear Channel Radio is a monopolistic entity that invented "cookie-cutter" radio. The justice department wants to investigate Clear Channel for "anti-competitive" business practices. This is the company you would be happy owning an Erie TV station?
Time to say "nighty night" Jack!
(May I suggest Russian Vodka instead of the cheap stuff?)
Quit picking on the sales department. Do you have any ideal how difficult it is to sell ad time in this town? Do you have any ideal how difficult it is to work for straight commission? The economy is bad enough without your incessant bitching about why Erie doesn't have Digital TV.
If the ownership of these stations doesn't have the money for Digital then let them go black! We can do without local programming (Maury? Jerry Springer?) Please! TV is nothing but a vast wasteland.
If Digital is so important to you why don't you put your money where your mouth is? Buy a TV station!
If you don't care for a certain person who runs a sales department then fine. Don't use a public forum to slam a good man. He has made something of himself!
People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones!
I care about broadcasting and not letting Erie fall behind. SJL knew what they were getting into when they bought WSEE. They knew that they would have to shell out the money for digital. Digital is the law. Period. There is no choice but either build, sell, or go dark.
I have not worked in advertising or production in 10 years and I carry no grudge other than hateing to see a good station and good people be abandoned. The on-air technical and production is an embarassment. It is not the fault of engineering but of management who won't invest. The old saying is true here with a little twist. If you can't keep up with the technology than get out of the business.
Setting aside the personal attacks and axe grinding into which this discussion has deteriorated, I think it boils down to a "he says/she says" situation.
"doug" states that (1) broadcasting in Digital would put [local broadcast station] out of business; (2) broadcasting in Digital at the current time is not economically feasible; and (3) Erie is a dying market that has a finite number of potential advertisers.
Jack contends that, properly leveraged, there is a non-trivial marketing advantage to be gained over one's comptition by transmitting a robust digital TV signal which will offset the costs involved.
To which I say, fine ! If such a clear-cut advantage existed, where are the potential buyers for (say) WSEE ? I can't believe that any sharp businessman wouldn't jump at such a lucrative opportunity for a nifty return on his investment. Why, Messrs. Lilley should have people lined up at their door with money in hand ! (I don't know, maybe they do)
I suspect "Doug"'s take on the situation is a lot closer to reality than Jack's. In fact, perhaps the viewers in the Erie area (especially the handful still watching 'free TV' over-the-air) should be delighted that the current operators of WSEE haven't thrown in the towel and forced CBS programming to be available in the same second-rate manner as the WB, UPN, and so forth....not to mention them assuring the continued availability of high-quality syndicated shows telecast on a sustaining basis on 35.
Sounds to me like they may be more "community focused" in the public interest than you give them credit for.
I agree with the last anonymous post! I live near Findley Lake, NY and I can get WICU, WJET, WSEE, WQLN AND WFXP over-the-air with EXCELLENT signal quality. I don't care if they ever broadcast in Digital. Don't take away my free TV just because you say it's the law. It's a stupid law...let's write our Congressman and Senators! I don't want Digital just because a lot of stuck-up richies want it!
If it ain't broke dont fix it. I think you are way off base on this. I get OTA beautifully and don't want digital if it means I will have to buy a dish or will get a shitty signal!
I cannot wait until the day when all Erie TV stations broadcast in Digital/HighDef. The picture quality is stunning, especially for sports coverage. Please try and be objective about this. You haven't seen a football game or the Masters golf tournament until you've seen them in High Definition!
Hang In There Jack!
To one of the anonymouses... the station has been shown recently to no less than 3 parties. The conclusion is that is has been run in to such bad shape that it wasn't worth the money being asked to buy it and rebuild it back to at least to what it was before the last takeover.
ErieDJGuy,
You hit the nail right on the head! It took all these anonymous comments before you succinctly summed up everything brilliantly!
In any business you have to spend money to make money. SJL just wants to hoard money. They have no interest in improving anything, they only care what they can take out for themselves.
In TV that is also a sign ownership wants to sell badly, too!
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