As reported on Erieblogs, SJL Broadcast Management does finally have a website and lists all their current 6 stations including WICU and WSEE. (KHIZ is a Kevin Lilly project and not considered in the same stable)
Because of this official website, EMGR will be changing its policy in referring to the two Erie stations. Previously we have been using SJL/Lilly and certain posters have taken exception to that because supposedly SJL is WICU and Lilly Broadcasting is WSEE.
Since SJL Broadcast Management does not make such a distinction and lumps them together under their own name, we have no choice in the future but to refer to them both as just SJL.
We have notice several things from their website. In their About Us section, they incorrectly list both WICU and WSEE as being CBS affiliates. Clearly it is an error on one page as they do have it correct in other references. (It might have been corrected by the time you read this) But where was Sandy Benton, COO, when this was proofed? You can’t let a 6th grader from the Montecito Union School do it all by themselves!
The links page isn’t even linked to their stations. That is inexcusable.
There is another Erie error. Erie DMA market rank is listed as 143 when it is now 142; Honolulu is 72nd (not listed on site); Topeka is 138 (not listed on site); Portland is 23 (not listed on site); Wichita is 67 (not listed on site).
Erie is the lowest ranking market in their current stable of stations. Why would they put them on top unless they wanted them noticed for a specific reason?
The description of their operating philosophy on the homepage looks more like a seller’s sales pitch:
“SJL believes that the core business of local television is a good investment and that the potential afforded by its digital spectrum and the opening of a new revenue stream from payment for carriage by satellite and cable companies makes it an extraordinary opportunity for experienced operators.”
I have to give SJL some credit that at least it is a start to looking professional.
They just need a “newer vision” and a few dollars to go with that wonderful digital spectrum they are developing.
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.." FCChttp://www.dtv.gov
"Burning down is only one way to destroy a city. This time the people of Erie need help that can't be delivered from the nozzle of a hose."
--Pat Howad Erie Times-News 12/10/06--
30 comments:
I know if I wanted to make an impression to attract general investors to my company, I would have lead with Portland and Honolulu. Not Erie.
They might have been doing it in the order they were purchased but nobody knows that when you get the homepage.
Besides, who cares at that point?
Maybe it is Alphabetical order East coast vs. West Coast. There are so many different ways you could look at this. But, in the spirit of sensationalism, or sparking it up, there is no changing your opinion.
I see SJL has yet to correct the error of WICU being listed as an affiliate of the CBS Television network.
I have it on very good authority that the Lilly family visits EMGR on a daily basis.
Allow me this personal message to the Lilly family: Please proof your website and fix all errors - it really doesn't befit a company that owns several large TV stations.
And a message to all my many fans: I can't wait to hear from you again.
Feliz Navidad
- Alan B. DuMont (I'm Not Brian Sheridan)
To Anonymous…. The last time I looked “K” comes before “W” in the alphabet.
Also Honolulu is not east of Topeka.
The point is really that SJL should not have released this to the net until it had been checked by management.
Thats why I put East Coast Before West Coast. And proofing is something the "editorial Staff" at EMGR should not be complaining about since this site is full of typographical errors. That is the point!
North, South, East or West. None of it makes sense. As for the errors on this site,
I plead guilty with some extenuating circumstances (Especially in the comment area.) I even noted that before. At least I will admit it and I am not trying to reach corporate America and their website doesn’t have to be updated daily.
Since your website, by your own accord, is read by people far beyond Erie, PA you should not use that as an excuse. One thing that EMGR seems to do is not let excuses be used. Since you say the FCC monitors this website, do you honestly think they will take your seriously with mistakes. I know you have noted that before, so I will give you that... but excuses, I will not.
The website in question I was not criticizing for typos. I was criticizing it for checking errors of fact.
To help guard against future bad typing on my part, I am even using Word to type my comments.
I hope that corrects most of them, but I know you will let me know if it doesn’t. As you should.
There are factual errors on this site, but to disclose them, I would have to disclose myself. And that will not be done until Alan B. DuMont discloses his identity. So, your errors will continue to sit, and as the discussions evolve from these errors, so will the mis-information.
I guess that WICU is a CBS affilate then and Erie has lost one market size qnd we will never know who the leaks were to the New York Times, Washington Post, The Erie Times-News etc.
I'm not going to disclose myself either until Erie is FULL DIGITAL - and we all know that isn't going to happen until the Lilly family decides to spend the bucks on WSEE.
Thanks for caring enough about my identity. It really means a lot to me to know that I must really be getting under your skin!
Happy New Year!
- Alan B. DuMont
"A Martini...Shaken, Not Stirred"
- James Bond
"Bring It On!"
- G.W. Bush, Commander-In-Chief
The SJL links page looks to have been revised...WICU listed as NBC now.
Thank you Alan. I was just going to suggest the same terms. Let SJL divulge plans and dates first. They are the ones keeping a big dark secrete about their great plans for the “digital spectrum.”
(Got to keep this so on topic so it fits the post.)
SJL did not revise their site as yet.
At 5:41 EST. it still reads
"Also acquired in 1996 by SJL and Alta Communications was WICU-TV in Erie, PA (143), a CBS affiliate. In 2005, the station was sold to SJL, who continues to manage and operate the station today."
I guess they don't care about their image anymore than they care about their TV stations or the people who work hard to keep them going.
http://www.sjlbroadcastmanagementcorp.com/links.html
Hit reload?
WICU is an East Coast NBC affiliate broadcasting from Erie, PA.
Serving Pennsylvania's only port on the Great Lakes, WICU 12 has excelled since 1949 with top-level news coverage and excellent programming. Seven days a week, 12News is coverage you can
count on!
You still don't read do you.
checked again at 6:09 and the about us page still reads.
"Also acquired in 1996 by SJL and Alta Communications was WICU-TV in Erie, PA (143), a CBS affiliate. In 2005, the station was sold to SJL, who continues to manage and operate the station today. "
Within the last few minures 2 other staff members of EMGR also checked it.
If you really read you will see, that I said that they had it right on other pages but not on this one and it was an error.
I suggest you click and SJL correct.
I stand corrected...Jack, you are a genius, and should let all of us know what the last 5 media projects you have worked on, since 1999, that leads you to be an authority on bashing wsee/ wicu
First, my criticism is of SJL in this thread. Get your pointer straight. Where do you see me bashing WICU or WSEE employees here?
It doesn’t take a genius to see that the broadcasting everyone else is going one way and in Erie it is going backwards. Correction…it is also going backwards in Hawaii, Oregon and Topeka. At least part of it is. The country is going digital. Erie is fighting a trend and keeping and pulling Erie into the electronic dark ages. You don’t need to be a media expert to see and know that. My email from everyday readers attests to that.
I make no bones about not having a great deal of respect for either SJL or NEXSTAR. Both organizations drag their corporate feet and can’t find profits without gutting good people and organizations.
I will give a bit more credit to NEXSTAR as they seem to be going in the right direction in most of their markets. Erie is just low on the list.
Lastly, don’t think that you are cute for trying to use Alan’s name. Where is your experience? Mine is placed right at the top of the blog. I don’t see yours spelled out by you at all.
Mr. Anonymous
Who do you think you are? If you want to question my experience that is fine, do not question Jack's experience! He is a very well respected individual in this community.
Nowhere in this blog has Jack bashed employees of WSEE-TV or WICU-TV. Jack and the staff at EMGR take great exception to the management capabilities of the Lilly family. We only want to see Erie move forward, not backward, with the latest in Television technology.
Those of us at EMGR will not stop until EVERY station in Erie broadcasts in FULL digital.
By the way, don't think you can post a comment using my name. Jack has the capability to trace IP addresses. If you think you can slam me that way you are sorely mistaken. Thanks for caring! Next time you see Brian tell him I said "HI!"
It means a lot to me that you care!
Cheerio!
- Alan B. DuMont
P.S. I stand by my earlier remarks. When ALL Erie TV is full Digital I will reveal my true identity.
Alan...
If that isn't an incentive to go digital, I don't know what is. LOL
It is now days since this post reported an unintential error on the SJL website and it still has not been corrected.
Very difficult to believe that a company would let this mistake stand when I know they are aware of it.
So at least on one page "About Us" WICU is still a CBS affiliate. I guess it is hard to tell the difference between a peacock and an eye.
At 9:15pm EST SJL has yet to correct the multiple mistakes on its corporate website.
Sad! Sad! Sad!
(Might I suggest calling the Geek Squad at the local BestBuy?)
Remarkable....
At 7:37AM EST STILL no corrections to the multiple mistakes on the SJL website!
They Just Don't Care! Shhhh! If We Ignore This, It'll Go Away!!
Maybe, instead of assuming that SJL corporate people read this site, Mr. DuMont should tell his "employer" that there is something wrong with the site. He does, in fact, still get an alleged paycheck. You think that someone that whines so much about the state of local television would have a stronger work ethic, since they "work" in local television.
Above anonymous...
Again you make assumptions as if it were true. I can assure you that Alan has no influence at all or could cause a change in the several errors on the website.
It seems again that SJL management is just asleep at the switch. I know for a fact that their senior management in California has been in EMGR recently. They know and don't have to be reminded.
It is just a question of really careing for not careing.
I don't have the answer to that, but I know what I would do. When I have an error (and I do) I acknowlege it and correct it.
At 8:35 PM EST. The website still hasn't been corrected.
Jack,upthread you said "I can assure you that Alan has no influence at all" in regards to SJL/Lilly, yet earlier you stated (or maybe Alan stated) that to divulge his identity would cost several employees of SJL their jobs. Please explain how both these things can be true at the same time.
I've also said that management was foolish to think that there was just one.
Alan, as well as I, are familiar with a variety at all media.
3:00pm EST 15 Dec 2006
*** BREAKING OLD NEWS ***
The SJL website still has the numerous errors in it!
All I want for Christmas is an ACCURATE SJL website!
Any takers?
It is now more than a week and they still haven't correcteda few simple errors.
I really gave them far more credit than that. If that's how they take care of their image, their stations can't be that far behind.
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