I was watching the local Fox news as they were hyping their DTV test last night and then I heard recaps of similar tests done earlier on KWCH and KSN. I assume KAKE might have done the same thing last night. Apparently if your TV was not equipped you would have seen static and if it was fine you saw bars in some tests like on KWCH and on the Fox one I saw "Everybody Loves Raymond" promos, signaling I guess, all was good with my cable and I was ready for the switchover. Plus the stations had special lines people could call to have their questions answered. It appeared as if they were local numbers and answered by local people. What a concept or was it just cheaper that way? I am curious how the tests went at the various stations.
The Crawl as a Bargaining Tool?
It has also been interesting to watch the crawls lately through the tests. Back in the day you only saw crawls for severe weather. Lately you started seeing them warning people about the switch to DTV. Last night I saw a crawl on one of the stations using it as an apparent leverage tactic in bargaining agreements with various cable operators in the area. The crawl basically stated that if you had one of the cable companies listed as a cable provider to contact that provider because if they don't reach an agreement with the TV station, the viewer wouldn't see programming from the station after a certain date. Because of all the crawls, I haven't been reading them lately and the one last night lumped in with the rest so I cannot remember which station did this. Maybe more than one is doing this and I simply have missed it in growing tired of the crawls. The airwaves are the public's in one sense, but the programming and content is owned and controlled by the stations so they do what they think they need to like running bargaining crawls. I really don't have any views one way or another about it, but I am curious if anyone else has seen the crawls aimed specifically on the cable agreements and if any of them has interrupted your viewing of key programs. Of course when the crawls are aimed at weather info and maybe saving people's lives, angry viewers call in for that, so I am curious what happens on something like this. -Hal
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Stations all across the country did the DTV test, not just Wichita.
I believe KAKE is running the crawls trying to leverage being carried on those smaller cable companies.
On the other hand, The FCC is forcing stations to run crawls,tickers,bugs about the upcoming digital transition.
Can someone fill me in on those crawls? I thought the cable company was required by law to carry the affiliate that serviced their viewing area.
Update: Anon 8:50 is right. I saw during the KAKE weather at 5, a crawl asking people to call Cunningham, Suddenlink and Time Warner asking them to carry KAKE. I would be curious as to which communities Time Warner deals with. -Hal
KAKE and KSN did not test. They don't have the capability yet.
KAKE and parent Gray have trouble with cable companies all the time. WIBW ran into trouble about a year ago. It seems Gray is too cheap (big shock) to pay the cable companies enough money or even the standard price.
No it is not the law. It is the law that you have to be able to see it with an antenna. Cable companies and satellite are under no obligation to carry any "local" stations. They do it because people demand it but there is no law saying a cable company must carry station X.
KSN Did the test on Wednesday as did KWCH and KSAS. The following Eagle article discusses the tests. I still don't know about KAKE. Anon 638, when you refer that KSN and KAKE don't have the capibilities yet, you are wrong. They are capable of broadcasting in digital, however from other comments, KWCH is the only one with an actual HD picture, and that is for studio cameras only during newscasts. -Hal
http://www.kansas.com/news/local/story/635532.html
Hey- quick change of topic.
Are any of the locals giving their full-time employees christmas bonuses this year?
This is the problem today: people are ignorant.
There is a HUGE difference between HD and Digital.
HD means "High Definition". That means a clearer picture, better audio and a 16x9 picture resolution. It takes special cameras, control boards, and tv sets to make HD work all the way.
Digital simply means a digital signal, as in a series of 1's and 0's. It's like going from a record player to a mp3. You do NOT need special cameras or control boards to make digital tv work. You DO need a tv that can receive a digital signal. Or, a box that will convert the digital signal to an analog signal so you don't have to purchase a new tv.
I do hope that helps those who have paid no attention to the hundreds of PSAs that have been running for months.
Come February, EVERY tv station in the United States will be digital. Period. But only a select handful will be HD.
KSN had no local signal until a few months ago. KWCH had it nearly 2 years ago and KAKE shortly thereafter even if its newscasts aren't in HD. KSN is behind the ball on all of this.
Anon 10:47 you are full of crap
What is this crap about KSN not having a "local signal" until a few months ago
KSNW has been digital for quite some time. I don't work in TV - but I do watch it
No they're not HD (except for NBC network) -- but they've been in HD for longer than your short attention span.
KSN did the test for at least two minutes during the news report at 5
CHannel 12 did the test and so did Channel 10
KAKE DID NOT do a digital test. Don't lie.
http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/36262649.html
"html" is the last word in the link.
KAKE did a digital test!
Hal really needs to put a stop gap measure on some of these completely inaccurate posts being filtered in. KWCH did a digital test at 6:30, KSN did one around 5:15, and KAKE did a test around 6:48..
For the KWCH pro poster, Its funny how you brag how KWCH was first, when they clearly were not ready, because none of the weather graphics and most (if not all) the live shots in the field and video of stories are not HD... So really why should they have bothered? Simple answer is they did it to get attention right before the November book. Who watches the news only to see the in studio shots in HD?
It took KAKE and KSN more than an hour to post the story of the abducted child and recovery on the web. Then they completely missed the bus at 10. KWCH was the only ones lives and the only ones with sound and the latest on the search.
6:44 is a bit jealous. Their station can't even pay their employees, is making people do multiple jobs, can't even keep all the lights on while 12 is undergoing a major renovation which is 2/3 done. Go cry to your Mommy.
6:44 advocating censorship...welcome to China.
Still NOTHING on KSN's website about the story of the evening, the child taken in a stolen care then found later on with the car. NOTHING. Just stupid stories about horses and a DUI victim's piece similiar to those KWCH and KAKE did months ago. KSN...later or never.
KSN missed the story of the night, as some call it, of the child left in a car as it was stolen. Too bad, because take that out of the equation and they had without a doubt the best executed stories at 10PM.
Nah I'm 6:44 and I'd be an advocate of tracing IP's here and registering user names... I think alot of the stupid comments wouldn't exist anymore
Yes a dumb horse story and a DUI story that everyone did months ago. Really "best executed." But that doesn't matter. If you miss the big story you fail. Period.
BTW: Still nothing on KSN's website at noon Saturday even though the mother was arrested. It seems because they missed it at the beginning they aren't going to report it. Nice standard.
the 'abduction' story was on ksn newscast at ten (right after the far more interesting exclusive story dana did about the illegal alien causing a fatal car wreck)
its also on the website. the fact that it wasn't on their web site right away hardly means they 'missed' it.
kwch troll must be feeling the heat if thats the best they can come up with this week to prove 12's supposed superiority.
KSN'ers received $100 giftcard to a butcher shop
Did anyone see KWCH's piece on Natalie Pickle??? It was a very moving story!!!
The story wasn't up on KSN's website until Saturday afternoon. That is dropping the ball. The web is just as important these days as on-air. The fact that you considering it secondary shows why your station is in 3rd or 4th place in the ratings depending on which numbers you use.
The Pickle story was much better than the DUI story from KSN. It too was an exclusive.
I actually feel sorry for the twelve troll.
See, I work at a station other than 12, where I'm paid very well.
And I have a life outside of this blog and the TV business.
This poor person obviously doesn't. And spends time trolling the competition trying to validiate and shore up their insecurities.
Then, even more pathetic, tries to crow as loud as possible to a *limited audience* here on this blog about how wonderful one station is.
So what are you trying to do.. make me a fan of 12?
-- It's as though your ranting here will somehow magically up your ratings. How misguided.
You're right troll. 12 leads the market. Good for you!!!
My response is: "So?"
I still make good money. My life is happy.
It obvious that you are way to focused on the competition and not our your own efforts.
See, the thing is that since 12 is where it is in the market ... bitching about how the competition sucks is a waste of a time. You don;t work at 10 or 3, so why does it matter so much what we do?
Your criticism doesn't make me or my co-workers feel bad about or "insecure" about our station.
Again, Joe Beercan isn't here trolling this blog -- so why bother?
That said, I'm done wasting my time here. Hal, its been interesting.
But you go ahead, tt... type away... waste away.
watching kwch's fox newscast during the halftime of the vikes game...apparently its 63 degrees outside. and surprisingly no mention of the accident on kellogg. nice work, 12.
A new one was recorded and sent to FOX. KSAS rolled the wrong one. That is their problem, not 12's. Nice try blaming KWCH for something they have no control over. They don't run/own FOX.
Yes troll,
But the viewers don't know that.
Perhaps you could have your promo folks make a promo about how Fox screws up. Then the viewers would understand.
"expect more mistakes ... from Fox Kansas"
I concede how Fox might have forgot to update an insert. But, the production company (12 in this case) should follow through.
I love how when there is even a small mistake -- you really go on the defensive.
People, not robots, work at 12.. and people make mistakes.
Things get botched over there at 12 more often that you dare to reveal... I see it on your air. Don't deny it. It happens...
That said, Have a nice Christmas 12 troll!
I too plan to spend 2009 ignoring you and this blog.
Both are pointless.
Ciao!
841...is that why our ratings are double yours? Check and mate. Why doesn't KAKE take responsibilty for the problems and giant issues with COX 22?
KAKE could care less about Kansas Now 22. It's going to be KSN's problem starting next month.
And I get the idea KSN doesn't know what kind of trouble they'll be getting when they get KN22, either. Oh well, I wish them the best.
KN22 isn't going to happen. Rumor is KSN has sold it to another station.
Don't believe me? Then just wait. You won't see KSN doing anything with 22 come January 1.
You wont see KSN doing KN22 because they delayed it until the end of January. They weren't quite ready to do it by Jan. 1 so they pushed it back
Anon 545 has no idea what he/she is talking about. Rest assured KSN has signed a long-term deal with Cox to provide programming for KN22. Yeah you probably wont see anything on it as of 1/1/09 however just wait. It IS coming.
Despite all the mud slinging here.
I wish you all a safe, happy, and wonderful Christmas, and New Year.
I happened to catch the Saturday early news show on KWCH. Ayna said several times that there was no hail in Sedgwick County. Not only is her presentation horrible, she is clueless as to actual weather events in her own county. There was quite a bit of hail across the entire county. Small, hail... but hail, no less. This person has no business being on the air.
Those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
Those in glass houses can see hail.
I saw a "leverage" crawl on KWCH today, too.
The reason they are new, is that local stations are having problems reaching agreements with cable companies.
Cable companies, even small ones, make millions of dollars. They have few employees and don't like to cut into their profits. Stations on the other hand have 100-200 plus employees and a lot of costs. The cable companies shouldn't get the signal for free. They don't put any work into it. They simply retransmit it. It's a racket.
BTW: These agreements come up every few years and there's always a back and forth but things always work out. This has been going on for 15-20 years now.
I know these agreements come up for renewal every few years, but I don't remember these on-air "leverage" crawls as one poster wrote. I think, unlike past years, the local stations now really need every penny they can make or keep in order to keep on-air.
Interesting comments about the Cable Retransmission issue. I know its something Gray TV feels strongly about. I'm not a Gray fan, but they've aggressively negotiated higher re-transmission payments from the Cable companies that profit from their programming.
They just announced this week that they made about $3 Million in Retransmission fees in '08 and expect triple or quadruple that in '09. Its a drop in the bucket (especially for 36 TV stations), but a little bit of money from a lot of small cable companies really adds up.
I agree with some of the sentiments here: you guys are busting your butt every day for companies struggling to meet payroll--while Cable makes money from your work by collecting cash from every household, even selling some spots too.
That is totally unfair. Time for the Cable and Satcos to pay up IMO
Time Warner Cable is in a figh with Viacom (Nickelodeon, MTV, VH1, Comedy Central) over the same issue. Come 12:01 tomorrow,those networks and a few others won't be on the 2nd largest cable company in the country because of a retransmission issue. The problem lies with cable companies wanting to make a crapload more money off other people's work. They are the greedy ones here.
KAKE has ALWAYS portrayed the Middle East from an anti-Israeli perspective. Its, frankly, the only obvious bias I've seen in their coverage. I don't know it its intentional but its VERY apparent.
Being anti-Israel is being in support of terrorism. It's exactly like someone supporting Al Qaeda after 9/11.
It's either intentional or they are too dumb to understand what is going on. I think it's a little of both.
Well dad gum'it. Ya'll have finally figured us out. Yes, ladies and gentleman. We here at KAKE are operating in collusion with Al Qaeda. Osama bin Laden, in fact, checks in with us on a weekly basis to see what kind of 'media' terror attack we're planning right here in good ol' Wichita, Ks. O'sammy is even funding us. He's got really deep pockets. After all, that is the only reason Gray TV hasn't had to file for bankruptcy protection yet. Please don't tell the feds. We're really close to pulling off an all out assault on local media coverage right here in Doo Dah.
Then you explain the bias which has existed for years.
12 scoops everyone by getting the name of the child that's been missing for 10 years, talks to the family (although not on camera) and actually turns a real story on New Years Day. KAKE meanwhile leads with the j-school no no, new births. Give me a break. No wonder they are No.2 and fading.
congrats 12 on the butler boy story...way to answer your tip line. dont act like there was any digging involved...you know it was handed to you.
Nice try but no. That's why no one else had it until they saw it on 12. You missed the boat, just admit it.
KAKE led with the cliche New Year's baby story on Jan. 1st. KWCH led with the name of the missing boy, what his parents say happend to him, why other relatives don't believe it. No one else had it that day. KAKE led with New Year's babies.
agree that 12 troll is way overselling the Butler story on here, however you do create your own luck. And so I give the news staff credit- not the one moron that speaks for them on here.
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