Even though they are dealing with two wars, a transfer of presidential power, with a global economic crisis to boot, the White House Press Office made time at their daily briefing Monday to remind American TV viewers about the digital television transition in fewer than three months. Press Secretary Dana Perino said,
“One thing just to make sure that you’re aware of, from the Department of Commerce: Today we are now just three months from the transition to digital television, which will take place on February 17th. Households watching TV over the air on analog sets will need to take action soon to ensure their sets don’t go dark.
“The Department of Commerce has been working very hard to get the word out to people, and they encourage Americans who will be impacted to go to a website that is www.dtv2009.gov before the end of the year, where they can get a coupon to get a converter box, buy a box and test it out and make sure that they’re all set to watch their favorite programs on February 17.”
Given our recent report of the near 21% drop in radio revenues last quarter across Citadel Broadcasting, it may seem inevitable that layoffs would soon come to operations in Erie. The Press and Tower sources confirm what Tom Lavery reported earlier today that Classy 100 afternoon drive personality Tony Jay has been laid off, joined by Country 98’s PM driver Johnny Marx and Laurie from the X-Tra Fun Morning Show.
These cuts at Citadel follow the high-profile release of Newsman Dave Benson, one of the original cast of The Breakfast Club on WXKC this summer.
Word has it that the Country 98 morning show will soon be a syndicated satellite show, with “Truckin’ Tom” going back to afternoons.
With all of the cutting going on in the broadcast (and newspaper) industry, decimating our stations, it makes you wonder if our operators are accelerating the rejection of traditional media by advertisers. Wouldn’t going long on your bets and making stronger investments in your media properties actually pay off in the end?
The global economic crisis and national newspaper downturn has now hit our local paper hard.
On GoErie.com yesterday and in this morning’s Erie Times-News, the newspaper reports a staff reduction of 25 employees or 9 percent of its 273 workers. Publisher Rosanne Cheeseman is quoted as saying,
This is a tough business decision in the toughest economy in memory, and one that we have tried to avoid making.
According to the paper’s report, 51 employees are eligible for the buyout which includes severance pay, five years of health insurance or a cash equivalent, and a $10,000 signing bonus. If enough workers take the deal, the buyout may eliminate inevitable layoffs that could come next year.
The last sentence in the article articulates what ETN readers have been sensing when they feel the thinness of the paper lately. “Even tougher market conditions in October prompted the bailout plan, Cheeseman said.”
The countdown clock for the digital television transition is now under the three month mark, and Erie Television is apparently ready on the supply-side of the equation.
In fact, two of Erie’s five full-power licensees are in the situation right now so that on February 17, 2009, they will simply turn off their analog transmitter. Both WFXP and WSEE are already broadcasting their full-power digital signals. You can follow viewers’ reviews on the quality of those signals on the AVS Forum.
The other two commercial stations, WICU and WJET are broadcasting in low power and will go to full power on Feb.17th when their analog transmitters are shut-off. According to station officials, WICU will also relocate channels from 16.3 to 12.1 on Transition Day. Read the rest of this entry »
Last week we asked when readers might be singing “We Need A Little Christmas.” Almost two-thirds of you said you would like to start hearing Christmas music on the radio around Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Just six percent were looking for the tunes right now.
“On February 17, 2009 all full-power broadcast television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital.”
Folks, that’s just three months away. The conversation has turned from whether the Erie television stations will be ready to whether the Erie over-the-air viewers will be ready. That’s our question as we begin a week of DTV transition coverage here on The Press and Tower.
We created Deep Background as an off-topic, random discussion of media issues that you want to weigh in on. Ask and answer questions, shout-out your opinions on the media topics you want to talk about. This is your opportunity to dictate the agenda so go for it!
If you have a news tip or private question and you really want to go “deep background,” don’t hesitate to email me at joel@nataliemedia.com.
Editors Note: The door is always open for random comments at “Deep Background.” A new round begins tomorrow!
It’s the first full week of the November sweeps. Here are the weekly ratings for network primetime, cable and syndicated programming. Shown are the rank, program name, network, household rating, and number of households, in millions.
Top 10 Network Primetime Series
1 60 Minutes CBS 11.5 | 13.2M Hslds
2 CSI CBS 11.2 | 12.8M Hslds
3 Dancing With The Stars-Mon ABC 11.1 | 12.7M Hslds
4 NBC Sunday Night Football NBC 11.0 | 12.6M Hslds
5 Dancing With The Stars-Wed ABC 10.2 | 11.7M Hslds
6 Desperate Housewives ABC 10.10 | 11.5M Hslds
6 Grey's Anatomy-Thu ABC 10.1 | 11.6M Hslds
8 Criminal Minds CBS 9.3 | 10.6M Hslds
9 SNL Presidential Bash '08 NBC 8.7 | 9.9M Hslds
10 CSI: Miami CBS 8.5 | 9.7M Hslds
Top Cable Show (Week ending 11/2)
NFL Regular Season (Colts/Titans) ESPN 7.3 | 8.4M Hslds
Doug:
Raw Row Raggy - 107.5 in Ashtabula is actually called "The Fox." The station is WFXJ and the community of license is North Kingsville. It has a classi
CRANK:
As I was reminded last night listening to Phil Harris show, years ago the bulk of prime time radio programing was network programing. Even into at lea
David Berchtold:
What has rErie radio become? It seems it's just another stage for the Rush Limbaughs and Howard Sterns of the world. Are the syndicated folks the on
CRANK:
I have been listening to 740 am out of Toronto ever since The Music of Your Life format left Erie. Complete shame what has happened to Erie radio.
Raw Row Raggy:
I have just decided to listen to NPR exclusively. If I need some music, it will be FM 96 (London) or The Wolf 107.5 in Ashtabula. Erie radio ownersh
Steve and Stephanie:
It is always difficult for radio personalities fans to see that there favorite DJ's are replaced, however how unfair is it to bash Aimee Clemson for a
Rick P:
In regards to the government coupons that I ordered and received in the mail earlier this year. I did not realize there was a 90 day expiration date t
The Press and Tower is a web community for the producers and consumers of newspapers, radio and television stations, and new media outlets in Erie and Northwestern Pennsylvania. We connect, celebrate, complain, and communicate about all aspects of media.
“One thing just to make sure that you’re aware of, from the Department of Commerce: Today we are now just three months from the transition to digital television, which will take place on February 17th. Households watching TV over the air on analog sets will need to take action soon to ensure their sets don’t go dark.
On 
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Good quarter for WJET parent: 
