October 25th, 2009 
joel We’ve created this open comment forum for you to sound off on media randomness; whether it praise or consternation, we talk about it here.
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The Erie Times-News, months ago, inexplicably removed the Readers’ Comments links from its daily offerings, promising to restore them “soon.” On Sunday, I noticed that the Comments link had been restored at he top of each article,but clicking on it produced no result. So I e-mailed Liz Allen, the Times-News’s alleged “Public Editor,” and asked her why. She promptly responded: “Not sure, but I’ll try to find out from our Web people. I’ll forward this e-mail to them.” I received no further reply, but in today’s edition, I noted that the Comment link has been removed from all the articles. Whither freedom of speech?
The ETN doesn’t want anyone’s comments. They are so full of themselves it pathetic. The ETN is one sorry rag.
It’s happening, Leno is bringing down the ratings of NBC affiliates 11pm newscasts in Major Markets:
http://blogs.tampabay.com/media/2009/10/jay-leno-may-be-pulling-down-11-pm-ratings-for-wflach-8.html
I’d love to know what effect he is having in Erie, but since none of the stations use the Nielsen Ratings I can only guess that Lilly will say Channel 12 is “the #1 newscast at 11pm” and Nexstar will crow about being “#1 in every newscast” while WSEE is “the area’s fastest growing 11pm news.”
The more things change the more they stay the same.
Why does someone who writes and/or reports for Channel 12 insist on referring to Saint Vincent Health Center as “Medical Center” (as in Hamot)? I heard this Monday evening, the latest of more times the past three months than the entire decade prior. I wrote Brian Lilly regarding this, but it still tends to happen. I’m as mistake-prone as they come, but how many reminders does respect for trademark take? Particularly to the local Children’s Miracle Network affiliate?
Everybody seems to jump down Brian Lilly’s throat for things either not done right or poor management on his part with his two stations. (I don’t disagree with that.) But we all seem to forget that Nexstar isn’t much better, and in some cases Action News is downright terrible. We all agree that Erie is a small market and what we got is what we got. My neighbor that works for Jet-TV says that all Nexstar wants is $. Especially from the smaller markets. They had every intention at one point to put money for HD cameras and a digital switcher. But now there is no plans for any of that stuff in Nexstars budget. This is Erie not New York or L.A. The low budget newscast is going to be the norm. Its too bad.
It’s a shame the low budget newscast is going to be the norm. At least WJET uses studio cameras that actually are studio cameras. WICU/WSEE uses a CCTV camera on steroids for their studio cameras. At least WJET has a decent looking news set. WSEE’s set isn’t that bad, WICU’s news set is the WORST looking news set I have ever seen! Who the hell uses a white (or off white) background for a set. Completely makes the talent look ridiculous.
And you wonder why people seem to take great joy/pleasure in nitpicking Brian Lilly? All he has done is take 2 good stations (WICU/WSEE)and destroy them. It seems strong but it is the truth. WICU and WSEE are for all intent and purpose dead in the water.
Action News may at times be terrible but at least they are competitive and put out a good product. Nexstar better be careful: if they can’t get $$$ from large markets there is no way they can get $$$ from small markets – especially Erie.
A big shout out to who really made the destruction of Erie TV (and TV in general) possible: THE FCC!!!!!
Sad thing is even if the rules were changed and things could go back to the way they were before consolidation it is too late. The damage is permanent. Sad! Very sad!
Maybe the digital switcher has been put on hold because Nexstar plans on going automated. A group but of an automation system is much cheaper than doing it one station at a time. The same thing happened where I am.
Tim, I totally agree with you except the news set looks. I think WSEE has the better looking set than WJET. But 100% agree that WICU12′s set is hidious. The larger markets the money that is generated is improving the station. The smaller market is making money, but nothing is getting put back into them. You have to admit that WSEE is much improved since the June 1st merge. And legend you are probably exactly right! Too bad for Erie.
Just In, I have to admit it (and I never thought I would) I do agree that WSEE is much improved since the June 1st merger.
anyone see WICU/WSEE tonight? yikes!
It was so bad that I turned to WJET. Somebody has got to make some sound decisions around there. Toss here, there’s nothing there. Toss there, there’s nothing here. Did Paul Wagner ever get on with Joe Sinnott? WJET smoked WICU/WSEE every step of the way. You know, Lilly Broadcasting is now 2/3′s of Erie’s television news, and I’m starting to think that that is 2/3′s to much.
Just In and Tim, can you please elaborate on just how you think that WSEE is “much improved” since the merger. (For full disclosure, yes, I USED to work for WSEE until May 29, 2009. You may think that I have an axe to grind, but, honestly, I’m really fine with my life now.)
I’m not asking out of spite, I actually want to know what improvements you think have been made to the WSEE news product with the merger. I agree, the set is nice (though the director in me will always complain about the lighting, shot selection, story lineup, etc.). How is news that is taped (with the exception of the noon show) better than live news? How is a combined news staff better than two independent news staffs? Is more news covered? Is it covered with more depth?
To me, it just seems as if there is one news show put on two stations with (sometimes) two different anchor teams presenting it. Yes, the WSEE set is better looking (though it could be MUCH better looking than it is), but is the content better than it was last year? I’m just asking…
WSEE was bad before the merger, WICU was even worse. Combined that makes two times bad TV news. Perhaps Lilly’s strategy is to convince viewers that we are all living in some mondo bizarro universe where bad TV is good! (sounds like a Seinfeld episode)
Bob, after watching the combined WICU/WSEE election coverage last night I must recind my comments about WSEE being improved after the merger. Yes WSEE has a beautiful new set – but not much more. What the hell were they thinking last night!? This is the future of Erie TV news!? Oh my goodness it was so bad it was nearly unwatchable – but yet I couldn’t turn the Channel. It was like watching a train wreck in slow motion – I just couldn’t avert my eyes if I wanted to.
I was trying to be positive. I was trying to not be negative. After last night I am now convinced that the WICU/WSEE merger is a ship without a rudder and that the inmates are running the asylum.
To answer a few of Bob’s questions: news that is taped is not better than a live newscast. Combined staff? nope, not better – independent will always be better.
After last night’s fiasco (and it was a major fiasco) Brian Lilly needs to fire WICU/WSEE ND Julie Eisenman (she is in WAY over her head) and bring in someone with many years of experience running a newsroom. Brian Lilly also needs to remove himself as GM and hire someone with experience. Lilly is never gonna sell the stations – that would be an admission the merger was a total failure.
One last thing: it was damn unprofessional of Kevin MacDowell to keep asking “where are we going?” over and over again while live. Nothing like throwing your show producer under the bus multiple times.
The WICU/WSEE merger: the future of Erie TV? Bleak! Very Bleak!
(I tried to be positive – but last night was just plaion awful. So much for thinking professionals work at 3514 these days. College students can do a better job!)
I wanted to watch WSEE or WICU last night at 11…but then, I didn’t want to take a chance on a sub standard newscast…so I went with old reliable WJET. Looks like it’s a good thing I did.
I know if I were News Director in this particular market, that I would make damn sure that I was on a headset calling the shots in that control room. I would not leave it up to some 20 something kid. Newscasts have a funny way of going wrong in a hurry. One live shot has no audio…an inexperienced kid in the booth can’t make a decisive call, the talent is stuck with that “doe in the headlights look” and the resounding “click” of remotes tuning to WJET can be heard throughout the DMI! All of this in a mere :20!
I laughed when I heard the appointment of the ND over at WICU. I didn’t think she was effective as a reporter or anchor let alone news manager.
It looks like its time to drop back into your own end zone and….PUNT!!!!
Bob Bohen, I always have been a faithful to WSEE Newswatch. My parents watched it, and you are just used to watching a certain channel. But I also admit that MacDowell and Bremner are very unprofessional. We all saw Kevin’s mistakes, but did anybody see Scott throw his pen to the side and hold his hands like “what the ****!” I see what they where trying to do but come on! A taped delayed newscast is not the answer. Even at noon Ray is taped, even if Scott is live. Its like we all knew it was going to be bad for them last night and everybody watched. The first thing at work this am was how bad the deal was at WSEE/WICU. That was probably the worst thing I have ever watched coming out of an Erie, PA tv station. But to be fair, later in the
“disastercast” it did seem to be a little more flowing. I really loved the end when Kevin said it was fun. What a joke! So to answer you Bob, its a nice coat of new frosting over the same damn bad tasting cake.
And what i meant by “much improved” was talk of the news set. Not the combination of WSEE/WICU news.
It got so bad that I was actually expecting Scott Bremner to get up and storm off the set while live. I think we can all agree that there is ZERO chemistry between Mr Bremner and Ms Policastro.
If Kevin MacDowell or Scott Bremner pulled what they pulled last night at(say)KDKA-TV Pittsburgh or WNBC-TV New York they wouldn’t have a job today. (Or at the very least they would be taken off the Anchor desk)
This is Erie, Pa so it looks like we’re stuck with more of the same garbage eminating out of 3514!
Amateur hour is in full swing at 3514
Can’t use mike flags…since all reporters are doing stories for both stations you can’t brand the story as a “12″ or “35″ story.
It all comes down to manpower. There are good reporters and anchors at WICU and WSEE, but the higher up felt that producers were worthless. They are the glue that holds a show together. I guarantee you have 1 or 2 producers doing 4 shows on their own. Even in a small market there should be one for each show. Yes it’s a small market so you do a lot with a little, but when you can’t even get through the airtime without disaster something is wrong. It’s like a good book with no binding to hold the pages together.
A “corporate” Lilly Broadacasting logo flag might work. I’m just waiting to hear from Disney/abc regarding the lettering’s resemblance to what ESPN has. If anything else, the outside of 3514 State should now feature a WSEE logo besides WICU. It’s been 5 months now.
I’m not going to say I told you so, but…
Bob, now that your out of the Lilly Broadcasting family, how long did you see this coming? Also, what is the solution for fixing the merger? Is it fixable?
Wow…sorry I missed that. All the problems notwithstanding, there is NO reason for any anchor in any market to lose their cool on the air. It is what they are paid (usually better than the other crew members) to do. One of the few good things about the changes that have been made and will still be made in TV is that, hopefully, the age of prima-donna anchors will be over.