As I write this I’m watching one of my all-time favorite movies, “Broadcast News
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Embrace the chaos!
Deep Background for March 14-20, 2010
March 14th, 2010 
joel 
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Just making sure that comments are working…it’s been a few days since anyone has chimed in.
Nothing intersting to post. We’re all still here.
Erie media…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
RIP and PR are right. Erie Media…(((((((YAWN)))))))
Hey Joel. I was glad to see WQLN offer the Image Sports feed of the Lady Lakers hockey game on their 3rd digital channel last Saturday.
Caught some of the Otter’s game Saturday on Image. Do you think maybe they could figure out how to get a clean audio feed by now?
R.I.P. WSEE says:
“Caught some of the Otter’s game Saturday on Image. Do you think maybe they could figure out how to get a clean audio feed by now?”
Image sports is **edit**. Their broadcasts are terrible. The Otters should drop them from showing their games. McDowell High School can broadcast sports & other events with a much more professional look.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all you Irish and non-Irish alike. There is reason to celebrate here at P&T.
I recently returned from a Feb/Mar jaunt through the Middle East and checked out P&T upon arrival home.
Good news!
New Media section has actually had its SECOND post of the year 2010 while I was gone. Bryan Oberle has become a blogger, and that was added as “New Media” after the last and only story in New Media this year,….. that Scott Bremner is NOT a blogger.
New Media is far more than Blogs.
I have not seen a pic of Oberle in a while, and I did a double take as I thought it was Al Benedict from days of yore at WSEE…the typical fare for P&T.
(You look good Bryan. Congrats on your new work and good health to you!)
Jim Berlin has adequately covered Broadband in a post at his site….majorly ignored at P&T. This was huge for Erie and missed at the media locale of P&T.
http://www.globalerie.com/jimberlin/2010/02/10/broadband/
However, a Tweet was made on a powerful recent story on Broadband three days ago on your right side here….
better than nothing, I guess.
That story is under “Media and Advertising” in the NY Times, and only rates a Tweet for discussion. Deplorable.
It should be a full post.
New Media may as well be removed from a Topic Header if it is covered with two blog stories so far in 2010. There were precious few stories in that realm in all of 2009 too.
P&T needs to reach out to the future as strongly as it embraces the past, or it reconciles itself to become part of the past too.
For what it is worth, goat herders in Jordan have better access to Broadband than folks in Erie, PA. I know. I turned on a netbook in Jordan and was shocked at the speed and clarity of reception…..especially compared to the same Verizon Broadband available to me in Erie.
We got dial-up quality here.
Business development will be at a modicum as long as this situation prevails locally.
Google is offering an “Extreme Makeover” for Broadband and P&T does not even mention it (see Berlin’s Wall for New Media development).
‘Luck O’ the Irish’ to get a New Media Post upon return here. At least New Media NOW has more broadcasts in 2010 than Punxatawney Phil. They were tied a one each when I left.
Posted at Berlin’s Wall a bit ago:
March 18th, 2010 at 10:40 am
What if you wanted to marry your bride, but failed to take out a license on time?
What if you wanted to vote, but failed to register on time?
The clock never stops, but deadlines do.
The Google Broadband Extreme Makeover is underway and the clock for applying is ticking.
DEADLINE is next Friday, March 26, 2010 to be included for consideration as a test community.
I do not know if our government officials applied.
But I am adamant that Erie, PA will be included….at least for consideration for this project.
To that end, I applied on behalf of our community today, March 18th, 2010. Erie, PA is now included.
But many communities are presenting exotic appeals to Google with visuals such as YouTube and the like.
Amazingly, this offer is open for an appeal to do the project in Erie by a Request for Information. It can be requested by government reps (mayor, council folks, county exec, township officials, etc) or by groups like our Technology Park, Manufacturers Assoc., our Universities, and more.
But I found a line that says even a RESIDENT can make a Request for Information to apply and meet the deadline. i did precisely that.
However, I am but one voice.
You can win a Powerball Lotto with a single ticket.
Ever notice how when the prize is largest, folks buy more than one ticket?
Google is offering the Powerball of Powerball’s.
I ask that more tickets from Erie, PA be entered on behalf of Erie this day and in the next 8 days too.
I ask that individual residents, officials, everyone with Internet access apply by filling out the RFI (Request for Information) BEFORE the deadline. We improve our chances by applyng from many venues.
The following link will allow you to do what I did as an individual, and it also will allow government officials or groups to apply. This project could change our community globally more than an election vote in any election.
John Kennedy exalted words come to mind here:
“Ask not, what your country can do for you;
Ask what you can do for your country”
Just change the word “country” to ERIE, PA and fill in the RFI today.
We have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Spread the word (especially virally please) and the link. Notify your reps at all levels and also your neighbors. Fill in this link…..asap!
http://www.google.com/appserve/fiberrfi/public/options
Thanks!
Danny Lucas
Ps. The Google offer is summed here:
Let’s apply!
http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/10/technology/google_broadband/index.htm?hpt=T2
Spread the word. Do the RFI. Thx.
Story Idea: Heard biodiesel plant cash flow is very tight and, if the tax credit is not renewed, the plant may shut down and lay off employees. What happened to the promised job creation that went along with those grant awards?
Let’s face reality – how well was the plant doing before the tax credit expired? It’s not like there was never an expiration date on the credit. How can you base any business model on a tax credit in order to survive? Shouldn’t a business be profitable without a tax credit?
Stop blaming the government for this one, and start blaming the people who should be held accountable – the ones whose business plans have failed – and it’s time to stop subsidizing failures.
Story idea: This was on both channels last week, and in the paper today.
I noticed as I was watchiing 12 News this AM a new female co-anchor. She is good. Seems larger market. Unsure is Liz Crawford is filling in, but Julie Coates was not on this morning.
If the new co-anchor has large market talent she’ll be gone in 2 years.
WJET replaced Amelia Segal with a new male weatherman… I suppose they’ll have a much easier time keeping him in Erie.
True. Or even less. It’s unfortunate how nearly no one stays in this market anymore. Gone are the days of Vance McBride, Hyle Richmond, Frank Rizzone, etc. Erie is just the minor leagues for other markets. Julie Coates is on WSEE tonight filling in for Joey Stevens. I wonder if she is still on AM’S on WICU? I think she does a great job and she is nice person off the air as well. It seems odd that WICU brought on a new co-anchor in the AM. I thought they and WSEE were downsizing?
WJET also debuted their new weekend meteorologist this past weekend, Jason Berry. Ball St. grad and already had experience. I think it’ll be a long-term hire for WJET. The guy’s already married, so I think he’s looking to settle down.
A good change of pace from hiring these cute, fresh-out-of-college girls for weekend met. that’s been the trend this decade for the local stations. As much as I like the Amelia Segals and Cheryl Scotts of the world, you’re just asking for two-years-and-see-ya with those kinds of hires. I think WJET felt burned by Amelia’s quick exit and took a different approach.
As I’ve said previously, I don’t think Cheryl or Amelia had a lot of polish. Hopefully the bigger markets will work with them and get more out of them. Jason’s a good hire for Channel 24…making for an even more solid weekend on air crew.
The new 12 News morning anchor, Kara Coleman comes from WCTI Channel 12 in New Bern, NC where she was a morning anchor as well. She was actually born & raised right here in Erie. Welcome home Kara, you bring a fresh feel to Erie news.
GMauz, please for once, don’t sugarcoat the truth of Erie media. We all know you’re a fan, but it will never change. Nothing good about it. TV or radio. Erie television itself has not advanced since the 80′s and it’s evident.
For example, WJET’s set is a 1980′s mindset.
WICU, WSEE and JET/FOX all have a very DARK look to their sets by the way. Not appealing whatsoever. The anchors wearing dark clothes; they literally disappear into the screen.
And by the way, after seeing recently all of the local news channels; WSEE in particular look slike it’s being broadcast from someone’s basement.
Wayne’s World, Wayne’s World, Party time, excellent
Please remember that NO media market is what it used to be and simply, there isnt the funds for fancy sets and high salaries anymore in tv or newspaper news coverage. Hardly anyone stays in a tv market for more than a few years anymore…..and many stations are ridding themselves of the older, highly paid “lifers” in favor of the young, newly trained and willing-to-work-for- minimum-wage types. In fact some stations in other cities have gone dark because there isnt the ad revenue to keep them in business anymore. Think Im kidding? WSEE is tettering on the brink right this moment.
Would MAINSTREET CITIZEN care to explain his comment about WSEE “tettering on the brink right this moment?” How can that be? They moved in with 12 and don’t have any physical expenses anymore – it all goes to 12 and Lilly. Why would WSEE be in danger of going dark? Explain to us lay people how the merger hasn’t helped WSEE out in spades?
I too notice the dark look on the sets of WSEE & WICU. In comparison, WKBN in Youngstown has a much brighter look on their set and did a great job with their upgrades. On some shots, they are using the green screen for things like “Weather sets”, etc. See it at WKBN.com.
Mainstreet, there may be SOME truth to that claim. Yes things aren’t what they used to be. That’s been the underlying theme with radio and TV for almost a decade now.
BUT, major markets, still look major. And markets such as Johnstown/Altoona and Youngstown (which are Nexstar and SJL market’s too) have a much more professional look. Look at Cox’s WJAC! Looks just like PXI!
My comment is Erie specific. The news sets look horrible, drab, and depressing. The point is, they ALWAYS have!
The market is small in TV terms, but there are many small markets with very good looking news sets.
My bet is that no one feels that Erie is worth spending the money on; or they don’t have the money. And at this point it’s just SJL/Lilly and Nexstar.
Buy em cheap, maintain em cheaply, maybe make a profit?
WTOV in Steubenville another Cox station also looks like ‘PXI. Both WKBN & WYTV look great even without HD.
Did I miss something? When did WICU add a 12:30p newscast? And who’s the anchor(s)? Spotted it on the online TV listings.
I just noticed it this week. Emily Matson anchors the news and Kara Coleman presents the weather. It is also simulcast at the same time on the CW.
Like Ray’s weather on Newswatch at Noon, the time on the weather graphics for 12 News at 12:30 suggests that it is also taped after the morning show, around 8:45-9:00am.
realityradio, while I can’t claim any real knowledge since late May of 2009, and I can’t claim any knowledge of what the ICU set (or the new SEE set) looks like in the control room, I CAN tell you that WSEE’s sets looked GREAT in the control room monitor. They were lit properly, had depth of field, were bright, and jumped off the screen. The problem was in the transmission of said picture. I agree with you that all of Lilly Broadcasting’s studio productions look dark and drab at home. While I was working for them (for WSEE), I can tell you that they did not look that way coming out of the control room. They were properly and professionally lit, with great care taken to provide not only a great broadcast content-wise, but also visually. Any problems that you (and ALL viewers) have with the quality of the picture is due to the process whereby the picture gets from the control room to the transmitter. That is where Lilly Broadcasting has gone on the cheap. They purchased a really cheap systerm to get the picture from the control room to the viewers. It looks good to them, but to the people who matter, to the viewers, it looks like a low class public access system.
I guess what I’m saying, is don’t blame the people behind the scenes, they’re still trying to give you a professional-looking broadcast, but they can only make it look as good as the equipment they have to work with. And with the budget constraints that their bosses give them to work with. Real broadcasters, not just businessmen, care about the quality of the product that they put out – they realize that their product IS their broadcasts. Lilly Broadcasting seems to be stuck in the same mold as the US auto industry was in the ’80′s and ’90′s – “They’ve always bought our product, they always will, who gives a shit about quality? They’re too stupid and ingrained to go anywhere else.” We all know how THAT turned out…
I wonder if it would have made any difference if the Lamb’s or Myron Jones never sold their stations? Would they have spent the necessary money to update their stations? I never worked at WICU but it is my understanding that Priscilla decided not to spend any extra money on equipment starting in 1990. I wonder if a John Kanzius (God rest his soul) or Robert W Hoffman Jr would have made an impact?
Personally, I don’t think it matters. Erie is a dead or dying market that has become nothing more than a pass through for recent College grads looking to get their spurs and then move on to bigger and more lucrative markets.
I have to agree with Sylvester. While Nexstar has a better look & studio set, Lilly does not unfortunately. Erie is a pass through market and kids in broadcasting know that they are in the center of 3 major markets plus Youngstown is a step up from Erie in terms of population.
Erie’s tv market should emulate what they do in markets similar in size (i.e., Altoona-Johnstown, etc.) have news bureaus in Meadville, Warren, etc. However, that would cost money. I am sure it has been explored to have Warren Pa and Meadville be a part of the Erie, Pa tv market. As far as news sets are concenred making reference to prior P/T entries, Jet tv’s looks the best in the market. WICU’s is drab in my opinion. WSEE’S is nothing special. I agree with Tom Lavery. They need more color in their graphics and overall look.
re:Bob Bohen’s post.
I don’t know if this is a crazy and unworkable idea, but if the picture quality deteriorates between the time it leaves the control room to the time it reaches the transmitter, how about adjusting the light/color settings and perhaps overcompensating in the studio. For example, if the picture looks dark and dull by the time it reaches the transmitter, make the lights really bright and adjust the color so that, while it may be freakish looking in the control room…and the anchors may sweat a lot more 8-)…by the time it reaches the transmitter, the color and lighting level will be such that it’ll look better to the viewer. It may take a bit of trial and error, but if the PTB aren’t willing to invest in a better system, this may solve the problem…in a cheap kinda way. Garbage in, not so much garbage out.
I am totally fed up with WSEE.
I can’t see why CBS doesn’t pull the plug on they being an affiliate – and this is off Lorac satellite.
Whenever I try to watch “The Young and The Restless” or “The Bold and The Beautiful” the picture is way too dark – and this is on my brand new Phillips 52″ flatscreen.
The WSEE clips appear bright and fine but not the
original CBS feeds – don’t their technical people watch what’s leaving the station?
Any one else having trouble with WSEE voice being out of synch with the person speaking. This usually happens during Wheel Of Fortune and Jeopardy. When I turn to WKBN 27 in Youngstown the synch is okay. I, too, am fed up with WSEE and WICU their news reports leave a lot to be desired.
Thanks for listening.
Plus “Wheel” & “Jeopardy” is in HD on WKBN, unlike WSEE.
Mr. Brian Lilly – please try to understand me here. I have observed the WSEE feed carefully and noticed the problem is at the Master Control, not with link to broadcast equipment or broadcaster. The guys in your Master Control are using the CBS feed and passing it through but sometimes inserting the WSEE video clips – that’s normal.
The WSEE videos are fine – good brightness and contrast. The CBS feed is too low brightness and too low contrast thereby giving a dull, drab appearance. All we’re asking for is the Master Control guys to adjust brightness/contrast of CBS source feed to a higher level before sending out – then all will be fine. My TV service company depends on WSEE a lot for the soaps which are popular here in Trinidad.
Well thanks to the upgrade of Lorac from DVB-S to DBB-S2 yesterday all the TV providers in Trinidad made the switch from WSEE to CBS4 – CBS Miami – we don’t have to suffer with the dark picture on WSEE anymore.