Press and Tower :: News and commentary on Erie PA newspaper, TV, radio, and new media » The Feed http://www.pressandtower.com Erie media blog - Connecting creators and consumers Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:24:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 en hourly 1 The Feed for the Weekend of Feb. 28th & March 1st http://www.pressandtower.com/2009/02/the-feed-for-the-weekend-of-feb-28th-march-1st/ http://www.pressandtower.com/2009/02/the-feed-for-the-weekend-of-feb-28th-march-1st/#comments Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:40:52 +0000 joel http://www.pressandtower.com/?p=954
  • Classy 100 parent to be delisted: Citadel Broadcasting Corp., the group owner of WXKC, WXTA, WQHZ, and WRIE will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange this week, according to AllAccess.com. Citadel will be become an “over-the-counter” stock with a new symbol to be determined. The stock has been trading over 30 days at under $1 and the market cap is under $75 million, both conditions for trading on The Big Board. CDL closed down a nickel Friday, to 0.09, dropping its market cap to $24.30M.


  • Network TV’s woes chronicled: Perhaps tired of getting its head bashed in by the doom and gloom stories about the newspaper industry, the New York Times this morning ran at story on these trying times for the Big Four broadcast networks. Claiming a broken business model, the networks are shunning expensive dramas, which can cost about $3 million per hour to produce, and programming more reality shows, and news and talk. The new Jay Leno Show 10 PM strip on NBC starting this fall is strong proof that the industry is in major transition. Meanwhile, who is the big leader in the Nielsens? CBS, who airs more prime-time drama and scripted comedies then all the other networks!
  • Bayhawks score big attendance: Even though they saw the home team snap their winning streak, a record crowd was at the Tullio Arena Friday night to witness the Erie Bayhawks vs. Rio Grande Valley Vipers NBA Development League match up. Some 4,175 fans came out for Ohio Community Night to the Cleveland Cavaliers D-League affiliate.
  • Dobson steps down as Chairman: citing the move as the next step on the way to a complete succession to the next generation of leadership, the founder of Focus on the Family James Dobson has relinquished his role of Chairman of the Board of the non-profit Christian organization on Friday. His wife Shirley has also left her Directorship. Six years ago Dobson began the executive transition, leaving his role as President of the ministry he started in 1977. He will continue the “Focus on the Family” radio broadcast, which airs locally at 6:00 AM & 9:00 PM weekdays on WCTL.
    • ]]>     http://www.pressandtower.com/2009/02/the-feed-for-the-weekend-of-feb-28th-march-1st/feed/ 1     The Feed for the Weekend of Feb. 21st & 22nd http://www.pressandtower.com/2009/02/the-feed-for-the-weekend-of-feb-21st-22nd/ http://www.pressandtower.com/2009/02/the-feed-for-the-weekend-of-feb-21st-22nd/#comments Sat, 21 Feb 2009 15:46:03 +0000 joel http://www.pressandtower.com/?p=907 Editor’s Note: don’t forget that you can always share your insights on any topic of media in Erie and elsewhere on our open comment forum, Deep Background.

    • Kanzius’s passing noted world wide: The news of the death of Erie broadcaster and cancer-fighting inventor John Kanzius has been reported around the world, including on Facebook. Here in Erie, news organizations are covering both the immediate angle of the reaction to his passing and the memorial services, but also the long-term impact of Kanzius’s death on the ongoing research and potential local economic impact of the possible cancer-killing device he invented. The latest on the viewing and funeral can be found on GoErie.com.



    • Conan says “Goodbye, Hello”: In a tearful goodbye, Conan O’Brien signed off to his sixteen year run on NBC’s Late Night. O’Brien went from a little known stand-up comic to the revered chair of David Letterman in 1993, when Letterman moved to CBS to begin his “Late Show”. Now the after-prime chess pieces start moving:
      • Late Night with Jimmy Fallon will debut on Monday, March 2nd in a different studio at 30 Rock; Studio 6B, right across the hall from Late Night’s former home 6A
      • Jay Leno, who replaced Johnny Carson in 1992, will say goodbye to the “Tonight Show” on Friday, May 29th.
      • Conan O’Brien will become the fifth host of the “Tonight Show” since 1954 on Monday, June 1st.

      Jay Leno’s new NBC prime-time strip, “The Jay Leno Show,” will launch in the fall.

    • Palattella keeps hope alive: For all of the media old-timers who fear that the age of in-depth comprehensive journalism is passing us by, the recent reporting by Ed Palattella is allaying those worries. With his ongoing stories on the relationships between developer Greg Rubino and former Erie Zoning Hearing Board member Jeffrey Johnson, and this week’s telling of the plight of a Spanish-speaking mother and her child cast into the cold by an Erie dentist on his fourth marriage, Erieites are getting a greater understanding of complex issues that surround us. No matter how much you believe in the power of the new media, it is difficult to see how the current online business model could subsidize such professional reporting as we are enjoying from Ed Palattella’s keyboard, paid for by your four bits at the newsstand, and the dollars per column advertising by your local retailer.
    • Sirius XM gets stay of execution: this week Liberty Media, the parent of DirectTV satellite television, gained a big stake in the now-merged U.S. satellite radio service, Sirius XM. According to the Washington Post, Liberty is loaning Sirius XM $530 million to pay off debt and avoid bankruptcy, but at a price: 15% interest. SIRI closed at 13 cents Friday.
    ]]>     http://www.pressandtower.com/2009/02/the-feed-for-the-weekend-of-feb-21st-22nd/feed/ 0     The Feed for Weekend of January 24th & 25th http://www.pressandtower.com/2009/01/the-feed-for-weekend-of-january-24th-25th/ http://www.pressandtower.com/2009/01/the-feed-for-weekend-of-january-24th-25th/#comments Mon, 26 Jan 2009 04:22:31 +0000 joel http://www.pressandtower.com/?p=842 Editor’s note: Sound off, give a shout out on “Deep Background,” our totally-random open discussion of all things Erie media.

    • Shiny new WhiteHouse.gov: The U.S. Constitution calls for the new POTUS to take office at noon on January 20th, and I guess that’s ditto for the presidential website. The brand new whitehouse.gov features slideshows, videos, blogs, and speech transcripts. The weekly radio address is now also a YouTube video. However there will only be limited interaction. The Prez can’t tweet with all of his 50 million BFF’s!


    • Old media updates new media: A quick survey of the websites of Erie’s newspaper, radio, and TV stations show that some updates have come with the new year:
      • Nexstar’s YourErie.com, the portal site for WJET and WFXP has spruced up their front end with scripted tabs that highlight the headlines. Good color choices now dominate this advertising rich site. Now if we could get a news RSS feed and their bloggers to, um, blog…
      • As we’ve noted before ETN’s GoErie.com has improved its menu structure in the past few months. Of note is their special coverage of the Inauguration, with multiple posts and a live blog.
      • Classy100.com has a terrific tool to chase down the title and artist of any song you hear on the radio station, right down to the time it played. You can then purchase that song from iTunes or TuneGenie.com
    • Newspaper based on local blogs: ErieBlogWatch once again is watching out for our P&T readers as they forwarded an article from the New York Times about the new free newspaper startup The Printed Blog, in Chicago, home of the bankrupt Tribune Co. This Tuesday in Chicago and San Francisco, “The Printed Blog will publish blog posts alongside other Weblike content, like user-submitted photographs and readers’ comments. The paper will be printed on three or four 11-by-17-inch sheets of white paper and laid out like a blog instead of in columns.”
    • Wait, I want to see that!: TiVo has released a report on TV advertising viewing habits and found that viewers were more likely to watch a movie commercial all the way through during a program that they recorded. Of the top 10 commercials actually played, six were for motion pictures, a spot for Coca-Cola scored second in viewing according to the study.
    ]]>     http://www.pressandtower.com/2009/01/the-feed-for-weekend-of-january-24th-25th/feed/ 0     The Feed for Weekend of January 17th & 18th http://www.pressandtower.com/2009/01/the-feed-for-weekend-of-january-17th-18th/ http://www.pressandtower.com/2009/01/the-feed-for-weekend-of-january-17th-18th/#comments Sat, 17 Jan 2009 16:41:57 +0000 joel http://www.pressandtower.com/?p=814 Editor’s note: Sound off, give a shout out on “Deep Background,” our totally-random open discussion of all things Erie media.

    • DTV: one month and counting: The transition to digital television is now one month away. According to our calculations at least 24,745 households in the Erie DMA will have to do “something” to get service (many satellite users still need an antenna to get the locals). If you have not purchased a digital TV or converter box, action will need to be taken now to continue to receive over-the-air television. The TV stations are ready to make the switch; are you? Get more info at DTV.gov.


    • Flashback 1959: Commenter Erie BlogWatch shared an excellent link for the nostalgia minded among us. David Gleason has scanned the pages of ancient Broadcasting Yearbooks and other station directories from the middle to late 20th century. So what was happening in Erie media 50 years ago?
      • By 1959, the Erie Morning News had already replaced the Erie Dispatch Herald for a few years, while continuing the afternoon Erie Daily Times.
      • TV viewers had two analog channels to choose from:
        • WICU ch. 12 – Licensee: Dispatch Division of Air-Way Branches Inc.
        • WSEE ch. 35 – Licensee: Great Lakes Television Co.
        • Additional allocations were for channels 41 (educational) and 66
      • On the radio:
        • WERC 1260 & WERC-FM 99.9 – Licensee: Cleveland Broadcasting Co.
        • WICU 1330 – Licensee: Dispatch Division of Air-Way Branches Inc.
        • WOTR 1370 (Corry) – Licensee: Olivia T. Rennekamp
        • WJET 1400 – Licensee: Jet Broadcasting Co.
        • WLEU 1450 – Licensee: Radio Station WESB
      • As far as new media is concerned, Al Gore had not yet invented the internet, but a fortunate large company could have been leasing the IBM-1401 for about $2,500 a month, complete with 4,000 bits of memory. Would that even light up a LCD watch?
    • Clear Channel to layoff 1,500: Radio and outdoor giant Clear Channel will layoff about 7% of their 20,000 person workforce on Tuesday, according to reports by the Wall Street Journal. The radio strategy reportedly will be to replace local shows with nationally-syndicated programming, while the bulk of the layoffs will be in the sales staff, allowing top performers to maximize compensation.
    • Newspaper bankruptcies come to Twin Cities: There’s a trend here: a few years back, when credit was easy, a private equity firm conducts a leveraged buyout of major metro newspaper chain, even in a declining advertising climate. Fast forward to today: cost savings (read major layoffs) are offset by continued advertising weakness, and the media company overcome by debt tanks. On Thursday, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The number 19 newspaper in the US in circulation was purchased by Avista Capital Partners, a private equity group, who purchased the newspaper for $530 million in 2007.
    ]]>     http://www.pressandtower.com/2009/01/the-feed-for-weekend-of-january-17th-18th/feed/ 0     The Feed for Weekend of January 10th & 11th http://www.pressandtower.com/2009/01/the-feed-for-weekend-of-january-10th-11th/ http://www.pressandtower.com/2009/01/the-feed-for-weekend-of-january-10th-11th/#comments Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:03:56 +0000 joel http://www.pressandtower.com/?p=796 Editor’s note: Sound off, give a shout out on “Deep Background,” our totally-random open discussion of all things Erie media.

    • Just don’t call me a “Twit”: Fueled by comments by P&T regular Danny Lucas, the Erie blog community this week gained a new understanding and appreciation for the web app Twitter. ErieBlogs.com has begun an Erie Twitter directory, and even yours truly established a Twitter account. You can follow our blog posts and other news via Twitter @pressandtower.


    • Disney seeks FanBoys: The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that in February it will launch the Disney XD channel and accompanying website, targeted to an elusive demographic: 6-14 year-old boys. The channel is a rebranded version of Toon Disney; programming is expanding to include live-action shows, original movies, music and sports from sister-channel ESPN. The entertainment empire is trying to replicate the success they’ve seen with girls through their Hannah Montana and High School Musical franchises.
    • WQLN-DT reaching further: Little did officials at WQLN Public Broadcasting know what the station was in for in the aftermath of a windstorm that swept through the Erie area on September 15th. Wind damage to TV-54’s antenna system caused the station to go off the air totally for several days, and subsequently has been broadcasting from a temporary antenna in low-power, and only in a digital signal. In the past week, over the air viewers should have seen improvement in their signal as the station moved the temporary antenna to the top of their broadcast tower. Work continues on the transmission line and coupler which will allow the station to return to full digital power in the coming weeks.
    • Pandora thrives via iPhone: New Year’s greetings came this week from Pandora, the internet radio network that generates on-demand music streams based on your personal artist tastes. In an e-mail Pandora founder Tim announced that their application for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch was the top download of 2008 for the devices, with 2.6 million users getting the app. Pandora’s success in the portable music space comes in the wake of nearly going out of business due to the digital music copyright debate.
    • Finally, Jack is back!: One of the most-loved characters in all of network television survived last year’s writer’s strike. Jack Bauer, the driven yet tortured government agent played by Kieffer Sutherland on the series 24, will return to Fox Sunday night after a two-year break for Season 7. Can’t wait!
    ]]>     http://www.pressandtower.com/2009/01/the-feed-for-weekend-of-january-10th-11th/feed/ 1     The Feed for Weekend of January 3rd-4th http://www.pressandtower.com/2009/01/the-feed-for-weekend-of-january-3rd-4th/ http://www.pressandtower.com/2009/01/the-feed-for-weekend-of-january-3rd-4th/#comments Sat, 03 Jan 2009 16:07:20 +0000 joel http://www.pressandtower.com/?p=773 Editor’s note: Sound off, give a shout out on “Deep Background,” our totally-random open discussion of all things Erie media.

    • Surfing for faith: In Saturday’s Faith section of the Erie Times News, Dana Massing did a story on the various churches and religious groups using the internet to expand their ministries. She highlighted the work of Carol Jones Saint and “A Visit with the Joneses,” an inspirational music and devotional program that has been on the radio for over 60 years and for the past several available on the web through Salem’s OnePlace.com. Other websites noted included those from Garden Height Baptist Church, Kingsley Methodist’s MySpace page and site for the Islamic Association of Erie, and the Tibetan Buddhist Center.


    • Bailout for the press?: Some “see I told you so” to all those who thought my poll about newspapers receiving a bailout was, in Zoolander parlance, “whack”. Reuters reports Wednesday that an assemblyman in Connecticut is seeking state help for Journal Register, who publishes The Bristol Press and the New Britain Herald. Journal Register is overwhelmed by hundreds of millions of dollars of debt, and could close the papers in days. The piece articulates the now serious debate that weighs the independence of a free press versus the economic viability of maintaining that press.
    • Selling short: The new Verizon phone directory arrived over the weekend, and the Disc Jockeys section is full with quite a few expensive ads. What stuck out to me was an outfit called Funky Monkey Entertainment, offering weddings for under $300. You’d barely pay for your phone book ads at that level. Such pricing is sure to make pros like Joel Miller’s and John Gallagher’s eyes roll.
    • 20 years of Marketplace: one of the best shows in media about business is twenty yMarketplaceears old. Marketplace, heard on 91.3 WQLN weekdays at 6 PM, along with morning reports during AM drive, was first launched from LA in January 1989. Kai Ryssdal is the show’s fifth host, and the program has garnered many awards for its reporting, including a Peabody and a duPont-Columbia award. We need their coverage now more than ever.
    • Still waiting for JET HD on TWC: Cable viewers were disappointed that the Rose Bowl was not in High Def on Time Warner Cable on New Years Day. The latest that AVS Forum participants have heard from the company is that WJET HD will be added with the upgrade on January 9th. Folks with their new sets from Christmas are itching to get as much programming in HD as they can get their hands on.
    ]]>     http://www.pressandtower.com/2009/01/the-feed-for-weekend-of-january-3rd-4th/feed/ 0     The Feed for the Weekend of December 20th & 21st http://www.pressandtower.com/2008/12/the-feed-for-the-weekend-of-december-20th-21st/ http://www.pressandtower.com/2008/12/the-feed-for-the-weekend-of-december-20th-21st/#comments Sun, 21 Dec 2008 05:14:54 +0000 joel http://www.pressandtower.com/?p=737
  • Ms. Mengine goes to Washington: former broadcaster, marketing consultant, and Erie mayoral assistant Tina Mengine has been tapped as Chief of Staff for new Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper. I first met Tina some 20 years ago when she managed an area radio combo and I was selling TV campaigns for Film House. She has had a very strong career ever since, including performing duties as acting mayor in the waning months of the Fllippi administration, and setting Mrs. Dahlkemper on a course for victory in the 3rd Congressional District this fall. Tina will head Dahlkemper’s Washington office.


  • Last minute must-see Christmas TV specials: One of the annual conversations we have at Christmas time in our family is why, with 300 television channels, nobody plays the old Bing Crosby, Perry Como, and Andy Williams Christmas specials from the 60’s and 70’s? Rudolph and Charlie Brown get an annual nod, but not Bob Hope. Anyhow, here’s a few don’t miss Christmas specials airing in the next few days:
    • Sunday:
      • The Legend of Frosty the Snowman – 3:30 PM – Cartoon Network
      • Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas – 8:30 PM – Cartoon Network
    • Monday:
      • Greatest Holiday Moments: Hilarious Home Video Countdown – 8:00 PM – NBC
      • The Polar Express – 8:30 PM – ABC Family
    • Tuesday:
      • White Christmas – 6:00 & 9:00 PM – ABC Family
      • The 10th Annual A Home for the Holidays with Faith Hill – 8:00 PM – CBS
    • Wednesday:
      • The Bishop’s Wife – 6:00 PM – TCM
      • It’s a Wonderful Life – 8:00 PM – NBC
      • A Christmas Story – 8:00 & 10:00 PM – TBS
  • ETN buyouts beginning to impact: In a Good Morning column that ran on Thursday, news producer Jim Haynes announced his retirement as of January 2nd. The long-time veteran came to the Times News in 1990, marking 18 years last April. We will probably continue to get wind of those who accepted the buyouts announced in November. It was reported that the paper needed to cut 9% of its workforce going into the new year.
  • The Forbidden 10: if you do any writing of ads, whether for your business or a clients’, you’ll want to heed copywriter Susna Gunelius’s advice and avoid these ten words in your copy. Whether they trigger spam filters for your email, lack meaning, or slow down the reader, here what you don’t want to say: free, guarantee, really, very, that, a lot, opportunity, to be, synergy, and drinkability (sorry, Bud!).
  • The NFL on HDTV: just a week before the end of the regular season, and there are some games that really mean something to their fans. We at the P&T are glad to point you the way toward the full viewing experience on HD:
    • Sunday, 1 PM – Arizona @ New England- WFXP: DT 66.1/City 418/Suburbs 706
    • Sunday, 4 PM – Buffalo @ Denver – WSEE: DT 35.1/City 405/Suburbs 709
    • Sunday, 8:15 PM – Carolina @ NY Giants – WICU: City 412/Suburbs 712
    • Monday, 8:30 PM – Green Bay @ Chicago – ESPN: City 430/ Suburbs 772
    • ]]>     http://www.pressandtower.com/2008/12/the-feed-for-the-weekend-of-december-20th-21st/feed/ 8