Posts Tagged ‘WICU’

Top Erie media stories of 2009

January 1st, 2010 joel

Happy New Year and welcome to the “teens!”

As was the case with much of the last ten years, the decade ended last night with the media front and center of culture’s conversation. With top-talker Rush Limbaugh finally released from a Honolulu hospital, and Fox viewers in O&O markets thankful for a momentary reprieve from losing their football, media doings are never far from top-of-mind.

Here’s the top stories we were talking about in 2009, by month:

  • January: local TV stations and the Times-News cover the inauguration of President Barack Obama on January 20th
  • February: longtime Erie broadcaster and cancer machine inventor John Kanzius succumbs to cancer on February 18th
  • March: Nancy Dymond replaces David Calabrese as market manager of the Connoisseur Media radio cluster in Erie
  • April: a video capture of an apparently intoxicated off-duty Erie Police officer uploaded to YouTube created a local and national controversy about police relations with the minority community, and the new reality of social media
  • May: Lilly Broadcasting merged the newsrooms of WICU and WSEE, resulting in the elimination of about a dozen off-air and on-air jobs
  • June: WICU is the final TV station to switch off their analog transmitter and put Erie completely into the digital television age
  • Wards react to the reveal July: The seven day build of a home for Erie’s Clara Ward culminated in the July 2nd reveal of the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition house
  • August: Star 104/WRTS increased it’s dominance in Erie radio as the Spring 2009 Arbitron ratings were released
  • September: Former Erie Congressman Phil English began his high profile blog “Presque Isle to the Potomac” on GlobalErie.com
  • October: The Erie Times-News was named Newspaper of the Year by the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association
  • November: Erie’s most-visited media website, GoErie.com underwent a major redesign
  • December: The weekend of December 12th and 13th turned out to be one of national media attention on Erie, as Saturday Night Live mentioned the fictional “Erie Chamber of Commerce” as part of a PGA spoof over the Tiger Woods controversy, then a two-hour special episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition showcased the work of thousands of volunteers impacting an eastside Erie neighborhood.

Next week, we’ll talk with one of Erie’s top media watchers about the past year and what we might see in the new year. Stay tuned.

Posted in From The Editor Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

Three of Lilly’s ladies leave

December 29th, 2009 joel
Jacqueline Policastro

Jacqueline Policastro

It is contract time at the area’s two broadcast television companies. Not all of the talent you see is a-under contract, and b-up for renewal. However, this moment of decision-making has led to a significant change at one duopoly: Lilly Broadcasting.

The anchor of WSEE Newswatch at 6 & 11, Jacqueline Policastro has opted to leave Erie for a big-time market jump to anchor the morning news at WISH/Indianapolis. That’s a jump from DMA #146 to #25 for those keeping score at home. Although, she was offered a renewal and enjoyed her 18 months in Erie, Jacqueline says that she is excited at the new opportunities to help WISH continue their “multi-platform” initiatives.

“I will be working with the news director to help direct the newsroom switch to ‘multi-platform’”, Jacqueline said to P&T. “They have already done quite a good job, with Blackberry and iPhone apps, etc… but it will be exciting to help move that forward even more.”

Perhaps the biggest highlight of Jacqueline’s tenure here at WSEE was her regular “one-man-band” reporting from Washington, and the national political conventions for all of the Lilly stations, bringing the national stories home and relevant to Erie viewers.

(more…)

Posted in Television Tags: , , , , , , , 6 Comments »

Poll: Who will survive until 2020?

December 28th, 2009 joel

P&T readers tend to have a love/hate relationship with radio stations that offer the all-Christmas formats during the holidays. In our poll, the same percentage said that they were more likely as said “less likely” to go to a “Holly, Jolly”-formatted station.

As I said yesterday, the “aughts” has been a tumultuous decade for media, even locally. Remember it was nearly  ten years ago when Myron Jones sold Jet-FM and Froggy to Next Media, ending local control. And then we truly became a one-newspaper-town in September 2000, as the long and painful process of merging the Morning News and Erie Daily Times came to fruition. Of course, P&T has covered extensively the merger of the WICU and WSEE newsrooms this past June.

Even with all that change, we have not seen a media outlet go dark since the Daily Times stopped landing on our stoop in the afternoon sun. Since World War II, that’s the only major media stream to stop cold: every licensed radio and television station continues to operate with FCC authority, and the Times Publishing  Co. still delivers seven days a week.

So my question to you is, will that be the case in the next ten years? Will we actually lose media streams, or will they morph to an online presence and dump their transmitters or presses? Honestly, the question makes me shiver, but it is worth the ask.

On a scale from 1 to 5, will the current traditional Erie media streams (newspaper, TV, radio) exist in ten years?

  • 2 - It's not likely (49%, 21 Votes)
  • 4 - I think so (19%, 8 Votes)
  • 1 - Not a chance (16%, 7 Votes)
  • 3 - I'm not sure (12%, 5 Votes)
  • 5 - Absolutely (4%, 2 Votes)

Total Voters: 43

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Posted in Polls Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment »

WICU wants your memories for anniversary show on Dec. 26th

December 16th, 2009 joel

The nostalgic among us media types are getting excited for the WICU 60th Anniversary show, which is scheduled for Saturday, December 26th at 7:00 PM.

Another pic from the WICU12 archives. Tune in to the WICU 60t... on Twitpic

WICU Weekends: 1983

There are lots of different reasons why a show like this might be highly anticipated, so I’ll share mine: the people…like this crew.

From left, Harry Hairston, Evan Lovett, Steve Bohen, and Paul Wagner. This was the exact weekend team when I was interning at Ch. 12 in the Fall  of 1983. Each Saturday and Sunday I wrote news copy, and checked the wire and went out on stories with the camera crews and fully caught the broadcasting bug.

WICU and NBC were unstoppable back then, with the network exchanging its former dismal ratings performance for nights full of Must-See TV, especially Thursdays with Cosby, Family Ties, Cheers, Night Court, and Hill Street Blues the year after graduation. Meanwhile, Ch. 12 being the only VHF as well as the oldest  television station in the market began the 1980’s with same strength and power as it did in the 1970’s, 60’s, and 50’s.

Things began to tighten up ratings wise as the 1980’s continued and personnel changes ensued with the eventual toppling of the 12 empire from its #1 perch by WJET.

No matter what, however, they’ve always had great people and the station will celebrate their contributions for the anniversary celebration. Get some previews of the show by clicking on my original 60th anniversary post. Great pictures like the one above are available on WICU’s TwitPic feed.

The station wants to hear from you, so they’ve  set up a new blog to take your “I Remember” comments. Go to: wicu12.wordpress.com where you will also see more nostalgia.

Posted in Television Tags: , , , , , , , 16 Comments »

Raychel Vendetti returns to Erie TV

December 9th, 2009 joel
Raychel Vendetti

Raychel Vendetti

Just in time for holiday vacation relief comes news of the return to Erie television of former WSEE morning anchor/producer Raychel Vendetti. You’ll remember that Raychel along with Jennifer Mobilia was a causality on the on-air talent side of the merger of the Lilly Broadcasting newsrooms of WSEE and WICU back in June 2009.

This time, Raychel will have to take the long route up Peach Street to the studios of WJET/WFXP, where she says she’ll be “very part-time.”

The truth is I was contacted by Lou Baxter and asked if I would be interested in joining their crew as a part time reporter. Its on a very occasional basis – like Brian Sheridan. I have agreed and will work when they need me. I am excited to be back in the industry part time while I continue to develop the media production company my partner and I started after WSEE’s layoff.

That new venture, the LINEAR_ production house seems to be keeping her busy, but it will be great to see the spunky McDowell and Penn State-Behrend grad back on the beat in this town that she so loves.

Posted in Television Tags: , , , , , , , , , , 11 Comments »

County Executive debate tonight on WICU, tomorrow on WQLN

October 28th, 2009 joel

Arguably the most important elected post in our region is Erie County Executive. It is also very rare that two newcomers to politics are the choices for you for such a high office when you go to the ballot machines on Tuesday.

Tonight on WICU-12.1 a debate will be aired at 7:00 PM between Democrat Barry Grossman and Republican Mike Kerner. If you can’t watch tonight, catch the two-some on WQLN-54 Thursday night also at 7:00 PM.

Thanks to Chs.12 & 54 and the rest of the media for this important opportunity to evaluate who best will lead our region into the challenging future that lies ahead.

Posted in Television Tags: , , , , 1 Comment »

Celebrating WICU’s 60 years

September 30th, 2009 joel

On March 15, 1949 the new medium of television came to Erie, Pennsylvania when station WICU signed on channel 12.

Now the stations is celebrating 60 years of broadcasting with commemorative promos leading up to a 60th anniversary show in December. Meanwhile all of us here at P&T get to enjoy the look back.

Promos courtesy of WICU 12:

Promo #1:

http://www.pressandtower.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/WICU-60th-Anniversary-1.flv

(more…)

Posted in Television Tags: 18 Comments »
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