RI Media Buzz: Bra Beats News, Pro-Jo & PRO Battle, New Look for 10 and more!
Friday, March 18, 2011
Channel 6 subs news for Bra’s. How’s that for a headline. Kidding aside, Channel 6, which is up for sale (more on that in a minute) like other stations here in Providence taps into paid programming from time to time. Why? Well, it generates easy money for stations which are in business to make money – or at least that’s the idea. This week, Channel 6 aired an infomercial during the 7pm news slot for the Genie Bra that according to a phone rep at the bra company I talked to, “really helps and supports women where they need it”. So the question GoLocal put to Steve Doerr, Vice President & General Manager, was is the 7pm news gone for good? The answer is no. “Recently, there has been increased demand from paid programmers. Depending on day and date, they offer us substantially more than we would make in the 7pm news. Considering we do news from 5 to 8am, at noon, from 4 to 5pm, at 6pm, sometimes on RINC at 10pm and 7 days a week at 11pm, we serve news viewers more often and with a better quality product than any of our competitors” said Doerr. When the station can sell the half-hour slot to generate money it will and it happened to be a female product that raised some eyebrows. As Doerr, put it, “we’ve been doing it for months, every station in the country does paid, and nobody said a word when St. Jude Children’s Hospital was the buyer”.
Sale this Week
The sale of Channel 6 is still on tap for next week. Tuesday, March 22nd is the big day. Barring an unlikely extension by the court, people still wanting to buy the station put in their new number to the court and the highest bidder gets it. Word is former Mayor Joe Paolino and a group of unnamed investors are still making a play for the station. Citadel Communications Co., of Bronxville, N.Y. at last report was the highest bidder.
New Set
Channel 10 going through a make-over of sorts. Next time you watch the mighty “dime” look at the camera angles and also the background closely. Tell tale signs that a new set or look is going on behind the scenes. GoLocal spoke with Lisa Churchville, President and General Manager of WJAR and she confirmed the set is “under construction” and she hopes the new look will be ready by the May ratings period. It’s not clear if this also means a new “news open”, graphics and music for the market’s news leader. Stay tuned as they say.
Pro's Kerr and DePetro
12 Settles with the DISH
Channel 12 settles its battle with DISH network. The fight centered around how much 12 is paid by DISH. Programming was affected for a few days but it’s all set now that the two sides have kissed and made up. Also, LIN TV which owns 12, reported its revenue for 2010. Net revenues increased by 24% to $420.0 million, compared to $339.5 million in 2009.
Where's Disney
A GoLocal reader pointed out to me how long it’s taken Salem Broadcasting to flip the switch on its new business station on 550am – which you may know used to be the old Radio Disney. Calls to Salem about their plans were not returned.
NYT, Dallas, Projo?
New York Times goes to the dark side. The paper has announced that on March 28th, The Times we will start charging people for digital content. On NYtimes.com, you will be able to read 20 articles each month at no charge. After 20 articles, you will be asked to become a “digital subscriber” meaning “pay-up” for content. Charges will range from $15 to $35 per month. This is important to note because there has been a lot of talk centered around when The Providence Journal may adopt a pay wall program like it’s sister paper did recently at The Dallas Morning News.
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