MDA Telethon getting cut down to six hours

[nathannah]

Apparently they wanted to get it cleared as much as they could and want everyone to air the full six hours.

I look at this somewhat in positive terms; it'll be alot better for stations because they no longer have to devote time and costs to a 23 hour event, and they can spread out their MDA efforts throughout the year much more than in one Labor Day weekend cluster-you-know-what. And you know both the US Tennis Association and the people behind the PGA FedEx Cup (CBS & NBC also) are relieved that they no longer have to be pushed off to RTV or the cheapo indie because of the telethon, the FedEx Cup especially, which I feel is the most inane 'playoff' system besides NASCAR. There may also be an opening to get some syndicated programs to open their seasons on Labor Day now on a day when the day off means programs will get a viewing by the widest audience possible for a preview tune-in.

On the other hand, it's beginning to look like the end of an era. Telethons are going, soap operas are almost down and out, and now syndicated product lasts a few years at most? I wonder how long this will last in the prime-time extravaganza form, and if they can bump over the D-list for talent gets for the first time in years.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

As I noted in the telethon thread for this year, the show was already getting pushed around in some markets. In Wheeling WV, it is now on the Fox-affiliated subchannel of its long-time home, CBS affiliate WTRF/7 ("Fox Ohio Valley"). The main CBS channel was carrying tennis, IIRC.

This may be the biggest signal yet that the telethon will die when Jerry does, even in this abbreviated form. Expect them to push the Internet a lot more, too.

 

[charlestondxman]

It was getting pushed around a lot in many markets. Charleston is one of the few markets that aired the entire telethon. They make a whole lot of money doing it, and they would move all of their programming off for that whole time.

 

[radiolives]

It was getting pushed around a lot in many markets. Charleston is one of the few markets that aired the entire telethon. They make a whole lot of money doing it, and they would move all of their programming off for that whole time.

Who does air it in Charleston? Isn't it WCSC Live 5 News.

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

From the blog article, it appears that the new six-hour telethon format will run from 6PM-midnight local time (I presume Sunday night of Labor Day weekend). Am I understanding that correctly? And a few other unanswered questions: What about those "Love Network" affiliates that would rather air their respective network's Sunday evening reruns--will there be stations still delaying the six-hour coverage to during the day on Labor Day? Also, what about the local coverage, will there still be some stations adding extra hours of their own local coverage to the six-hour national broadcast?

 

[DToTheJ]

So it has come to this. The MDA telethon has been reduced to a shadow of the Children's Miracle Network telethon... which I believe also runs for six hours once a year...

 

[Mario500]

Apparently they wanted to get it cleared as much as they could and want everyone to air the full six hours.

I look at this somewhat in positive terms; it'll be alot better for stations because they no longer have to devote time and costs to a 23 hour event, and they can spread out their MDA efforts throughout the year much more than in one Labor Day weekend cluster-you-know-what. And you know both the US Tennis Association and the people behind the PGA FedEx Cup (CBS & NBC also) are relieved that they no longer have to be pushed off to RTV or the cheapo indie because of the telethon, the FedEx Cup especially, which I feel is the most inane 'playoff' system besides NASCAR. There may also be an opening to get some syndicated programs to open their seasons on Labor Day now on a day when the day off means programs will get a viewing by the widest audience possible for a preview tune-in.

On the other hand, it's beginning to look like the end of an era. Telethons are going, soap operas are almost down and out, and now syndicated product lasts a few years at most? I wonder how long this will last in the prime-time extravaganza form, and if they can bump over the D-list for talent gets for the first time in years.

You really could have posted this message without the temptation to begin with the word "apparently", which I have grown very tired of seeing and hearing, especially in broadcast news reporting when it is used to express personal feelings toward what may not be true. I do not know what you mean by "cluster-you-know-what", but it reminds me of an unpleasant speech enhancer. Why not use "cluster" alone or the more common phrase "cluster bomb" instead?"

 

[Mario500]

Apparently they wanted to get it cleared as much as they could and want everyone to air the full six hours.

I look at this somewhat in positive terms; it'll be alot better for stations because they no longer have to devote time and costs to a 23 hour event, and they can spread out their MDA efforts throughout the year much more than in one Labor Day weekend cluster-you-know-what.

You really could have posted this message without the temptation to begin with the word "apparently", which I have grown very tired of seeing and hearing, especially in broadcast news reporting when it is used to express personal feelings toward what may not be true. I do not know what you mean by "cluster-you-know-what", but it reminds me of an unpleasant speech enhancer. Why not just use "cluster" alone or the more common phrase "cluster bomb?"

 

[Prais]

I look at this somewhat in positive terms; it'll be alot better for stations because they no longer have to devote time and costs to a 23 hour event///
___________
What costs?? NO station "donates" their time.

They ALL get paid for it. They can probably write it off, somehow. Believe me, The TRIBUNE COMPANY NEVER GIVES ANYTHING AWAY. MDA CERTAINLY PAYS for WGN.

Jerry is not a good host any more. Hasn't been for many years.

His whale sized EGO, his bitter anger to crew members, flippant remarks, and creeping alzheimer's have each taken their toll.as as has their inability to attract name talent.

Nothing against the mda, (THEY need a cure) but ridding themselves of Jerry -as well as their "c" list "stars" and Idol runners-up could do nothing but HELP.

I CAN'T WAIT for the book about this 40 year fiasco - after Jerry is gone.

Long life, Jerry.

 

[DToTheJ]

Apparently...

You really could have posted this message without the temptation to begin with the word "apparently", which I have grown very tired of seeing and hearing...
[/quote]

Then I deserve partial blame... apparently, I've thrown that word around in my posts very often...

 

[tothedj]

A lot could happen over the next year, if Jerry Lewis continues to face "health-related" issues, a time is going to
come when he may have to name a replacement as host, but if he doesn't, the "Labor Day" telethon may not
survive after 2011, in addition, how many "Love Network" stations will drop the MDA event after this year?, i'm
sure "WGN America" will continue as the cable outlet for areas like where i live that don't carry it locallly, but
one thing MDA should consider is letting the stations air it either the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend from 6pm
until 12 Midnight, or during Labor Day Monday depending on stations who are network affiliates, and with sports
coverage top priority on CBS with the U.S Open Tennis Tournament, if they have a sister station hooked up with
Fox, which has no daytime programs, the event could air there, it will be interesting to see how this turns out.

 

[azumanga]

The first scare came around 1982, when Jerry suffered from a heart attack that almost killed him. Of course, back then, there was alot more nameworthy talent that could host the telethon. Today, with Jerry in his old age and still suffering from health problems, and with Jerry practically the only big name left on the show, the telethon itself is struggling for survival. If the six-hour version doesn't work and/or Jerry kicks it. the MDA may end up just settling for buying 30-second ads to raise money, just like what the American Cancer Society is doing. (Yes, the MDA has PSAs of their own, but available time for them is few and far between.)

As for the 6PM to Midnight time slot, that also seems awkward -- while this may be okay for the western time zones, it may still interfere with sports in the early evening hours. Also, some stations may be unwilling to let go of their 6PM and 11PM newscasts, even if it meant delaying the 11PM report an hour.

The classic telethon hour is outmoded, as well as the usage of local stations. The new telethon model is an improvement, but if I ran the MDA, I would find a national cable channel to broadcast the big show, and work with the local stations to do something else to support the MDA -- this way, it'll not only be more flexible, it would also save more money (as mentioned before, the MDA buys time on each Love Network affiliate).

 

[nathannah]

You really could have posted this message without the temptation to begin with the word "apparently", which I have grown very tired of seeing and hearing, especially in broadcast news reporting when it is used to express personal feelings toward what may not be true. I do not know what you mean by "cluster-you-know-what", but it reminds me of an unpleasant speech enhancer. Why not use "cluster" alone or the more common phrase "cluster bomb" instead?"

The only thing I was intending to do is summarize the article in a sentence, and if it came off as annoying, I apologize. I also try to use profanity as rarely as I can, thus the odd wording there, although I felt it was a perfect description because they had to get all of this work done with multiple guests, hosts, call takers and behind the scenes people in all of these markets. In this age in local TV news production where all camera control is done from hundreds of miles away via a joystick and there are times you have as little as two people on a set, to do TV old-school with multiple cameras, staff and in a large room accommodating near 50 people (not to mention with very little use of a teleprompter) is a lost art.

What costs?? NO station "donates" their time.

They ALL get paid for it. They can probably write it off, somehow. Believe me, The TRIBUNE COMPANY NEVER GIVES ANYTHING AWAY. MDA CERTAINLY PAYS for WGN.

They might get paid, but in many markets there are other costs such as catering to keep the phone bank happy, renting a large facility to shoot the local segments, overtime and the like, maintaining the creaky old tote boards and such. It's not all being paid by MDA; there are costs that they just have to bankroll themselves, not to mention that they also stunt their advertising for a certain period of time in lieu of a charity effort.

 

[Prais]

"Not all being paid by mda."
___________________
Thats right. Many stations BARTER (trade food for advertising) the catering, get Pepsi or Coke to bring free product and food, etc. Cash is not used by the tv station unless it HAS to be.

"stunt their advertising" is not a problem in a 24 hour broadcast environment. They do that sort of thing quite regularly. There are regularly "make goods" forr MANY reasons.

These folks have had 40 years to figure this out. I'm ammazed at people who THINK the tv stations GIVE away the time. TV makes MONEY selling time. It's a BUSINESS. Lots of the corporations that GIVE to mda, also support the telethon by donating for the local tvv effort.

I can assure you, it is NOT given away.

 

[DToTheJ]

As for the 6PM to Midnight time slot, that also seems awkward... some stations may be unwilling to let go of their 6PM and 11PM newscasts, even if it meant delaying the 11PM report an hour...

LN affiliates with a highly-rated newscast will frown upon the new format immediately, and probably pass on it. It's one thing when you start it in the middle of the evening, but to have the new reformatted time take up two newscast times, forgive me, but that's just hubris. I realize MDA is trying to come up with a new format, but I don't think many stations will bite on this one, but that's just me.

 

[Prais]

What "big news" is around on Labor Day, a traditionally slow news day?

Lots of stations already forgo the local news on that holiday, anyway. Also, it is extra revenue.

 

[Mark Giardina]

The advent of cable television, along with Jerry Lewis' advancing age, I believe are some reasons for the decline of viewers to the MDA telethon.

Six hours would make more sense versus a 24 hour event.

Besides when Mr. Lewis finally meets his maker, I highly doubt the MDA telethon will continue.

 

[Prais]

After Jerry departs, I bet they have one more BIG telethon, with "best of" stuff.

The sympathy could be turned into a great money bonanza.

40 x 5 minutes for (all of the renditions of) "Smile" at the end. A 200 minute closing. Powerful. (HA!)

 

[azumanga]

What "big news" is around on Labor Day, a traditionally slow news day?

Some stations delay the start of the telethon until after the 11PM or 10PM news, while some don't start until after the morning news on Labor Day (such as WFTS in Tampa Bay, which waits until 9AM, after GMA is over). Some stations end the show at 6PM, just in time for the evening newscast (WFTS again).

News is a cash cow, and there are some stations that want to keep it holy, holiday or not.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

A lot of smaller markets aren't doing Sunday night news at all.