WBTV quality etc.

[jtudor]

I know this is not really radio related, but I suspect most of us here either have some knowledge of TV or an interest in it, and since there is not a TV board for the market I hope mobody will mind this posting here.

I got very aggravated at WBTV this morning for interrupting the CBS Sunday Morning news with commercial breaks TWICE. I tried to call the switchboard to ask them to go wake up the control operator, and I only got into Voice Mail Jail. As a result of that I sent them an email about this, then added a question on another topic and a complaint about a third topic.

Here is the email I sent:

Would somebody please wake up the operators in the control room this morning?

Twice during the CBS Sunday news, someone pushed the wrong button, or a computer malfunctioned, starting commercials in the middle of the program. Not just once, but twice during the first hour. Not only was the program interrupted for a commercial, but it was a full commercial break. Did the person in the control room not realize they had made a mistake and go back to the program? at least 2 minutes worth of program material was missed each time this happened. I have a DVR recording of this that I am saving for my son to see a couple of the stories when he is next home from college. I can provide a VHS copy if you would like it.

Thankfully I also have WSPA-TV on my cable system, and I was able to switch there during the mistakes, however they are not in HD on my system so I switched back to WBTV only to have the same thing happen again later.

This is sloppy and totally unprofessional, not what I have always expected from WBTV.

Where has the professionalism and pride in a job well done gone from what used to be the Premier Broadcaster in North Carolina? I am a former broadcaster, and on the air un professionalism is one of my top pet peeves.

I have seen more and more of this type of mistake on the station recently, like management does not care any more as long as the bills are paid, and the company makes a profit.

I realize that WBTV is on the block for sale by Lincoln Financial, but this is no reason to neglect professionalism or your viewers.

I would also like to know what are the plans for WBTV to start transmitting your local news in HD? WSOC-TV has already started this, something that would not have happened years ago when WBTV was the pioneer for EVERY innovation that came along in television in the Carolinas.

One more thing that has been bugging me for a long time, would someone please tell Lenise Ligon that the word describing a persons age is OLD, and contains an "L". The word is not ODE, however that is how she ALWAYS pronounces it. Correct enunciation and pronunciation is another of my pet peeves, and it really bothers me to see an anchor at a station with the reputation of WBTV to continually do this.

Thanks for reading this and for your responses.

Any comments of information would be appreciated.

I am very disappointed in where WBTV has gone these days in regard to quality on the air, and even selection of anchors, and also in letting other stations get ahead of them techincally. I remember that WBTV was always first with new technical innovations throughout most of thier history.

My guess on the HD is that LFM is not interested in spending any money on technical improvements, since they are selling the station off anyway, and that local news in HD will happen after the new owner takes over.

 

[uppendowndadial]

One more thing that has been bugging me for a long time, would someone please tell Lenise Ligon that the word describing a persons age is OLD, and contains an "L". The word is not ODE, however that is how she ALWAYS pronounces it. Correct enunciation and pronunciation is another of my pet peeves

Me too. That really grates on me, but more and more broadcasters, and people in general are starting to "swallow their L's" We're becoming a nation of Elmer Fudds

 

[jtudor]

Just as an FYI, its been almost two weeks and no reply to my email to WBTV.

Does anyone here have any email addresses for any management folks at WBTV?

Thanks

 

[jtudor]

Nearly a year later and no response to my emails.

There are still no email addresses on the WBTV Website, but since they have started doing editorials again I now know the name of the general manager and I tested [email protected] to see it that might be his address. He responded within an hour so I plan to write back and see what he has to say about some of these issues.

As we all know, Linise is not an issue any longer and the Early news is so much better with Barbara Pinson.

 

[eacalhoun1]

Why does WBTV insist on calling its web page a web channel? That's one of my WBTV pet peeves; Paul Cameron is another--sorry, Paul. I watch very little WBTV news, but I like their weather forecasts the best. So, I typically watch WSOC for news and WBTV's weather. For something different, I watch Fox18. Sometimes, different is good!!

Eric

 

[jtudor]

Why does WBTV insist on calling its web page a web channel? That's one of my WBTV pet peeves; Paul Cameron is another--sorry, Paul. I watch very little WBTV news, but I like their weather forecasts the best. So, I typically watch WSOC for news and WBTV's weather. For something different, I watch Fox18. Sometimes, different is good!!

Eric

Eric,
I think that is something a lot of TV stations have gotten in the habit of doing lately. I don't care for it very much either but I see where they are coming from, you can do this on the TV channel and you can to that on the Web channel. Again just different I guess

I still watch WBTV news, even though there is no HD and the quality has gone down, I keep hoping things will change. I never have liked WSOC much except for Harold Johnson and Lori Arrington when they were both there. I also watch WCNC a lot, I can't take Fox18 news. last time I watched that dang sounder between every story drove me away fast.

 

[yugoidar]

I agree JTudor, WBTV has some problems particularly with their audio.  It seems to wander all over the place during their 5-6:30 PM newsblock each afternoon.

Levels vary from one source to the next.  You have to sit with the remote in your hand to constantly adjust the
levels on your television.  Tonight, I saw three Lake Norman Toyota spots where the audio was barely audible
compared to what ran adjacent on each side of those commercials.  I hope someone from the dealership was watching because they certainly are owed some make-goods.

What's the problem WBTV techs?

 

[jtudor]

The email address I tried is good, and I got a prompt reply. I also got a very prompt reply to my questions.

It appears at least on the surface that Mr. Simonette is very sincere about bringing WBTV back to its former status as the premiere broadcaster in the area. I realize it will not be an overnight affair, and will take time and money but it seems that is his intent and is also Raycom's.

HD Local news is slated to debut in September, but he did not give an exact date.

He also said he is open to comments both good and bad.

I emailed again today asking for an engineering email contact. I got another prompt response and one from the operations director as well, inviting me to call him to discuss the HD problem I am having with Direct TV.

Sounds promising.

 

[newsguync]

And yet, with all that...the facts remain:

1. WBTV is second in Charlotte TV news, ahead of WCNC-TV and behind....well....the king daddy WSOC-TV.....and Fox 18??? Do they even have news???

2. With all of its rich history, younger families are getting their news from the Internet, which is why all TV stations -- and newspapers -- are making the push to the Web.

3. Even with all of it's technical improvements, WSOC-TV was the second station (behind WRAL) in broadcasting in high def.....