Re: WCSH-how do they do it???No MAB awards
> At the M.A.B. annual awards,according to the Maine Sunday
> Telegram channel 6 WCSH didn't get a single award.
>
I think what you're referring to here is last month's Maine Associated Press Broadcasters Association awards. WCSH hasn't entered that contest for years. They don't have to. They've already clinched The Big Prize: They're number one. And don't think there isn't a news manager in the market who would like to follow their lead and stop entering local contests. The production of entries is needlessly time-consuming, not to mention a drain on the budget.
A couple of points in response to OPW's original post: First, I don't think WCSH has such a huge news staff compared to 8 and 13. I've done analyses in the past, and the numbers were comparable. Though we've seen plenty of folks flee Sinclair, we've seen additional hires at Hearst-Argyle. My sense is that the staff sizes are still comparable.
Tons of local programming? Hmm. Six does two hours in the morning, as does 13; starting Monday, so will 8. All do noon shows Monday to Friday. Six and 13 do 90 minutes on weeknights starting at 5; 8 is locked into the Dr. Phil circus from 5 to 6. Six is alone in producing a weekend noon show and "Bill Green's Maine." It's my understanding that Gannett requires all local affiliates to produce a "207" type product, so presumeably CSH gets adequate funding for it. But in terms of straight-up news, the only advantage that 6 has is the weekend noon show. Granted, though they're quite soft, "BGM" and "207" do keep the peacock flag flying.
Pathetically low-budget? I think "pathetically" is a bit strong. Thirteen -- despite Sinclair's all-out attempts to drive down the station's ratings -- still sends reporters to cover the big story, wherever it may be. And 8 had sports reporters flying all over the place for pro-football last fall. The big question is how 6's ad rates compare to the competition's, and while that may seem obvious based on ratings, my understanding is that CSH doesn't "lead the market" by driving ad rates as high as it could.
So where does 6 have the big advantages? First, in breadth. Unlike its competitors, it is truly a statewide station, with a second newsroom in Bangor. That enables it to get pictures quickly when its competitors have to wait or forego them. Second, it has a well-established anchor team that has been in place for more than a decade. GME has anchors who've been on the bench for a long time, but they're not all equally popular. As for MTW, it's been musical chairs, and that's hurt that station. Third, CSH has a far superior promotions department and always has. The station is also willing to give up the inventory to air those promotions. (And inventory is a big issue these days. Am I the only who noticed how little coverage GME gave to the base closure announcement during morning programming? Could it be that Sinclair didn't want to give up the inventory for the biggest news story of the year?) And finally, you can't beat the power of the incumbent. CSH is no lame duck.
Finally, OPW asks when 8 and 13 will up the ante -- and when the bottom will fall out for CSH. I agree with the writer who said 13 will never up the ante as long as they're owned by Sinclair, and that's a shame: They could be a strong contender for No. 1 if Sinclair would let them do what they do so well. (On the other hand, take a look at Sinclair's stock price and tell me you don't believe the rumors that GME is for sale. Now that could really shake up the market.) I think 8 will rev up slowly. It could take a decade or more to turn that situation around. Hearst-Argyle's got deep pockets.
So, Old Port Wino, I pass the brown paper bag back to you. Budgets aside, what do you think 8 and 13 do well? Where, if anywhere, is CSH vulnerable?
And does anyone think there's anything to these rumors of Fox 23 starting up a news operation in the Port City?
Cheers.
