WSAH To Become (Nothing) Affiliate October 1!

[RonTheEngineer]

Oh come on Ron, you have a powerful television station. If it's all about money, there has to be even more potential. I know your a tech guy but you have to sense that there's a better way to program the station.

We have a working revenue stream... it IS all about money, its a business like any other. We are not in the business of entertaining you, NO television station is. We are in the business to make money and your amusement is incidental. Sorry if that's rough, but that's the truth. When I started in this business I was shocked by the attitude that the shows were the stuff you put between ads.

Currently there is no better way to program the station. You get what you pay for is as good an adage as any. There are many many sources of free TV. RTV and MyFamilyTV are the top ones. There's plenty of stuff out there, but... you need to fill it with short form advertising. My sending you your old episodes of Knight Rider and Quincy doesn't bring any money in the door, it COSTS money.

Watch almost any major cable network, Spike, SyFy, History, etc... you will see they play PIs and PSAs more than actual paid spots (generally if it has an 800 number its a PI). The economy just isn't there right now. We also have a tough time because we are neither NYC market nor Hartford/New Haven. Advertisers are not interested if we aren't on Time/Warner Manhattan and Cablevision LI. The infomercial people are KILLING to get on WSAH though, because they cant touch WCBS, WNBC, etc...

 

[luperm]

We have a working revenue stream... it IS all about money, its a business like any other. We are not in the business of entertaining you, NO television station is. We are in the business to make money and your amusement is incidental. Sorry if that's rough, but that's the truth. When I started in this business I was shocked by the attitude that the shows were the stuff you put between ads.

I think that pretty much sums it up. Well said.

 

[Whale]

I understand that and you put it clearly and well. Maybe TV has exhausted all ideas and if you're not affiliated the next best thing is to run ads. But it's just hard to believe nobody can succeed with an independent station with actual programming in Fairfield County. I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying I like to believe there is a way to do something more (and make more money doing it).

Oh come on Ron, you have a powerful television station. If it's all about money, there has to be even more potential. I know your a tech guy but you have to sense that there's a better way to program the station.

We have a working revenue stream... it IS all about money, its a business like any other. We are not in the business of entertaining you, NO television station is. We are in the business to make money and your amusement is incidental. Sorry if that's rough, but that's the truth. When I started in this business I was shocked by the attitude that the shows were the stuff you put between ads.

Currently there is no better way to program the station. You get what you pay for is as good an adage as any. There are many many sources of free TV. RTV and MyFamilyTV are the top ones. There's plenty of stuff out there, but... you need to fill it with short form advertising. My sending you your old episodes of Knight Rider and Quincy doesn't bring any money in the door, it COSTS money.

Watch almost any major cable network, Spike, SyFy, History, etc... you will see they play PIs and PSAs more than actual paid spots (generally if it has an 800 number its a PI). The economy just isn't there right now. We also have a tough time because we are neither NYC market nor Hartford/New Haven. Advertisers are not interested if we aren't on Time/Warner Manhattan and Cablevision LI. The infomercial people are KILLING to get on WSAH though, because they cant touch WCBS, WNBC, etc...

 

[ansky212]

I understand that and you put it clearly and well. Maybe TV has exhausted all ideas and if you're not affiliated the next best thing is to run ads. But it's just hard to believe nobody can succeed with an independent station with actual programming in Fairfield County. I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying I like to believe there is a way to do something more (and make more money doing it).

I agree that WSAH has much more potential than what is currently being utilized. We're talking about the #1 TV market in the country, and one of the wealthiest counties (Fairfield) in the entire country.
Look at WLNY-55 for comparison. Geographically and demographically WSAH and WLNY are very similar, being on the fringe of NYC. WLNY is a station that airs syndicated tv shows and movies, and even has their own local newscast geared towards Long Island. The station has been on the air in their current format for a very long time so they are obviously doing well. I know it would be a big investment, and maybe the economy at this moment is not right, but why couldn't WSAH do something similar, and perhaps even have a local Fairfield County newscast?

 

[RonTheEngineer]

I understand that and you put it clearly and well. Maybe TV has exhausted all ideas and if you're not affiliated the next best thing is to run ads. But it's just hard to believe nobody can succeed with an independent station with actual programming in Fairfield County. I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying I like to believe there is a way to do something more (and make more money doing it).

You are thinking of the 80s, when WTXX, WTWS and even WHCT were in their heyday. They were the only game in town for off network programming. There were only 30 something cable channels, and most of them were occupied with local stations, community and government access and the big cable networks. So there was a place to air second run movies, yet-another local newscast, interesting programs like "Ask The Manager" and Ranger Station and there was a captive audience. WLNY still exists because they have their foot in the door, but believe me they arent doing THAT well.

Now there are well over 500 cable channels, with specialty programming for whatever your taste. Take WTXX's programming just before the sale to Counterpoint. 2nd and 3rd run movies? I can go to Spike, TBS, TNT, Bravo, AMC, TCM for that. Yet another newscast? RNN, NECN, Headline News. Kids shows? Noggin, Cartoon, TLC, the Nick multiplex. On and on it goes.

Then there is a HUGE startup cost. I would guess, total stab in the dark, we would need a few million $, cash. A news set alone would be $100K, the equipment another $250-500K, the talent and crew, another $250-500K. Then the programming doesnt come free. All the good stuff for the next year or two is already sold and I have really no clue how much it costs, I never worked on the programming side. I attempted to find kid's programming for our SF station, and got EXTREMELY lucky that MyFamilyTV had a package of PBS throwaways for cheap and quickly. Then a salesperson would cost $75K/year per person. Then we need the staff to run it, equipment outlay, real estate and taxes, all the way down to the guy who sweeps the floor (it would need it daily, not bi-monthly as it does now).

Even when we had a "sugar daddy", Scripps, that -never- crossed their minds. The carriage of Shop At Home guaranteed must carry on many cable networks, then later when JTV bought it, we were still cash flow positive brokering the time back to them.

 

[dx1ng]

By the way, with our local channel 42 analog translator off the air all afternoon and eveing Sunday, I was picking up WSAH just fine, info-mercials and all, here in Poughkeepsie. That's probably not surprising, but what puzzles me is that WEDW-49 also from Bridgeport has NEVER made it here, and WCTX (kind of in the same neighborhood) on channel 39 once in while just barely decodes with the call letter etc, but I have not yet had a fully decoded picture. All this with with a roof top antenna. I am curious how the three signals (39,42, 49) compare in various parts of Connecticut / Long Island.

Incidently WSAH (at 48 miles) is the closest TV station to me other than two local DTV's and the analog translator. It seems a bit odd that our local translator would be on the same channel as the closest out-of-town DTV station.

 

[KML0224]

Here in New Britain, CT, I only got WTBY-TV (TBN) channel 54 analog of Poughkeepsie once. WLNY-TV (IND) channel 55 of Riverhead was very weak almost every night. As for digital, I get nothing from New York City or Long Island. WCTX-DT (MY) of New Haven is in at all times. Only on one night did I get enough of a digital signal to pop up the call letters for both WSAH-DT and WEDW-DT of Bridgeport.

 

[ansky212]

We have a working revenue stream... it IS all about money, its a business like any other. We are not in the business of entertaining you, NO television station is. We are in the business to make money and your amusement is incidental. Sorry if that's rough, but that's the truth. When I started in this business I was shocked by the attitude that the shows were the stuff you put between ads.

I understand what you are saying, but I disagree. If a TV station doesn't entertain its audience, then who is going to be sitting there to watch the ads? Why do you think ads for the Super Bowl are so expensive. Every fall we see new shows constantly being cut, because if nobody is watching the shows and entertaining the viewers, then nobody is seeing the ads either. So if a tv station doesn't entertain, they don't make money.

 

[Schuyler]

Actually, Ansky212, with all-infomercials-all-the-time, you CAN make SOME money; at least enough to keep the lights on. But is that enough of a reason? While I appreciate Ron's brutal honesty, I can't help but wonder whatever happened to the idea that broadcasters are supposed to serve "the public interest, convenience and necessity."

The justification for non-stop infomericals and pay-for-play block programming is always this: "If we didn't do it, we'd have to go dark." That may be true, but so what? It seems to me that if a licensee can't devote a few hours a weeks (out of 168) to some sort of token attempt to serve the public and not just the bottom line (or the creditors), then the ownership lacks the character and/or financial footing to be a licensee in the first place.

If a "broadcaster's" sole consideration is maximizing profit, perhaps he or she would be better off selling out or signing off and opening a fast food franchise instead. After all, there's less governmental red tape, lower operating costs and a higher return on investment. But on second thought, there's no need for pricey engineering expertise, so rather than penalize folks like Ron, I suppose we should continue to burn up megawatts of electricity and waste spectrum space to support TV and radio stations which have virtually no audiences. It's the least we can do after everything they've done for us.

 

[luperm]

I assume that WSAH does serve the public interest in the FCC's eyes. They provide the required E/I programming and some sort of local public affairs show. That should satisfy the FCC. It may not satisfy you. But, again, this is a business...and it apparently works for the licensee.

 

[BRNout]

Again, because it is permissible under current licensing rules, it's a bona-fide legal manner in which WSAH may operate. I don't like it any more than you guys do. But until the rules change, the ownership and management of WSAH may indeed run PI's basically all day long aside from the slots needed to satisfy E/I. It's a legal way in which they can operate and make a profit. Which is why people go into business in the first place.

Does it serve the public interest with PI's all day? Probably not by most of our standards - but it does pass muster as far as the FCC is concerned and that's all that matters right now.

 

[stanleyjohn]

The advertisers must think its worth it to throw $$$ at the 30 min time slots or they wouldnt be doing it!Or maybe they just love to toss money out the window.

 

[bub]

No one actually sits down and watches an infomercial, unless you are seriously mentally handicapped.

You said it. I didn't.

 

[RonTheEngineer]

No one actually sits down and watches an infomercial, unless you are seriously mentally handicapped.

You said it. I didn't.

Yes, but I also said "What happens is as people channel surf, they say "oh neat, I want one..." wait for the 800 number, and away they go." If you're going to quote, do so in context.

 

[stanleyjohn]

I see that WSAH's sister station KCNS which is also owned by Multicultural Radio Broadcasting will be taking on RTV starting the middle of DEC.Lets see how long it lasts there.

 

[ansky212]

I see that WSAH's sister station KCNS which is also owned by Multicultural Radio Broadcasting will be taking on RTV starting the middle of DEC.Lets see how long it lasts there.

Is the Boston RTN affililate still on the air? How long is that going to last?

 

[Wbzfm2010]

yes its still on air but has recently reduced programming to 12noon-12midnight only hope this is helpful