| Chairman's Message |
DTV Soft Tests Bring Hard Questions
 by Diane Kniowski, Chairman, Michigan Association of Broadcasters and President/General Manager, WOOD-TV/WOTV-TV, Grand Rapids.
As Michigan television stations begin a series of DTV Soft Tests, the MAB is doing its part to serve their members and the citizens of Michigan. Over the next two months, the MAB will be an active partner with all entities to insure a smooth transition on February 17, 2009.
Michigan stations are all working together for these soft tests. Each region has submitted a plan for the next two months. The soft tests have begun this week and will continue through February 17. Working with the FCC appointed-representative, all markets in Michigan aired soft tests this week.
Most stations will take a break through the holidays. Then, beginning in January, some markets will air a weekly DTV Soft Tests, while others will do station specific tests at varying times.
The television stations have all worked together in every market to coordinate and share resources. Our goal is to allow each television household to check every set in the home over the two-month window. The partnership with the National Guard, The Michigan Jaycees and Don-Lors Electronics will provide the hands-on and phone instruction necessary for success. The MAB has assisted in press releases, phone banks, and market by market coordination. All Michigan Radio stations have been great in promoting the DTV Soft Test efforts, too.
We applaud this statewide, well-coordinated team effort. We thank you and wish you a happy holiday and prosperous New Year.
|
|
| GLBC |
Let the “Wizard” Cast You in the Right Marketing Direction at GLBC
 Wizard of Ads, Roy Williams Joins the GLBC Speaker Line-up!
Have you ever thought, there’s got to be a better way? If you're looking for something new, something that will change your business for the better, than Roy has what you are looking for. His seminars don't teach you what to think, but how to think about problems in new ways, how to discover a better way and how to unlock the wizard in each of us.
Topics: Roy’s sessions will be focusing on how advertising is changing and what TV and Radio managers, sales executives, and copy writers/creative directors need to know to grow and change to help their clients meet the needs of and motivate their clients. "It's not about our clients," he said, "it's about our client’s clients."
According to Williams, what has “always worked in the past” does not work now, spending is changing and advertisers need to speak a different language to reach customers. Consumer trends show that spending is not necessarily down; however, the way consumers spend their money has changed. They are looking for sustainability and quality in the products they purchase. No longer are consumers motivated by urgency, they must be motivated by a felt need, and are willing to spend money on items that have lasting benefits.
 Roy will also touch on how to take advantage of the current recession by “Leap Frogging”- a concept that smaller businesses can leap up and over larger, established businesses. He will also discuss how to replace lost automotive advertising income by looking to new and growing sectors, instead of waiting and hoping the auto dealers will come back.
When: Roy will be speaking on Tuesday, March 10 from 2pm-5pm and again on Wednesday, March 11 from 8am-9:30am.
How: Register for the Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference online here.
GLBC 2009 Speaker Commentaries:
Merritt Mattson: Tough Times Don't Last. Tough People Do.
 Having lived through a few wars, several recessions, and an oil embargo in the seventies, I have seen this economy climb to the heights of euphoria and plunge to the depths of despair. Yet, those who chose to tough it out when things are down always come out on top when things turn around...(read more).
 download pdf
Stay, Learn and SAVE!
Amway Grand Hotel Offers HUGE Discounts for GLBC attendees! A limited number of rooms are being held at the deeply discounted GLBC group rate at the Amway Grand Plaza, which is connected to the DeVos Place via skywalk:
Single Occupancy Regular Rate |
$215* |
|
Double Occupancy Regular Rate |
$235* |
Single Occupancy Group Rate |
$124* |
|
Double Occupancy Group Rate |
$139* |
A savings of $91-$94 dollars per night! Call the Amway Grand at 800-253-3590 and mention the Michigan Association of Broadcasters to receive the special reduced rate.
*Rates subject to lodging tax of 8% and 6% Michigan sales tax.
|
|
| DTV |
"Soft Test" Results To Date
 Television stations in each of Michigan's five television markets have conducted the first of many scheduled "soft tests" to increase awareness and prepardness for the forthcoming DTV Transition and turn off of analog signals scheduled for February 17, 2009.
At 6:12 P.M. on Tuesday, December 16, those watching participating television stations in the Detroit market saw the first weekly Test Your TV Tuesday, which is designed to help viewers figure out if their television is ready for digital or if its still receiving analog signals. Those tuned in either saw a green screen marked "PASS", or a red screen marked "FAIL", which alerts the viewer that their television is still receiving an analog signal and additional steps must be taken to ensure that they can continue to receive local over-the-air television signals after February 17. It also told people receiving their signal over a paid service to contact that local service provider.
The "FAIL" message also informed viewers how to get additional information though the Michigan DTV web site www.michigandtv.com or by calling the Michigan DTV Helpline, sponsored by Don-Lors Electronics. Detroit area television stations plan to continue Test Your TV Tuesday each week until the scheduled February analog shut-off.
Test Your TV Tuesday was the brainchild of Trey Fabacher, vice-president and general manager of WWJ-TV and WKBD-TV in Detroit. Assisting with the effort was Keith Stironek of WJBK-TV, who produced graphics and promos for the Detroit market for use in the tests. The Detroit soft-test has become the prototype for every market in the state and the market has led the nation with their weekly tests.
Additionally, the TV stations in Detroit recognized that the calls from a major market their size could overwhelm the generosity of Don-Lors Electronics and their operators, so they contracted with a national call center (ICT Global) to filter the calls and weed out the easy questions such as ordering converter box coupons or other minor questions. This left the Don-Lors line and volunteer technicians from the stations to answer the more specific and difficult calls. Over 7000 calls were received by the call centers Monday and Tuesday.
On Wednesday, December 17, The Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo, Tri-Cities/Flint and Northern Michigan/Upper Peninsula markets conducted the first scheduled soft test. The Grand Rapids market also will begin weekly Test Your TV Wednesdays beginning in January.
Viewers in the Lansing market saw their first market-wide soft test on Thursday, December 18.
For more information on the soft tests, visit www.michigandtv.com.
|
|
| Awards |
Can’t live without your associates?
| |
|
|
| |
2008 Associate of the Year Larry Patrick (left) with former MAB Chairman Bart Brandmiller |
|
Tell them in a big way. Nominations for Associate of the Year are being accepted by the MAB Board. There’s no better way to tell them how much you appreciate their hard work.
• To be considered, a member must be active in MAB, or recently retired, and have provided exceptional, consistent and sustaining support for the organization
• The award will be presented to an individual rather than an organization
• For more nomination information and to download an application form click here.
• Application deadline is Friday, January 23, 2009.
Looking for the Best!
Do you know a Broadcast Engineer who should be honored for his or her outstanding contributions to the industry? The MAB Board is accepting nominations for this year’s Carl E. Lee Engineering award. The awards will be presented during the Engineering Luncheon at the 2009 Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference & Expo.
• One award for radio engineering and one award for TV engineering will be given.
• For more nomination information and to download an application form click here.
• Application deadline is Friday, January 23, 2009.
|
|
| In The News |
Ellcessor Named WDET-FM General Manager
 J. Mikel Ellcessor has been selected by Wayne State University to become the new general manager for public radio WDET-FM. Ellcessor was most recently the executive director of radio for RadioMilwaukee, where he was responsible for all aspects of project concept development and launched the new not-for-profit media service in 2006. He also served as senior director of programming operations and distribution at WNYC/New York.
Ellcessor started his new position on December 15.
Greater Media's WRIF Among First To Offer New iPhone Technology
 Greater Media, Inc. announced that three of its radio stations are among the first in the nation to provide exciting new technology which enables listeners to access and hear the station's stream on their iPhone with the touch of a button.
The application, developed by Jacobs Media, is now available to listeners of the company's WRIF-FM in Detroit as well as Greater Media stations in Boston and New Jersey. They will be joined soon by WMMR-FM in Philadelphia, PA.
IPhone One Touch Access is unique because listeners now have the ability to directly access a station's audio stream instead of having to access a directory. In addition, the station's logo becomes an icon within easy reach right on their iPhone.
The application also allows the station to provide its HD2 channel under its single icon/logo.
"This is another step in Greater Media's commitment to extend our station brands to every platform our listeners are using, and this application is the only one designed from the listener's point of view," said Tom Bender, Greater Media Senior Vice President and General Manager of Greater Media Interactive. "It's incredibly easy to download and even easier to use. No scrolling through long lists of music genres and internet stations; you simply take your favorite station with you."
"Everyone knows that the key for radio is to get its streams on mobile devices, and the iPhone is the most popular, buzz-worthy mobile device," said Jacobs Media General Manager Paul Jacobs. "With this application, stations will not only be able to stream on the iPhone, but listeners will be able to access the stream with a touch of the station's icon on the device, instead of scrolling through lists of stations."
Goodbyes: Anne O'Neill Patten, Dave Walker and William E. Kuiper, Sr.
 The MAB is sad to report the loss of three Michigan Broadcasters in recent weeks. Anne O'Neill Patten, a writer, producer and outreach professional for WTVS Detroit Public Television, passed away on November 18, 2008. Ms. O'Neill Patten worked for Detroit Public TV for more than 30 years and earned eight Michigan Emmy Awards. She produced the PBS special "Lionel Hampton: Back to Paradise," the local series "Arts Illustrated" and the annual "Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Awards," as well as many on-air promos and community outreach campaigns.
 WPBN/WTOM-TV Traverse City reports that their friend, colleague and mentor Dave Walker passed away November 27. Born Eugene Telma, he grew up in his hometown of Ludington, later changing his name for his broadcasting career. Mr. Walker first discovered his skill as a broadcaster while studying at Michigan State, graduating with a degree in communication. He started reporting the news in the Traverse City area in 1969, and joined the WPBN/WTOM-TV staff in February of 1984.
William E. Kuiper Sr., longtime president of West Michigan religious radio stations WFUR-AM/FM Grand Rapids and WKPR-AM Kalamazoo, passed away on December 4 at age 82. Mr. Kuiper devoted much of his professional career to spreading the Christian gospel, primarily through radio broadcasting.
|
|
| Editorials |
"W.T.D.A."
 by Fred Jacobs, President, Jacobs Media
Many components of the old model are breaking down. The time-honored relationship between ratings and sales is eroding. Advertisers are looking for value and accountability. Just selling them 60-second spots (or billboards or Yellow Pages ads) falls short of a 360° digital solution that yields results.
download pdf
Careless Employee Handbook Language Can Inadvertently Expand
Employee Rights
by Terry Kasiborski, Butzel Long
A recent court decision involving the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) demonstrates how employee handbook language may inadvertently expand and create employee rights and expose an employer to liability that did not actually exist under a statute. While the case happened to involve the FMLA, its lessons are equally applicable to other statutes affording rights to employees.
download pdf
|
|
| Legislative Updates |
Copper Theft Legislation Approved
 Legislation to help curb the theft of copper was approved on Thursday, December 18, during the 2008 lame duck session. The Michigan legislature is tackling the growing problem of copper theft by approving legislation the Michigan Association of Broadcasters has been touting over the past year. The bill creates a paper trail on copper sales to catch and deter criminals from destroying vital broadcast infrastructure.
The Nonferrous Metal Regulatory Act establishes requirements for dealers and sellers, prescribes documentation standards and sets penalties for violations.
Get the latest legal updates by reading the MAB Legislative & Legal Monitor!
 The MAB Legislative & Legal Monitor is published as neccessary with the latest information important to broadcasters. Not receiving the monitor? Please email Dan Kelley at dkelley@michmab.com to sign up TODAY!
Past issues are available in the Members Only section of the MAB website. Click here to view the latest Legislative & Legal Monitors. |
|
| Federal and Regulatory Update |
Dingell Replaced as Energy and Commerce Chair
 The Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB) has been following closely Rep. Henry Waxman's (D-Calif) bid to replace John Dingell (D-MI 15th) as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. On November 20, the House Democratic Caucus, in a secret ballot, voted to place Congressman Waxman in charge of the powerful committee.
Waxman won the panel chair by a 137-122 vote, capping an epic battle within the Democratic Caucus on Capitol Hill.
Dingell, the longest serving member in the House, had been the top Democrat on the panel for 28 years, and was always a stalwart supporter of Michigan’s broadcast industry. Waxman’s criticisms that the committee has been too slow to address environmental issues like global warming, allowed him to garner support from a bulk of the freshman lawmakers. Congressman Dingell was just three months removed from being the longest serving committee chairman in the history of Congress.
The result gives Waxman, a well-known environmentalist, a key role in shaping legislation on climate change, energy issues and broadcast policy. Dingell will remain on the panel as Chairman Emeritus.
Following the vote Dingell made the following statement: "Well, this was clearly a change year and I congratulate my colleague Henry Waxman on his success today. I will work closely with him on the issues facing the Energy and Commerce Committee for a smooth transition. What will not change, however, and what will never change, is my commitment to the working men and women of the 15th Congressional District of Michigan who have honored me with the opportunity to represent them here in Washington. That commitment — to protecting and creating jobs, to providing health care for all Americans, to working to getting our state and nation’s economy back on track — is a fight I will continue to wage in Washington.”
|
|
|
|
The official publication of the Michigan Assocation of Broadcasters and the Michigan Association of Public Broadcasters
© 2008 - The Michigan Association of Broadcasters
WE SERVE OUR MEMBERS BY HELPING THEM TO BETTER SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES |
