SpringsTV Talk

You're missing out

2009-10-14T07:57:00.001-07:00

All the good stuff is happening over on http://springstvtalk.freedomblogging.com/.

Wanted: Someone to watch TV - for cash!

2009-10-02T14:05:00.000-07:00

I mentioned last week that we had plans in the works to rectify what a worthless, non-TV blogging bum I've become. Well, this is it. We're hiring a freelance TV/radio writer. It could be you, assuming you watch a lot of TV, listen to the radio and have a well broken-in La-Z-Boy.

Here's the ad:"The Gazette is looking for a freelance writer and blogger who's interested in covering local TV and radio. Some writing experience is required. Please send clips to warren.epstein@gazette.com."

Sixthirty

2009-09-23T09:53:00.001-07:00

Oh, and well I was off changing diapers, I see KXRM began a 6:30 p.m. newscast.

I'd always wondered why they didn't do an early newscast from the get-go.

Anyhoo: 6:30. Discuss.

A good question

2009-09-23T08:50:00.001-07:00

A commenter asks: "are you really a BLOG when you posts something every 2-3 weeks? BLOG insinuates daily or at least WEEKLY updates. Otherwise you are simply posers trying to cash in on the stupidity of the facebook nation."

Now, in my defense, I've been out the last couple of weeks with a newborn baby (he's cute, he cries a lot, he poops a lot, he apparently requires no sleep to perform those primary functions).

But obviously, in recent months the TV blog has become a poor stepchild of the other Gazette blogs I contribute to (Out There and Business). I don't exactly have an announcement yet, but I will say we're taking steps to rectify the situation.

More to come...

Sawyer to replace Gibson

2009-09-02T09:23:00.001-07:00

Charlie Gibson is retiring and Diane Sawyer will step behind the anchor desk.

My question: What does this mean for KRDO?

I think no change is good change for network news, which is clearly heading toward its last roundup. It will, nevertheless, be interesting to watch Sawyer's ratings relative to Couric and Brian Williams.

Summer ratings: A return to form

2009-08-27T08:06:00.001-07:00

After KRDO leapt to the No. 1 spot in demos in the Spring book, the Summer numbers look much more like our usual pattern - with KOAA on top at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. in both overall and demos.

There were a few smaller surprises in the book: KKTV was second at 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. in the overalls, and won at 5 a.m. and tied KOAA at 6 in 25-54. (Note that the morning numbers don't reflect KRDO moving Jon Karroll to mornings a couple weeks back).

Last time out, KXRM had a better 25-54 number at 9 p.m. than KRDO did at 10 p.m. This time, KXRM dropped, with a 9 p.m. number slightly ahead of KRDO's 10 p.m. in both overall and demos (and slightly behind KKTV in both categories, too).

What to make of it? Summer can sometimes get a little wonky, because people are out and about and the regular shows aren't on. On the other hand, these numbers look a lot more like what we're used to than the last book did. The Fall book will give us a stronger read on which way the trends are really pointing (if there's real movement going on at all), but I think the Summer book means that KRDO has farther to go than it appeared (and they were no doubt hoping) after the Spring book.

Denver tests new radio ratings system

2009-08-19T07:34:00.000-07:00

Interesting story in the Post today on Arbitrons new people meter system, which goes live in October and is already making waves as tests show that it will radically reshape the ratings.

The biggest losers appear to be the talk stations (with KHOW dropping clear out of the top 20). The biggest winners? Soft rock.

Naturally, I wonder what this system would mean here in the Springs, where KKLI is already a top 5 station and only KVOR breaks the top 10 with talk.

The story makes some intriguing points about potential problems with the methodology (does the wearable monitor pick up stations through a purse? What if you listen while you're in the shower?).

I dunno if this system will ever make it to the Springs. We still don't, and may never get, metered TV Nielsens. But if the system takes over the big cities, I expect Arbitron will adjust its diary methodology to reflect the metered ratings - and that will mean changes for the Springs.

Hey Jon Karroll, can I buy you a cup of coffee?

2009-08-17T07:59:00.000-07:00

What do my bleary eyes perceive on this fair Monday? Why it's Jon Karroll holding down the desk on KRDO's morning news. Where's Zach Thaxton (where, for that matter is Marty)?

This is interesting for a bunch of reasons. KRDO's morning news has always been the station's strongest daypart. Messing with success is a bold move. Where do the other chips fall? Is it a good move? Is it even a permanent move or just a tryout?

KILO tops Arbitrons... for the last time?

2009-08-03T07:42:00.000-07:00

KILO (94.3 FM) won its fifth straight book in the Arbitron radio ratings. The question becomes: How big a bite does KDZA's switch take out of the top dog?

OK, so the top of the list is same-old, same-old. The rest of the top 10 is kinda weird. KVOR No. 2 in a non-election book? KATC jumps to third? The old KDZA goes out with a bang at 4? KKLI falls all the way to 9?

It's not much clearer in the 25-54 numbers, either, with KILO followed by KKFM, then KATC, then KKPK and so on.

If you've got a theory other than "Arbitrons are whacky," feel free to throw it out.

And, by the way, I'm back from a baby shower in Seattle followed by a really exhausting move in town. Scraping wallpaper sucks.

KRDO wins three regional Emmys

2009-07-20T15:21:00.000-07:00

KRDO/Channel 13 won three regional Emmy awards from the Heartland Region of the National Television Academy.

KRDO won for its morning newscast, Rob Namnoum won best sports anchor and the station won the community service award for its series on sex offenders.

The awards were presented Saturday in Denver.

Totally uncool

2009-07-17T15:30:00.000-07:00

Obviously, part of the fun of "American Idol" is watching the delusional, narcissistic jerks get a reality check. It's less fun when those jerks make their dogs suffer along the way.

I mean, seriously, it was 90 degrees in Denver all week. How much of a moron do you have to be to leave your dog in the car while you audition?

Indy looks at radio

2009-07-16T09:08:00.000-07:00

The Colorado Springs Independent's Bill Forman looked into the decline of local radio today.

I think it's a decent overview - he focused on Buzz Corona, formerly of KPHT (95.5 FM), Vicky Gregor of KRCC (91.5 FM) and CK from KDZA (107.9 FM) (well, I'm not sure if he's still of KDZA, but CK will always be around somewhere).

However, he doesn't really address whether Clear Channel and Citadel played a role in the decline of radio, or if it's a technology driven decline and the big radio conglomerates are simply the ones left holding the bag (I'd argue that's mostly the case, although see my note about KILO below).

I think KCME is a better example of the toll internet streaming is taking on local radio. It lacks KRCC's news and popular syndicated programs, so it's more heavily reliant on people tuning in just for the music - and more of those people are finding their music through other sources. KCME recently held an off-season fund drive to make up for falling donations (although so did KRCC).

On the other hand, Forman doesn't really explore what KILO's comparative success means, although he has a quote from Ross Ford in the box. Obviously, part of that success comes from lack of competition in the last couple of years, but even when it wasn't on top, KILO was pretty much always top three. You could make a couple arguments here: the importance of listener loyalty and brand strength - both of which would argue against the frequent format flips Clear Channel and Citadel are known for, and maybe the importance of local jocks (which, sorry guys, I think gets overplayed, but it may have a role).

KCMN (1530 AM) is an interesting case, too, making a go of things as a near-independent (Don Crawford Jr. owns KCBR, too, but it's a very small operation).

What's the model that will give radio a future, either for-profit or not? Heck, I dunno. As I'm always saying on here, though, it was newspapers first, now it's radio, next it will be TV. Is "local" dead, or does it just need a heart transplant?

The best thing I can come up with right now is that local media will have to deal with falling revenue for several more years, but that there will be a plateau at some point and that, at some level, local newspapers and radio stations and TV stations will stick around for awhile.

Mo mo

2009-07-15T13:10:00.000-07:00

Ross and Mo in the Morning may just be Ross these days, but Mo is still a KILO believer and a homecoming queen - with a sharp elbow for KILO's new competition from KDZA. She sent me this after my earlier post:

"I was reading about the station in the paper and I noticed you mentioned that I was gone and you didn't know where I went. I've been gone from the morning show since April...nothing like everybody noticing I'm gone to boost the ol' ego...3 months later. lol

I decided to spend the summer with my kids. I have an 18 yr old daughter who is just about to fly the coop and I'd been at KILO for over 11 years, hadn't spent much time with her.

So I decided to take the summer off. The toughest decision I've ever made.

The KILO Morning Show was my dream job. Not as much a job but an event...everyday.

Although, from what I understand, Lewis and Floorshine are funny but Ross Ford, even all by himself, is the funniest man I have ever known...or listened to.

The ONLY regret I have about leaving KILO is that I don't sit next to Ross everyday and laugh my ass off...I really do miss that. I still listen and laugh but it isn't the same.

Also, with Ross Ford, you have the advantage of a local voice. Not a bunch of guys from another city who really don't know what's going on right here in Colorado Springs. I, personally, take a lot of pride in the fact that KILO has never dipped low enough to go the cheap way out and syndicate a morning show from somewhere far far away. They have stayed true to the original idea of radio...local news, weather, sports and local interest all the way around.

Sure, fiscally it may cost a bit more, but KILO has the local listeners interest in mind. In turn, KILO Listeners, the KILO Nation, are THE most dedicated and loyal listeners in the world. L! ong live the KILO Nation!

Look out KILO? KDZA wants to rock

2009-07-14T14:18:00.001-07:00

Oldies station KDZA (107.9 FM) dropped the "Jet" moniker and the dusty discs on Monday in favor of an active rock format.

The station is also syndicating morning duo Lewis and Floorwax from Denver classic rock station KRFX (103.5 FM).

The morning show is not the only thing the local Clear Channel station is borrowing from its big brothers up in Denver: It's also appropriated KBPI (106.7 FM)'s slogan "KBPI Rocks the Rockies." Only, you know, with KDZA in there.

Nobody's really taken a run at KILO (94.3 FM) since the KMOM days. KILO has been pretty steady at No. 1 in the local ratings, so we'll see what KDZA can do. (Speaking of which, I hadn't even realized KILO broke up Ross and Mo in the mornings. Did that just happen?).

UPDATE: Mo took me to task for my up-to-the-minute radio knowledge. She says she left the morning show in April to spend time with her daughter. I plead unhipness and a severe Tool allergy.

UPDATE 2: Reader Brian M. reports that all is not lost for fans of the "old" KDZA - "You oldies lovers can rejoice...and buy a HD radio. KDZA 107.9 HD2 is ALL OLDIES. Its time to throw away your old analog radios!"

A straightened paper clip will lead you to digital nirvana

2009-07-09T10:01:00.000-07:00

KOAA chief engineer Quentin Henry posted this in comments, but it's much too interesting not to pull out to the main page:

Too large of an antenna is a common problem...

Gone are the days (and practices) of analog Television. "Back in the day" (of analog) More antenna was better, no longer is that the case.

TOO LARGE of an antenna can cause the stronger signals to cancel out themselves due to "reflections" of it's own signal coming in 180 degrees out of phase from the side gain of the antenna.

Digital is NOT as forgiving on "Ghosts" (reflections) as analog was. Analog "Ghosts" used to look like echos, or shadows in the video. In Digital the signal just kills it's self.

Flat antenna wire will cause problems too. It is NOT shielded and it DOES act as an additional ANTENNA picking up signals (reflections) out of phase killing the digital signal. Too high of a signal into the receiver can cause the digital receiver to NOT demodulate (receive) the Digital signal, a $2 20db attenuator can help in some cases.

SOME RABBIT EAR antennas have a built in amplifier and that amplifier can cause MORE problems that it solves. MANY cases we have the viewer "un-plug, or by-pass" the amplifier to get perfect signal on ALL digital channels.

Rabbit ear antennas have performed very well in Black Forest, Monument and other areas we have had difficulty with analog in the past.

SUMMARY: Old analog antennas WILL work IF they are not TOO LARGE, and do not have flat antenna wire more than 3 inches on the system.

StationsIn order of strength:

KOAA-42-880,000 watts
KRDO-24-200,000 watts
KXRM-22-51,000 watts
KTSC-26-39,000 watts
KKTV-10-20,000 watts.

Here are some actual case studies:
1.) Black Forest can get KOAA and many others using a straightened paper clip instead of an antenna.
2.) Trinidad (120 miles away) gets us with a small 19"X22" panel antenna that is mounted in the rafters with no amplifier.
3.) Limon gets us with a small 3' antenna no amplifier, and can not see Cheyenne Mt., just the top of Pikes Peak.
4.) La Junta gets us with a small 12"X12" panel antenna no amplifier.

TIPS:

1.) Do NOT use any flat wire longer that 3 inches.
2.) Do NOT use any amplifiers with in 60 miles.
3.) You can Reduce Rabbit ear gain by making the rods as small as possible.
4.) If you can receive channel 30 ANALOG, even a weak signal with sound, you should be able to receive all the digital channels.
5.) An out side antenna MIGHT be needed IF you can not see Cheyenne Mt. due to local terrain, hills, mountains, but not due to vegitation, trees etc...

Do touch that dial!

2009-07-06T07:30:00.001-07:00

In other channel-swapping news, someone sent me this interesting item about KKTV eyeing a signal switch.

I don't get this: Who has trouble getting KKTV digital? When I lived up in Larkspur a few years ago, KKTV was the only one that came in clearly (admittedly, it seemed to get broken up by the omnipresent Palmer Divide snow more than the other ones).

It would be kind of handy for everyone pulling in TV off their rabbit ears if everyone would go UHF, but even if KKTV switched, we'd still have KTSC on Channel 8.

Hopping frequencies now would confuse the hell out of a lot of old people with converter boxes.

Also, if KKTV goes to Channel 47 [correction: 49], would that mean that they'd take KOAA's spot as "Southern Colorado's Most Powerful Digital Signal"?

30 gets 86'd

2009-07-02T09:48:00.000-07:00

This happened yesterday, but I didn't really notice until I was up in Cripple Creek at 1 in the morning and saw KOAA's sat truck with the new "5" wrap.

It's a little funny, because channel 30 is still alive and well (and, well, analog).

Times they are a changin'.

KOAA's Jarman wins national Murrow award

2009-06-29T10:12:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to KOAA reporter James Jarman, whose undercover investigation into former District Attorney John Newsome drinking on the job won the national Edward R. Murrow award for investigative reporting from the Radio-Television News Directors Association.

Here's a link to the winning story.

Kinda neat

2009-06-26T08:36:00.001-07:00

KRCC has an online tour of the transmission towers up on Cheyenne Mountain.

Also, Colorado College's public station is doing a special one-day fund drive this Sunday to fill the gap in the station's budget created by the recession.

The Fox is in the hen house

2009-06-19T08:37:00.000-07:00

Folks at KXRM are mad at me because they say the real story from the May book is who had the top-rated late-night newscast in demos. Which would be them: Their 9 p.m. scored a 4.9 to KRDO's 4.6 (at 10 p.m.) in adults 25-54.

OK, that's a good number (especially because their overall number for 9-9:30 was 6.6, dropping to 4.9 in the second half-hour, which means an astoundingly high percentage of their viewers are in that demo).

In my defense, I believe KRDO's breakout at 10 is still the more interesting storyline, both because it hasn't happened in living memory (well, recent memory) and because the 10 p.m. horse race is head-to-head, while KXRM is competing on a different playing field at 9.

Whoa. KRDO No. 1 25-54 at 5, 6 and... wait for it... 10 p.m.

2009-06-18T10:34:00.000-07:00

The latest Nielsen numbers are out and they are... unexpected. Unprecedented might be the better word.

Perennial third-place finisher KRDO/Channel 13 jumped the field to take the lead with 25-54-year-old viewers at 10 p.m., and also beat head-to-head rival KOAA/Channels 5&30 at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Now, these are the 25-54's demos, not the overall 12+ numbers. TV stations and advertisers seem to only pay attention to the demos, but, as a newspaper reporter, I think the broadest measure is still, well, the broadest measure.

So please note that, in 12+, KOAA still had wide leads at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. But not, interestingly, at 5 p.m., where it was just a hair ahead of KRDO.

Now, KKTV has beaten KOAA at 10 p.m. within the last few years in both 12+ and demos (I want to say the last time was maybe three or four years ago), but I don't think KRDO has had a No. 1 10 p.m. newscast, by any measure, since the '80s. Maybe farther back than that.

What's going on here? It's hard to say. There were some weird, DTV transition-related shenanigans going on that pushed the winter book into March, but, to the best of my knowledge, those were sorted out by the May ratings period.

Certainly, new KRDO owner the News-Press & Gazette Company has been pumping money into its flagship station. That hadn't paid off before this point, but perhaps it laid the groundwork for a surge.

Perhaps the DTV transition combined with KRDO's first-in-market HD newscast to swing viewers its way (which would help explain why the demos look so much different than the 12-plus numbers: Far fewer older folks have HDTV's).

Just strictly looking at the 25-54 numbers, KOAA's ratings seem to have dropped by nearly half at 10 p.m. KKTV was down as well, although not as much. And KRDO was up solidly, which was enough to take the lead. It was a similar story in other dayparts: Fewer viewers watching local news, but KRDO getting more of them.

Is this an epochal change? A passing of the torch? A fluke? It's going to be a long, long time before we can really be sure. Nobody pays much attention to the summer book, which means that the November book will be the next real data point.

UPDATE: One other interesting ratings data point is that KOAA's mini-me, News First Now, showed up in the ratings for the first time, posting 1's in the morning. The channel started out just on Comcast, but is now on cable and over-the-air on KOAA's digital subchannel, 5.2.

KOAA's John Gilbert passes away

2009-06-16T15:27:00.000-07:00

Legendary KOAA general manager John Gilbert died on Sunday in Arizona. You can read KOAA's story here.

Gilbert was 81. Gilbert was as well-known locally for his fiery on-air editorials as for his successful leadership of the NBC affiliate. He managed television stations in New York city and was ABC’s vice president of affiliate relations before coming to Colorado Springs. He served as KOAA's general manager from 1977 to 1998, and was named the Colorado Broadcasters Association’s Broadcaster of the Year in 1996.

DTV - no big deal?

2009-06-12T14:10:00.001-07:00

In the end, Friday’s digital television transition went a lot like Y2K: Months of dire warnings and panicky preparations meant that nearly everyone seems to have made the switch without a hitch.

Between 7 and 9 a.m. on Friday, all the major local TV stations shut down their analog transmitters for good and viewers could only receive the signals with a digital TV, a converter box, cable or satellite. The transition was supposed to take place in February, but was pushed back to June to give viewers more time to prepare. It seems to have worked. At KXRM/Channel 21, the station had one call Friday morning, general manager Steve Dant said. The only glitch at the Fox affiliate was that it took five extra minutes to actually shut off the old transmitter.

“The gremlins were loose,” Dant said.

At KOAA/Channels 5&30, about 100 people had called by Friday afternoon. At the DTV walk-in assistance center at 129 N. Wahsatch Ave., Gary Marshall said Thursday was busy, with about 34 people looking for assistance, but only eight had come in on Friday.

If you do have an old TV, it’s not quite a museum piece just yet. You can, of course, hook it up to cable or satellite service, or to a digital converter box. And, for a little while at least, there are a few things to watch in good old analog television: KOAA/Channels 5&30’s transmitter on channel 30 is still up and running, along with local CW affiliate KXTU/Channel 57 (which can also be seen on KXRM’s digital subchannel, 21.2), along with a few other low-power stations.

Those stations will gradually switch over, too, and then analog television will truly go the way of 8-track tapes and Betamax VCR’s.

My TV reception sucks this morning

2009-06-12T07:29:00.001-07:00

No, really, it does. I hooked up the antenna to the analog tuner of my HDTV for the first time this morning so that I could properly commemorate the waning moments of analog television. Reception was terrible.

But not so terrible that I missed poor Tim Elbertson at KXRM/Channel 21 announcing that the station had switched off its analog transmitter and, if viewers were still watching him, they had successfully navigated the digital divide.

Psych! I was watching him in analog. It took them another five minutes to turn the darn thing off. Which is funny, because on Wednesday I was talking to KXRM general manager Steve Dant about the DTV thing and I asked him, "So, how do you actually turn off your analog transmitter?" And he said he'd talked to engineering about it and all that was required was the click of a mouse. Doh!

Anyway, funny, but not the end of the world. KXRM did eventually get up a rotating informational segment that explains how to hook up a converter box, KKTV/Channel 11 put up a static display telling people to get with the program, KOAA/Channels 5&30 went with static on 5, but is leaving 30 up as a simulcast (it's a low-power transmitter, so they're not legally required to switch it off), and KRDO/Channel 13 was waiting until 9 to switch...

So, once that happens, I guess we will be in a brave new digital world.

More digital TV silliness

2009-06-02T15:06:00.000-07:00

So the FCC sends out a news release earlier today about this cool new program: Local firefighters will actually go out and do house calls to help TV viewers hook up digital converter boxes ahead of the June 12 digital deadline.

Quirky! Fun! Potentially useful!

So I cal the Springs fire department and they get back to me: Hey nobody told us about this.

They may still do it, they just need to figure out what it entails.

Just thought that was a fitting anecdote for how seamless the whole transition has gone.

(I may just be bitter because the NTIA sent out a list of walk-in assistance centers right before I went on vacation two weeks ago. We ran the list and then they called and were like, 'Sorry, we changed all those locations.' Admittedly it's the FCC messing around this time, but shouldn't there be a little more coordination going on?)

Washington Post: Is TV facing extinction?

2009-05-13T13:02:00.000-07:00

I keep harping on this, not because I hate local television, but because I love local television. Well, love might be a little strong. Definitely like.

Anyway, the Washington Post totally agrees with me.

Plus, I think it's unfair and shortsighted for newspapers to spend gallons of ink writing about how bad the newspaper business is without looking at how the same shifting sands of reader preferences and advertising models affect other mediums. To wit: Local television. And radio. And anything else that relies on intellectual property.

I've always said, in a world where all information is free, the only information will be that which isn't worth paying for.

As the Post's Paul Farhi says, "Free is a crummy business model."

"Amazing Race" recap interview

2009-05-11T14:15:00.001-07:00

I spoke with local "Amazing Racers" Margie and Luke Adams this afternoon:

Although a $1 million prize slipped out of their grasp at the very end, Colorado Springs’ Luke and Margie Adams say competing on “The Amazing Race” was reward enough.

The mother-and-son team, who recently moved from Monument to Colorado Springs, finished third on the CBS reality show, which aired its season finale Sunday night.

“To actually make it to the final three far exceeds what I hoped to accomplish on the show,” Luke Adams —the show’s first deaf contestant — said through an interpreter.

Eleven teams began the race, which traveled through nine countries. Teams were eliminated at each stop, until the final three rushed to the finish line in Maui, Hawaii.

The final challenge required one member of each team to sort through a giant pile of surfboards to find 11 bearing pictures representing previous legs of the race. Although the Adamses began the task with a sizeable lead, Luke couldn’t find the final picture and siblings Tammy and Victor Jih passed them to win the race.

“I thought I had it in the bag,” Luke Adams, 23, said. “I thought it would be really easy.”

If someone else had to win, though, Margie Adams said she was glad it was the Jihs. The final three teams (former cheerleaders Cara Rosenthal and Jaime Edmondson took second) had become friends on the very first leg of the race in Switzerland, where they split a pizza after the filming finished.

“I think along the way, we all really helped each other,” she said. “We really have a sincere friendship with those two teams.”

Things weren’t so friendly with another team, sisters LaKisha and Jennifer Hoffman. The Adamses had several shouting matches and one shoving incident with the sisters. They’ve since patched things up, Margie Adams said, but, Luke said, at least it made for good TV.

The breathtaking pace of the race, covering 40,000 miles in 22 days, didn’t leave much time for sightseeing. The one chance they had to catch their breath and take in the views was on a boat trip through Thailand.“

That was really the only opportunity we had in the whole race to sit back,” Margie Adams, 51, said.

Luke Adams’ deafness was never a major obstacle during the race, they said. Even the show’s host, Phil Keoghan, learned some sign language, as did Rosenthal and Edmondson, while other contestants wrote messages to communicate.

“I thought it was so cool that people were willing to learn to communicate,” Luke Adams said.

Now that the final episode has aired, it’s a bit of a letdown, Luke Adams said.

“For me, it’s a little bit sad,” he said. “I was teasing my friends: ‘Maybe I’m going to be eliminated this week.’ I really enjoyed messing with my friends.”

“We had a large group of deaf people who came every week and watched the show with us,” Margie Adams said. “It was the highlight of our week.”

For taking third, the Adamses won $10,000, plus they won three trips along the way for winning stages. They’re planning to split those up.

“We’re definitely not going together,” Margie Adams said. “I think our traveling days together... it’s going to be awhile."

Monument "Race team takes third

2009-05-11T09:23:00.001-07:00

Monument "Amazing Racers" Luke and Margie Adams finished third in the reality show, around-the-world race, which wrapped up on Sunday.

The final challenge, a memory puzzle requiring contestants to line up surfboards with pictures representing the previous stages of the race, stymied Luke.

I've got an interview with Margie and Luke scheduled for this afternoon, so I'll have more to say later.

HD Radio - what time is it?

2009-05-08T14:21:00.001-07:00

Funny comment over on the real blog about the perils of HD Radio technology:

"One thing I noticed, these radios have the auto clock set. KKLI and KRCC display and set the correct time, but while flipping around I noticed 96.1 The Beat, KCCY, KVUU KCME all reset my clock 6 hours for some odd reason. Andy, can you check with these radio stations and ask them to set their system clocks to the right time so my clock will display correctly? I have tried to manually set the time, but these stations reset my clock to the worng time and I cannot control it. I have emailed them to no avail."

KILO tops Arbitrons once more

2009-05-08T13:03:00.001-07:00

Rock station KILO (94.3 FM) maintained its run atop the local radio ratings, according to the latest numbers from Arbitron.

Talk station KVOR (740 AM) came in second and KBIQ (102.7 FM), KKLI (106.3) and KKMG (98.9 FM) shared a three-way tie for third.

KILO was also the top station with listeners in the 18-34-year-old age group, but Christian contemporary station KBIQ (102.7 FM) edged it out with listeners in the 25-54-year-old category.

1. KILO (94.3 FM)
2. KVOR (740 AM)
3. (tie) KKLI (106.3 FM)
KBIQ (102.7 FM)
KKMG (98.9 FM)
6. KVUU (99.9 FM)
7. (tie) KIBT (96.1 FM)
KKFM (98.1 FM)
9. (tie) KCCY (96.9 FM)
KKPK (92.9 FM)
11. KATC (95.1 FM)
12. KOA (850 AM)
13. KRDO (1240 AM and 105.5 FM)
14. (tie) KDZA (107.9 FM)
KRXP (103.9 FM)
16. KCMN (1530 AM)
17. KGFT (100.7 FM)
18. KZNT (1460 AM)
19. KHOW (630 AM)
20. KCSF (1300 AM)
21. KPHT (95.5 FM)
22. KYRE (104.9 FM)
SOURCE: Arbitron

Ken Salazar on the Daily Show!

2009-05-08T07:25:00.000-07:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

M - Th 11p / 10c

Ken Salazar

thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Economic Crisis

Political Humor

Phil: Margie and Luke rock!

2009-05-05T10:43:00.000-07:00

"Amazing Race" host Phil Keoghan says nice things about Monument Racers Margie and Luke Adams:

"I think this is one of the most dynamic teams we've had in years -- and quite a different casting selection," Keoghan said. "I was really excited when they first walked in the room during the early casting period and I thought the potential for having a team like that on the show would be tremendous. And what's so nice is to see that they've come this far."

Also, CBS won't let Margie and Luke do interviews until after Sunday's finale, but I'm trying to line something up for Monday.

HD Radio, still waiting for the world to notice

2009-05-05T08:04:00.001-07:00

David Pogue of the New York Times has some fun at the expense of HD Radio.

My wife really wanted to listen to KRCC's HD Radio substations, so for her birthday I got (and with a great deal of trouble, installed), a Dual HD radio in her car.

So far, the major benefit of the radio is that I can listen to whatever is on KRCC - HD2 when the main channel is busy with the pledge drive. When you're listening to the main channel, however, the HD Radio does have the highly annoying habit of switching between the analog and the digital signal, which are slightly off synchronization. So it sounds like the radio is stuttering. And there's no way to simply turn the HD off, that I'm aware of.

Anyhoo, I'm not a huge fan of the technology, and I fully agree with Pogue that the way the radio industry rolled it out was pretty poor (and, as it turns out, a panicked response to a threat from satellite radio that proved to be largely imaginary).

Chicago TV stations to pool resources, video

2009-05-04T13:37:00.001-07:00

Here's an interesting item from the Chicago Tribune about a plan for that city's major TV stations to begin sending a single crew to major events and then share the coverage.

I'm sort of interested in how this will work (will the stations provide their own voice-overs or intros, what will happen to live reports?), but the bigger question is, what does it mean?

I've long said that the crisis facing newspapers was a harbinger for TV and radio stations, who will ultimately face the same profit-sapping flight of viewers and listeners to the Internet.

Maintaining four seperate newsgathering operations in a city the size of Colorado Springs is going to be a tough road to hoe in the near future. It's noteworthy, however, that this experiment is being tried not here in market 93, but it Chicago (what's that, like market 4 or something?).

What does it mean? Well, I expect we'll see.

Congrats to local Amazing Racers

2009-05-04T07:18:00.001-07:00

Margie and Luke Adams of Monument made the final leg of CBS' "The Amazing Race," airing at 7 p.m. Sunday. The Adamses will be racing against two other teams to the reality show's finish line.

Luke is the show's first deaf contestant and a former student at the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind.

I interviewed the mother-son team here.

Discovery filming in the Springs

2009-04-29T07:22:00.001-07:00

From the release:

Investigation Discovery film crews will be in Colorado Springs, CO today, Wednesday, April 29 through Friday, May 1 to film segments for the upcoming season of CALL 911. The crew will cover three real-life emergency situations that previously took place in the county. One story being filmed is when a daughter calls 911 because her family is trapped in a house fire. Before the firefighters arrive, the family is forced to jump from the second floor to save themselves. Additional stories being covered are a five-year old girl who finds her diabetic father losing consciousness and an eight-year-old daughter who calls 911 when her mother is having a stroke.

More Clear Channel layoffs

2009-04-29T07:09:00.000-07:00

All Access is reporting that Clear Channel is laying off hundreds more company-wide. 590, to be exact. The radio giant owns KKLI, KIBT, KVUU, KDZA and KCCY in the Springs.

This is the second round of layoffs this year for CC. Local on-air staff were spared in the first round, although other departments took a hit. No word yet on what's happening this time.

The good news, such as it is, is that Clear Channel is being remarkably generous with severance - 3 to 9 months for most employees.

KKLI wins Crystal radio award

2009-04-21T15:12:00.000-07:00

KKLI (106.3 FM) was one of 10 winners nationally of the National Association of Broadcasters' Crystal Radio Award, which is given for outstanding public service. Sort of a big deal.

KOAA, KKTV win Murrow awards

2009-04-09T14:21:00.000-07:00

KOAA/Channels 5&30’s James Jarman and KKTV/Channel 11’s Jesse Kurtz won 2009 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio-Television News Directors Association.

Jarman won the investigative reporting prize for his hidden camera investigation of former Fourth Judicial District Attorney John Newsome.

Kurtz won the sports reporting prize for his story on a cancer survivor who became a mountain bike racer.

Sparano lands at WB2

2009-03-31T07:20:00.000-07:00

From Mike Coletta, formerly of Newsblab:

Nina Sparano left KRDO last December... I've heard because KRDO didn't
re-new her contract (rumor), but anyway... Nina is now at a staion in Denver.

She started last night on Channel 2 (now known as 2TheDeuce, http://www.2thedeuce.com/)
She is on set with Kellie MacMullan, who also left KRDO.

The Deuce paired with Fox/Channel 31 and they broadcast from one set,
one building. They also changed their format and news times a bit.

Anyway... Nina does a segment each night at 7PM called internet cafe.
(iCafe) You can see her there or on the iCafe link on their website. www.2thedeuce.com/news/internetcafe/

Reality bites

2009-03-30T12:42:00.000-07:00

Loved this line from an Oregonian story about the truth behind History Channel’s “Ax Men”:

“We sat down with the producers last summer and asked them why they didn’t show loggers planting trees or protecting streams, instead of all the danger and drama.

“They just looked at us and said, ‘Because we want people to watch the show.’”

My wife was crushed to learn “Top Gear” makes stuff up.

Which goes to show how blurry, and potentially troublesome, the line between information and infotainment is. People think this stuff is real.

Crystal balls at the ready

2009-03-26T12:10:00.000-07:00

Along with today’s story on the National Weather Service, I asked our local TV meteorologists for their best guess on today’s snow totals. Kinda unfair, since I asked at like 4 p.m. yesterday, but here’s the predictions:

Brian Bledsoe, KKTV/Channel 11
Forecast: 3-8 inches
“I’m always hesitant to put in huge snow for the Springs and Pueblo. I’m looking at one model that says the Springs could see a foot and a half and I’m looking at another that says we’re only going to get five inches.
“Here, just because of terrain issues, we could run 14 (inches of snow) at Briargate and only two at the airport. We’ve seen that happen many a time.
“As it is, it’s going to cause some pretty good problems. The afternoon commute is probably going to be horrendous.”

Matt Meister, KRDO/Channel 13
Forecast: 2-6 inches
“It looks like during the morning (Thursday), things will start to go downhill. By noon time, we’ll have a couple places up north of downtown that are starting to get pretty rough.
“It is a spring storm - you get a lot of variability, too. Real localized stuff happens and you get thunderstorm pockets, basically, that drop huge amounts of snow. Something crazy like that is still a possibility.
“You have to keep adjusting as the thing comes in. Those small details, they’re important.”

Terry Gerbstadt, KXRM/Channel 21
Forecast: 3-6 inches

Mike Daniels, KOAA/Channels 5&30
Forecast: 6-12 inches

Steve Hodanish, National Weather Service
Forecast: 4-8 inches
“We’re pretty confident about this one; the tough part is predicting just how bad it’s going to be. But I’ll be shocked if I-25 doesn’t get closed.
“It’s Colorado Springs - the south side may not get much, while on the north side it could be pounding. If you’re going to Denver (on Thursday) to work, you’re not getting home.”

At least we can laugh about it

2009-03-18T08:54:00.000-07:00

Which of the seven stages of grief is comedy? Jet Blue capitalizes on the financial meltdown to good effect:

More here.

Congratulations to the CBA winners

2009-03-16T08:22:00.000-07:00

KOAA won "Station of the Year" honors in the non-metro market division and nine individual first-place awards, including best newscast, best anchors (Rob and Lisa), best coverage (Jarman), and breaking news. Also, Lisa won broadcaster of the year honors and Georgiann won the citizen of the year award.

KKTV took home six awards, including sportscaster (Jesse), single program (economic crisis special) and website.

KRDO won for news feature.

On the radio side, KIBT "The Beat" won five awards in the major market category, including Dallace Jade for best midday show and best personality, Jet's CK won best afternoon show, The Beat's Madboy won best evening show. KCCY won two awards and KRXP won one.

Who's next?

2009-03-16T07:56:00.000-07:00

Clay Shirky wrote this wonderful and frightening piece on the end of newspapers and what comes next.

My only problem with it is that he only addresses the part he’s interested in – newspapers.

His logic applies equally well to music, to television, to radio, to books, to magazines, to art – to any intellectual content however it’s packaged.

If you agree with Shirky that the system won’t bend its knee to accept the yoke of intellectual property, then you have to accept, design and prepare for a world where no one owns any idea.

Scary, but fascinating.

Beware the Talkpocalypse!

2009-03-13T07:41:00.000-07:00

Here's the inevitable denouement (?) of the Jon Stewart-Jim Cramer smackdown:

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Jim Cramer Pt. 2

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things w/ Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Jim Cramer

(that's just the longest segment, it's broken up into five parts - go to The Daily Show for everything)

This was, as I'm sure you're aware by now, uncomfortable-to-watch television. And I'm left squeamish not just because of the confrontation, but because - come on! - Stewart was being unfair.

Yes, presenting financial news as entertainment is probably not helping promote financial literacy. Of course, if CNBC didn't do it that way, they wouldn't have enough of an audience to stay on the air (I know, cry me a river).

But really, blaming Cramer and company for not seeing the financial meltdown coming? As opposed to who? Greenspan? Geithner? Anyone not named Nouriel? And blaming them for having CEO's on who lied - as opposed to every politician who has ever appeared on television.

I think Cramer did himself and his network a disservice by sitting there like a deer in the headlights and taking the punishment. Yes, they had much of it coming, but defending why things are the way they are and why they made the mistakes they did would have been educational for the audience (and less squeamish - nobody likes to watch roadkill, even if they can't look away).

Jon Hamm's plan to fix the financial crisis

2009-03-11T12:26:00.001-07:00

Why didn't Obama think of this?

"Lex Luthor Bailout" with Jon Hamm - watch more funny videos

Coming soon to a Royal Gorge near you

2009-03-11T12:13:00.000-07:00

Tom Brokaw, who’s going cross-country on U.S. 50 in search of “Obama’s America.”

Dude, if you can find Obama’s America in Cotopaxi, you are one heck of a reporter.

Comedy Central v. CNBC

2009-03-05T09:32:00.000-08:00

If you haven't seen this yet, it's one of the all-time great TV smackdowns:

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

CNBC Gives Financial Advice

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Joke of the Day

Kenneth the governor

2009-02-26T08:57:00.001-08:00

Wanted: Terrible teens, tough parents

2009-02-16T13:34:00.000-08:00

The producers of ABC's "Supernanny" are in town this week casting for a new show dubbed "The World's Strictest Parents." They're looking for teens needing a firm hand and parents who can kick butt and take names.

And they thought our humble city might provide both. How flattering.

Specifically, they're looking for parents with family values, strong religious beliefs, conservatives (as opposed to the previous two categories?), eco-friendly beliefs, farmers and families with interesting stories.

On the teen side, they want teens with unique interests, urbanites, technically savvy teens, slobs, surfers, liberals, affluent teens and just generally defiant teens.

If you want to nominate a family or a teen, you can call 1-888-418-3367, e-mail teens@ricochettelevision.com or go to www.theworldsstrictestparents.com.

Is there any interest in Twittering TV Talk?

2009-02-16T09:11:00.000-08:00

I haven't jumped to Twitter because I figure I'd have to post the same content twice, but if there are a few readers already on Twitter who prefer to get local TV updates in that format, it might be worthwhile. Most of these posts are already pretty short, except when I go off on a rant...

KRDO's analog signal down

2009-02-16T08:00:00.001-08:00

Well, the timing is kinda funny. They’re probably cursing every dime they spend fixing the old transmitter, too:

Newschannel 13’s Analog Signal Down
Updated: Feb 16, 2009 07:36 AM

NEWSCHANNEL 13 has lost analog signal. We are trying to restore it as soon as possible. Our digital signal is still working. Stay with krdo.com and KRDO NEWSRADIO 105.5 FM 1240 AM for the latest news.

Yep, KKTV too

2009-02-12T13:47:00.001-08:00

A commenter mentioned that KKTV registered with the FCC to go digital on Feb. 17, instead of waiting 'til June 12.

KK GM Tim Merritt said the stationed signed up for that a few weeks ago to keep its options open, but plans to keep its analog signal on the air through June 12 like the other stations.

Springs will go digital June 12

2009-02-09T13:09:00.001-08:00

If you're not following the minutae of the DTV transition delay, this may seem like an "uh duh" statement, but in many places, possibly including Denver, one or more TV stations plans to shut down their analog transmitters on Feb. 17 as originally scheduled.

Even making calls to the local stations this morning, there were different theories and rumors about who might or might not make the switch.

In any case, as of 2:06 p.m. Monday, all the locals are planning on keeping their analog signals running through June 12.

Which is too bad, in a way. Having one or more of the local stations shut down their analog transmitter would probably be a very, very effective way to get the OTA DTV foot-draggers off their couches and into the store to buy a converter box.

They did it: Four more months of analog bliss

2009-02-04T14:14:00.000-08:00

The House passed the DTV delay bill today. No additional money for converter boxes, interestingly. But hey, at least the nation’s foot-draggers will have four months to save their pennies for the box.

DTV delay moves without delay

2009-02-03T10:27:00.001-08:00

It should move out of committee today.

Elsewhere, NBC did pretty well with the Super Bowl. I never saw any good numbers on big-screen TV sales, though. I’m guessing they were disappointing (everything related to the economy is disappointing these days, isn’t it?). Plus: Comcast pays viewers to watch porn! Sort of (end of column).

And, on a personal fave note, “Reaper” is getting thrown to the wolves. Again.

It lives...

2009-01-30T13:00:00.000-08:00

No surprise.

Ooh, snap! Now it gets interesting

2009-01-28T11:55:00.001-08:00

Republicans killed the DTV transition delay in the House.

Monument team on Amazing Race

2009-01-27T13:09:00.000-08:00

Margie and Luke Adams of Monument will be competing on “The Amazing Race 14,” which premieres Feb. 15 on CBS. Luke, the show’s first deaf contestant, attended the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind here in the Springs.

And they sound pretty confident.

DTV conversion: Dee-layed

2009-01-27T08:31:00.000-08:00

I know I shouldn't be surprised that the government is actually going to delay the DTV conversion, but somehow I am. The Senate voted yesterday to push the switchover back to June 12 and the House is likely to follow pretty quickly.

And then they're going to throw another few billion at converter box coupons.

I find this foot-dragging so annoying. Congress gave people essentially 10 YEARS notice that this was coming.

If people made it through the last several years of PSA's and promos and still don't have cable, satellite or a converter box, I think they deserve what they get. If they find going without television too painful to bear, they can spend the $50 to buy a converter box with their own money (as opposed to buying it with my tax money).

I don't even know who's crying to Congress to change this. Is there some constituency that benefits by the delay?

KILO tops Arbitrons again, 1,850 laid off at Clear Channel

2009-01-20T12:25:00.000-08:00

KILO (94.3 FM) took its third ratings title in a row, narrowly topping KVOR (740 AM) in the latest Arbitron radio ratings.

KILO was also tops in the 25-54-year-old demographic, where KKLI (106.3 FM) took second.
The big news of the day, though, was the layoffs at Clear Channel. Nationwide, the radio giant is cutting 9 percent of its staff - some 1,850 people. No word on local layoffs yet, I'll definitely report it when I hear.

Lingerie Bowl: Playing at a nudist resort degrades the game’s intergrity

2009-01-20T07:52:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure if this is a joke or not, but it's definitely funny.

Key quote:

"I don't have anything against the lifestyle," Sky said, referring to the nudist resort Caliente. "But we as players were having a hard enough time dealing with and defending against the negative stigmas and stereotypes associated with the sport and playing attire before it was announced that we would be playing at a nudist resort."

How is it that I can't find a photo to run with this post?

EDIT: OK, found one, but I have to say, it's not as titillating as the name suggests.

NY Post: D-Day is Tuesday at Clear Channel

2009-01-16T13:23:00.000-08:00

The New York Post is reporting that Clear Channel radio is going to take a ginormous axe to its thousands of stations next week. Here in the Springs, CC owns KKLI (106.3), KIBT (96.1), KVUU (99.9), The Jet (I cannot remember what its actual call letters are, 107.9), KCCY (96.9)... am I missing any? It also own a few more in Pueblo that reach parts of the Springs (KPHT, KDZA and, uh, something else).

The local CC stations are already run pretty lean - but in radio, voicetracking and syndicated shows can mean a very lean "lean" indeed. It would be self-defeating at some point, but we'll find out Tuesday how far they'll push it.

Hawaii's gone digital and hasn't fallen into the sea

2009-01-15T07:53:00.000-08:00

Yet, anyway. I mean I guess, it technically started out in the sea, so there was nowhere to fall, but still: The aloha state's gone digital as of today and the sun's still shining, the birds singing, the tourists drinking.

I guess we won't really know if aliens will use the digital signals to seize control of our brains until noon today, when the last TV stations in Hawaii make the switch.

Farewell to Fantasy Island

2009-01-14T13:48:00.001-08:00

Ricardo Montalban is dead at 88. Tattoo preceded him in death in 1993.
Don't know why that strikes me. Just one of those influential shows of my youth, I suppose.

LA Times: TV demos? Dead

2009-01-12T14:23:00.000-08:00

I don’t know how much I believe this LA Times story that says TV networks are moving away from their youth-obsessed scheduling, but, if true, it’s a long-overdue switch.

This idea that 20 years olds are somehow more suggestible and can be molded into brand-loyal consumers just seems ridiculous in the modern media marketplace. Plus, they don’t have any money and they don’t watch TV.

It always seemed way smarter to me to focus on those kids’ parents with broad-themed shows that will attract as many of the young ‘uns as possible without turning off the larger audience.

I think the real problem has always been that advertising agencies think that pitching products to 50-year-olds is boring. They set the trend, find a justification and everyone on Madison Avenue and in the network offices jumps on board. Local TV stations have always been somewhat more open-minded about this (at least if 25-54 counts as open-minded).

Key graphs:

None of this means, of course, that the 18-to-49 yardstick is about to become as
obsolete as rabbit-ear antennas. Young people remain the most important early adopters of new products and cultural trends. Their purchase decisions are vital
to marketers in such big categories as consumer technology, movies and cars.
This is true even though some network executives and media buyers think the notion that young people’s brand loyalty must be won early is, in Moonves’ words, “an old wives’ tale.”
The idea was that “if you bought Crest toothpaste when you were 18 years old, when you turned 50 you would still use Crest toothpaste,” Moonves said.
Indeed, Sternberg and others said they knew of no reliable studies backing that theory.

Rumors, innuendo and (a few) facts

2009-01-12T08:09:00.000-08:00

Catching up with comments and rumors from an earlier thread - Laura Forbes gone at Fox?

Devra Ashby left Springs TV for D11, she wasn't laid off.

James Jarman leaving 5&30? I hadn't heard that, although I heard he has plans of a different sort.

Oh, and on the radio, KVOR (740 AM) canceled Mike Steczo's handyman show after 20 years over the holidays.

What else is going on?

UPDATE: And, as you can see in the comments section, Mark Stevens is back on the air afternoons at KKFM. Bring back the Marks Brothers!

Holy crap! Obama wants to delay the DTV date

2009-01-08T14:23:00.001-08:00

I kinda expected Congress to cave and delay the drop-dead date - but like months ago, not now. I figured they'd look too chicken if they went back on the DTV transition now (plus, imagine the confusion caused by changing everything at the last minute).
But Obama's asking for just that. OK, John Podesta, a top aide. Whatever.

“With coupons unavailable, support and education insufficient, and the most vulnerable Americans exposed, I urge you to consider a change to the legislatively-mandated cutoff date,” Mr. Podesta wrote.

For what it's worth, I think the "education" thing is bogus. Plenty of studies have shown the overwhelming majority of people know about the transition. They're just too lazy/cheap/technophobic to do anything about it.

I expect the delay to happen. Kicking the can down the road is pretty much always Congress' preferred option.

Still, what will it mean? Nielsen was planning to throw out the February book because of the transition confusion. Would they move it back? Would a new date just make the switchover more confusing? Seems like opening a whole can o' worms.

UPDATE: The NAB's position:

"The certainty created when Congress set the February 17 hard date for the
DTV transition was a positive catalyst for broadcasters, manufacturers,
retailers, public safety groups, consumers and the government.

NAB and broadcasters nationwide are committed to being ready by February 17 and strongly support a solution that would enable the government to continue making converter box coupons available to consumers who rely on free television. We continue to urge Congress to act swiftly to ensure coupons are made available for those who
need them.
UPDATED UPDATE: Local broadcasters are not thrilled with the proposal, since
they've spent the last year using valuable advertising time to tell viewers
about the switch.
"We’ve had to run educational campaigns all year telling
people what the date is," said Tim Merritt, KKTV/Channel 11's general manager.
"I think it would add to the confusion."
KOAA/Channels 5&30 general
manager Dave Whitaker said Congress would be better off quickly approving more
money for the converter box coupon program.
"It’s crazy," Whitaker said. "It
comes down to the simple factor that they ran out of coupons. Our industry the
nad is saying that it’s ridiculous. There’s always (going to be) a small
percentage of thepopulation that won’t be digital ready."

Will Dr. Sanjay Gupta grow the beard?

2009-01-06T13:41:00.000-08:00

Will he wear the uniform? Inquiring minds want to know!

Converter box = SOL

2009-01-06T12:53:00.000-08:00

Yahoo's reporting that if you don't have your DTV converter box coupons yet, don't hold your breath. The $1.34 billion Congress approved for the coupon program is gone daddy gone.

Now, on the other hand, a box is just $50, so it won't be the end of the world for most people. On the other, other hand, though, you gotta figure the people who need the converter boxes but haven't done anything about it yet are the ones most likely to balk at a the $50 price tag.

And can anyone tell me why my application got denied? The TV reporter can't even get a damn coupon. Hope y'all had better luck.

What to make of the Nielsens

2009-01-06T07:35:00.000-08:00

There was a bit of an argument in an earlier comment thread on the importance of the demos in the Nielsen ratings. For those who don't follow this stuff, demos in TV usually refers to viewers in the 25-54-year-old age group, although at the network level, the 18-34-year-old age bracket is the important one.

I actually find the demos argument pretty interesting. On the one hand, I think in the broadest sense - the sense that makes sense for a newspaper story - using the 12+ numbers is the most reasonable measure.

I mean, political operatives obsess over demos, too, but everybody's vote counts the same in the end, right?

On the other hand, this isn't an election and, in fact, everybody's vote doesn't count the same in the end. So, a 22-year-old male's viewing habits are far more important than his 58-year-old father's TV preferences, because advertisers want to reach those younger eyeballs.

Whether that strategy itself makes sense is another matter, but it's the reality we're dealing with. So, while I think the broadest measure remains the most important one for a newspaper story, I think it's certainly worth mentioning important trends in the demos, because it is those trends that determine which stations are financially successful and which shows get renewed or canceled.

The Gazette doesn't subscribe to Nielsen, though, so I rely on the stations to provide those numbers and to make the case for their own ratings. And, in this instance, KOAA was still No. 1 in most or all of the demos, so I didn't dig into it as much as I might have otherwise.

Nina Sparano out at KRDO

2009-01-05T07:36:00.000-08:00

Jeez, you sit back for a minute to enjoy a cold one on New Year's and the TV stations go switching stuff up again.

KRDO/Channel 13 anchor Nina Sparano left the station over the holidays. Sparano was the main anchor with Jon Karroll from 2005-2008, although she and Karroll were replaced last fall as the lead anchors by Eric Singer and Heather Skold. Before 2005, Sparano was the station's weekend anchor.

I heard a rumor about the hows and whys of the move, but haven't confirmed anything yet.

Local Nielsens: Same as it ever was

2008-12-31T09:34:00.000-08:00

The latest local television ratings look very much the same as they have for the past year, with KOAA/Channels 5&30’s newscasts maintaining a large lead in the mornings, afternoons and at night, according to the November Nielsen ratings that were released earlier this week.

The only crack in the KOAA armor comes at noon, where the station finished second, behind KRDO/Channel 13. Otherwise, the station led its rivals at 5 a.m., 6 a.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.

KKTV/Channel 11 remained in second place at 10 p.m., with KRDO in third.

My Christmas present to you

2008-12-24T12:49:00.001-08:00

Consider this: Fox is developing a comedy about four young women who are best friends... and werewolves.

It's called.... wait for it.... "Bitches."

I can offer no more.

What's Timmy watching? Not TV

2008-12-18T10:34:00.001-08:00

A study says young 'uns don't watch the boob tube like they used to. What's next, giving up video games? Why aren't our kids learning to veg?

Pushing Daisies. Sigh.

2008-12-18T07:42:00.001-08:00

Last night was probably the last "PD" before it shuffles off to that big pie hole in the sky. They tried to pack a little extra in to provide some closure, which messed up the rhythm of the show. But anyway... sigh. Only the good die young.

Whither Leno?

2008-12-10T11:05:00.001-08:00

I've been pondering this Leno thing quite a bit the last day.

On the one hand, it's clearly more palatable than NBC's other options. On the the other hand, it's a move clearly born of desperation and, as others have noted, it signals NBC is essentially giving up on the 9 p.m. hour.

Also, given that programming heads roll about once a year at the networks, even if this move pays off in the short term, Ben Silverman will be out at NBC within another year or two - at most. Then there'll be a new sheriff in town, and he or she will be looking at that 9 o'clock hour (in Mountain, anyway) and thinking, "I'd really like to take a shot at 'CSI.'"

Then what happens to Leno? Sure, he's only going to work, what, another decade at most, but the primetime landscape is going to shift half a dozen times in that decade. Primetime is fluid, late night is semi-permanent. So, even if Leno's show is moderately successful, it's unlikely to be long-lasting in its current form. And, if that happens, we'll be right back to where we were last week - with Leno feeling unappreciated and looking for a sweet gig at a competing network.

Finally, anyone catch Brian Williams' interview with Leno? Jay could hardly have seemed less pleased about the whole thing. Maybe Silverman has incriminating pictures of him. Maybe the rumors about the ABC deal were much exaggerated.

I dunno. But if a major network (does NBC still qualify?) gives you five hours of primetime a week to play with and a ridiculous salary, you think you'd be able to at least fake a little excitement, right?

Ask not for whom the bell tolls...

2008-12-08T12:34:00.001-08:00

It tolls for TV.

Cutting back on primetime hours because you can't find enough good programming to fill primetime seems like cutting off your nose to spite your face, but cable and the Internet are dilluting the audience like nobody's business. It's very similar to what's happened to newspapers.

One thing I often think about: In an On-demand world, will there be anything worth demanding?

More NBC handwringing here.

Links, we got links

2008-12-04T08:00:00.001-08:00

“ER” signs off March 12. I guess that show has so little gas left in the tank that the final episode isn’t even worth a May sweeps stunt.

“Knight Rider” is finally put out of its misery. God that was godawful.

Showtime’s bringing its most distasteful product back for another season. Why?

Just because it’s funny and I love Tiny Fey. (Also, first picture? Hilarious. The rest? Still hot).

Another nail in the “Friday Night Lights” coffin. Is anyone watching that on DirecTV?

You thought Halloween was last month. But zombies still walk the earth.

“Reaper” returns. I’m so hopeful… and so scared. I’m also about the only one who cares.

Well that's no way to start a Friday

2008-11-21T08:18:00.001-08:00

My fave, "Pushing Daisies," gone. "Dirty Sexy Money" and "Eli Stone," too. "DSM" is a little bit of a surprise.

I've always thought "Daisies" would be a better fit on HBO or Showtime, although I don't really see it happening.

And, in all fairness, this week's episode was meh.

There are still a few episodes of each in the can, so this isn't their final curtain, merely their death knell.

Another DTV test

2008-11-18T15:45:00.000-08:00

KKTV/Channel 11 will be doing additional DTV tests on Wednesday, Nov. 19 during all of their newscasts. If you're watching on a TV that's not digital ready, you'll get a message saying you need to upgrade. I'm wondering, though: If you're watching on a TV that's not digital-ready, how likely is it that you're reading a blog?

The coming digital apocalypse

2008-11-17T07:29:00.001-08:00

I had a story on the digital television transition in Sunday's paper. Someone sent me this helpful video guide in response:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/36608/talkshow-with-spike-feresten-cable-psa

Another two bite the dust

2008-11-13T07:28:00.000-08:00

NBC pulled the plug on “My Own Worst Enemy” and “Lipstick Jungle.” Fortunately, Brooke Shields will still be on TV as much as ever in those Volkswagen ads.

The networks have been giving their new shows a little longer leash than they usually do, mostly because there’s not many replacements on tap due to the strike. Still, it’s been a brutal year for new shows and everyone who is working on a show other than CBS’ “The Mentalist” should not be making Spring break plans.

Sadly, that includes my pet show, “Pushing Daisies.” I still think that show might have done better on HBO or Showtime, but creator Bryan Fuller already has plans to finish the story arc off-line. Sad.

The final countdown...

2008-11-10T07:22:00.000-08:00

Someone in a previous comment thread asked about the digital television transition - specifically, what happens to analog cable when the TV stations shut off their analog transmitters on Feb. 17, 2009.

Nothing. Nothing happens to analog cable. If you have cable or satellite, you're sitting pretty - for at least a few more years. If you, or your mom or your gram-ma-ma has a TV that's not digital and not hooked up to cable or satellite, you need to get a digital conversion box. They cost about $50.

Thing is, the government offers coupons to pay for those boxes (well, $40 of them) at www.dtv2009.com. But unless you apply for the coupon now, it won't reach you in time to buy a converter box.

Alles clar der commisar?

"Ghost Hunters" coming to Manitou

2008-11-06T10:53:00.000-08:00

If there are any spirits hanging out at the Briarhurst Manor in Manitou Springs, they may want to head south for the winter.

The 130-year-old mansion, now a restaurant, was one of three finalists for the Sci Fi Channel’s “Great American Ghost Hunt.” All three finalists presented their cases on Halloween night during a live investigation of Fort Delaware by the cable channel’s “Ghost Hunters” program, with the winner getting a full investigation by the “Ghost Hunters” team.

Then on Wednesday’s results episode of the show, head ghost hunters Grant Wilson and Jason Hawes announced that they’d be investigating all three finalists.

Colorado Springs residents and Briarhurst historians Tammila and Erick Wright traveled to Fort Delaware to make the case for the Briarhurst — where strange noises, mysterious footprints and unexplained happenings have convinced them the place is haunted.

he Wrights said they’re thrilled “Ghost Hunters” is coming.

“I get to start telling people all the ghost stories that we have,” Tammila Wright said. “We’re pretty excited.”

The show will tape at the Briarhurst later this winter and the episode should air sometime in the spring, Tammila Wright said.

The Wrights had a couple spooky experiences of their own while spending the night at Fort Delaware, which was once a Civil War prison camp. Erik Wright saw something large and grey run past him. Later, Tammila Wright said something as big as herself ran past her and into the night.

“I felt like someone was running on the left side of me,” she said. “I thought it was going to run me over. That really freaked me out bad.”

Until the “Ghost Hunters” show up, the Wrights have set up a Web site to collect ghost stories about the Briarhurst at www.hauntedbriarhurst.com.

A gentle reminder

2008-11-06T07:22:00.001-08:00

That you're actually supposed to be reading this blog here.

Everything's the same, I promise you, only with more soothing colors and a video embedding function that works much better (along with a photo embedding function that sucks eggs).

That is all.

Help me Obama-wan, you're my only hope

2008-11-05T10:01:00.000-08:00

CNN debuts hologram @ Yahoo! Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thOxW19vsTg

Commercial free?

2008-11-04T10:25:00.000-08:00

How about an actual television post, for old times' sakes?

KOAA is touting that they'll do their 10 p.m. commercial-free tonight to stay on top of the election results. I think that's perfectly reasonable, although I'd imagine most of the races will be decided well before then - certainly the presidential race and probably most of the statewide races. They'll look smart if decisive results for something big come in right at 10 p.m.

Personally, I don't have a problem with stations running commercials while they continue to scroll results across the bottom. Then again, I've got a pretty big TV, so that may be part of it.

Where are the rest of you turning for your election TV? I'm working tonight, so I'll be lucky to catch a few minutes of "The Daily Show's" "live" coverage while I flip between the locals and the cable nets.

UPDATE: KKTV is going commercial-free, too. On further reflection, I think this is less of a stunt than I was thinking before - I mean, not everyone is as big a politics geek as me. Probably plenty of people are putting their kids to bed and watching the news at 10 like they do every other day.

Tony D back on 1300, 5-8 p.m.

2008-11-04T07:14:00.001-08:00

I didn't get a chance to listen last night, but he's back on 1300, weeknights 5-8.

Also, what are people thinking of the new KRXP (103.9 FM)? I have yet to hear either Hootie or the Blowfish, so clearly I am incapable of rendering a final decision.

UPDATED UPDATE: In other radio news (are we still calling this TV Talk?), former KVOR morning host Laurie White is returning to the air on Friday with a new show on KKKK (1580 AM). It's apparently this radio shopping deal. I e-mailed Laurie asking how that's going to work- I'll let you know.

The Eagle has landed

2008-10-30T06:20:00.000-07:00

Classic rock station KYZX (103.9 FM) re-launched itself this morning as KRXP "Colorado's Rock Experience."

Program director Jason Janc said the new format would incorporate more current music and bring in younger listeners.

"Classic rock is always evolving," he said.

Expect to hear artists like Sheryl Crow, Matchbox 20, Maroon 5 and Live on the reformatted KRXP, Janc said, along with the Rolling Stones and Aerosmith the station was already playing. Although there's some crossover with stations like adult contemporary KVUU (99.9 FM), Janc said no one in Colorado Springs has the same format.

"We're trying to do something new," he said. "You'll get the rock hits: It should be one familiar song after another."

KYZX typically trailed classic rock rival KKFM (98.1 FM) in the Arbitron ratings. The format switch may mean that the station will compete more with KVUU, KKPK (92.9 FM) and KDZA (107.9 FM) than KKFM.

Here's some socialism we can get behind

2008-10-29T12:52:00.000-07:00

Sen. Ken Salazar leans on the NFL:

"DENVER, CO – United States Senator Ken Salazar and a bipartisan group of
13 senators have sent a letter urging National Football League Commissioner
Roger Goodell to make NFL games widely available to fans in markets outside
cities in which NFL teams are based.

On Nov. 6, the NFL is scheduled to begin restricting games to the
NFL Network in areas not considered part of the ‘home market’ of a team.
As a result, many viewers in the Colorado Springs and Grand Junction media
markets will not be able to watch the November 6 game between the Denver Broncos
and the Cleveland Browns. The NFL is not considering Colorado Springs,
Pueblo, Grand Junction, Durango, and other communities outside the Denver
television market to be part of the Denver Broncos’ home market.

“We in Colorado love to watch our Broncos and we should continue
to be able to see the games on television throughout the state,” said Sen.
Salazar. “The NFL’s narrow interpretation of a ‘home market’ does a
disservice to fans across Colorado and across the country. The NFL needs
to change course, and it should start by allowing all Coloradans to watch the
Broncos pound the Browns next Thursday.”

My interpretation: "You know who's going to have 60 votes in the Senate after Tuesday? Not you, Roger."

Never say never again

2008-10-29T07:47:00.001-07:00

The name’s Desiere, Tony Desiere.

The former host of the Tony D show on KKML (1300 AM) “The Sports Animal” will apparently soon be back behind the mike and on the airwaves. On 1300, oddly enough.

The station switched from sports to classic country two months ago, when Desiere was let go in a cost-cutting move. The format won’t change, but country will take a break for Desiere’s show weekdays 5-8 p.m.

The first show is supposed to be in early November.

DirecTV adds most local channels in HD

2008-10-24T08:54:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: Sorry, I meant to do this on Friday. DirecTV says they're still talking to KRDO, sounded positive that something would be worked out (and why wouldn't it be - there's no advantage to KRDO to holding back when everyone else is on board, right?).

KTSC said it's a technical problem on their end that's holding things up. They have the required parts on order and PBS should be in HD on DirecTV by the end of the year.

ORIGINAL POST:

DirecTV is finally offering Colorado Springs local channels in HD. That would be the good news. The caveat is that DirecTV and KRDO didn’t come to agreement, so no ABC-HD. And no KTSC/PBS.

To which I, and everyone, says, “Huh?” I’m checking on it…

Still no word on when Dish will add HD locals.

Here’s the DirecTV press release:
Oct 22, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — WHAT: DIRECTV, Inc., the nation’s leading satellite television serviceprovider, is now offering local HD programming to customers in the Colorado Springs-Pueblo, Colo., designated market area. The following broadcast networks are available in HD: KOAA/NBC, KKTV/CBS and KXRM/FOX. With the addition of Colorado Springs-Pueblo, Colo., DIRECTV now offers local HD broadcast channels in 103 cities, representing nearly 85 percent of U.S. TV households.By the end of 2008, DIRECTV will provide local HD broadcast channels in more than 121 cities, representing approximately 88 percent of U.S. TV households.WHEN: Beginning today, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008.HOW: To receive DIRECTV’s local HD programming, customers must have an H20 or H21 HD receiver or an HR20 or HR21 DIRECTV Plus(R) HD DVR and a Ka/Ku band dish. For information on how to get DIRECTV HD consumers can visit DIRECTV.com.Eligibility for local channels is based on service address within certain designated market areas as defined by Nielsen Media Research, Inc. Visit DIRECTV.com for more information.

Arbitron radio ratings

2008-10-23T13:50:00.000-07:00

The latest radio ratings, courtesy of Arbitron.

Some interesting nuggets in the list: KILO continues its strong run. KKMG opens up a wide lead on KIBT. Cat Country KATC handily beat KCCY both overall and in the 25-54 demographic. KVUU continues to slide in favor of KDZA (what are they calling it? Jet 107?).

And way down at the bottom of the list are a bunch of intriguing things. KRYE comes in at 22nd with a regional Mexican format on 104.9 FM.

I think that frequency was once supposed to be part of the great KKCS-to-Denver maneuvering that ended up killing KKCS dead as a doornail.

Speaking of which, the station that took over KKCS old frequency, "La Grande D" KGDQ (101.9 FM), flipped its format from regional Mexican to smooth jazz back in June (and just missed showing up in these numbers).

And the station that took over the KCS moniker, if not the call letters, KCSF (1300 AM), makes an appearance at No. 21.

And we still have no sports radio in the Springs. Sorry, World Series fans.

1. KILO (94.3 FM)
2. KKLI (106.3 FM)
3. (tie) KATC (95.1 FM)
KVOR (740 AM)
5. KKMG (98.9 FM)
6. KKPK (92.9 FM)
7. KKFM (98.1 FM)
8. KCCY (96.9 FM)
9. KDZA (107.9 FM)
10. KBIQ (102.7 FM)
11. KVUU (99.9 FM)
12. KIBT (96.1 FM)
13. (tie) KOA (850 AM)
KYZX (103.9 FM)
15. KRDO (105.5 FM and 1240 AM)
16. KZNT (1460 AM)
17. KHOW (630 AM)
18. (tie) KCMN (1530 AM)
KGFT (100.7 FM)
20. KPHT (95.5 FM)\
21. KCSF (1300 AM)
22. KRYE (104.9 FM)

A post in which I predict the future... poorly

2008-10-22T12:10:00.001-07:00

Here's an interesting story in which former Washington Post editor Len Downie Jr. ponders whether the Internet is more likely to kill off newspapers or television news. He's coming from the perspective of the very large, very well-funded Washington Post, but his argument has some relevance locally.

The survival of newspapers is, naturally, a subject near and dear to my heart. Generally, I've thought that losing audience to the Web challenges TV and newspapers in a similar way, but that newspapers had a several-year head start on the firing line (compared to TV news) because of the relatively recent emergence of Web video.

While newspapers can and do shoot video and put it on their Web sites, telling a story with both video and text is more often the exception than the rule (you can see a bunch of our video stories at http://www.gazette.com/video/). TV news stations seem to have an easier time writing text versions of reporters' stories to place on their Web site (although those stories sometimes read like afterthoughts).

TV news on the Web, however, is still limited to the kind of stories TV news does on TV - there are a lot of stories you read in the newspaper that TV news generally doesn't cover. Newspapers also have an advantage in that they usually have a local monopoly: There's only one daily newspaper in Colorado Springs, but there are four competing TV news departments. And newspapers have more reporters than TV stations do. Of course, economic pressures and falling print circulations are shrinking that gap, so being able to produce the news with fewer reporters might be a long-term advantage for television.

The real problem for local news on the Web, no matter who produces it, is that there isn't a strong financial model to pay for it. The Internet aggregates content and creates online communities extremely well, but it's a poor platform for localization. Most advertising goes to search ads at Google and Yahoo, but those ads are, thus far, not that useful if you want coupons for the local Safeway or to advertise the stamp shop you own. A newspaper or a television station is a fine platform for local advertising, but online, those local sites are competing against the New York Times and Google News and every other news source on the planet.

What happens next is something I think about a lot, but I have no good answers for. Will slimmed-down versions of our current news products continue to straddle both worlds? Could a single news source, either from a newspaper or a TV station, become dominant in a community, thereby attracting a large enough online audience for the economics to work? If advertising-supported local news was no longer econmically viable, would new news sources - perhaps subscription-supported, or paid for by non-profits or partisan organizations - pop up to replace them?

Um, maybe?

Goodbye "SNL," hello "Daily Show"

2008-10-21T13:28:00.000-07:00

This news item about "The Daily Show's" Rob Riggle getting his own CBS sitcom plays into a theme I've been thinking about recently: "The Daily Show's" utter domination of "Saturday Night Live" as a starmaking machine.

This is sort of a weird time to bridge the topic, given all the attention "SNL" has garnered recently for Tina Fey's Sarah Palin imitation (which perhaps culminated last weekend with the Palin cameo).

But really, look around: "The Office" has two "Daily Show" alums - not to mention Steve Carell's burgeoning movie career - Jason Jones was guest-starring on "How I Met Your Mother" last night, Rob Corddry has done movies, Mo Rocca is annoyingly ubiquitous on cable... I'm probably missing a few others. And that's leaving out Stephen Colbert, who never left the network.

And, over roughly the same period, "Saturday Night Live" has produced who exactly? Tina Fey. That's it, really. If you go back before 2000, when Jon Stewart took over at "The Daily Show," you'd get Will Ferrell, Tracy Morgan, Chris Kattan, Jimmy Fallon and Darrell Hammond, but since "TDS" hit its modern era, it's clearly eclipsed "SNL" as a launch pad.

There's an obvious irony here, given that Riggle was actually on "Saturday Night Live" for a season. But it was clearly "The Daily Show" that made him famous.

Now, I might also argue that "The Daily Show" manages to be funnier two hours a week (half an hour, Monday through Thursday), all year long than "SNL" does with its 90 minutes 16 or 20 episodes a year (I'm not really sure how many episodes "SNL" averages these days, but it ain't year-round. Obviously, playing off the news helps keep the half-hour moving along, but that's a big part of "SNL," too, and pretty often "SNL" can't do it.

I know, I know, people have been complaining about how much "SNL" sucks and how good the show used to be since about five minutes after it premiered in 1975, but I think if you simply look at it empirically "TDS" is a more successful comedy show.

Now, having said all that, Todd Palin in a snowmobile suit was comedy gold. And anyone wondering whether "The Daily Show" can be anywhere nearly as funny in an Obama administration... my guess would be, "No."

Actual bumper sticker actually printed by the thousands over at NBC

2008-10-15T14:14:00.001-07:00

Oh bad television. Why do I love you so?

UPDATE: I'm not the only one, apparently. Despite unimpressive ratings, "Knight Rider" just earned a full season pickup. Um, congratulations on your craptacularness?

Ghost Hunters at the Briarhurst Manor

2008-10-14T09:34:00.000-07:00

The Sci Fi Channel's popular "Ghost Hunters" reality show has been filming this week at Briarhurst Manor in Manitou Springs for a Halloween special.

Manager John Kerr said the crew has apparently been successful in the hunt.

"It makes me not want to come to work," he said.

The hunters also visited the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, a perennial favorite on the show.

The show plans to finish taping today. The special airs Oct. 31.

CORRECTION: Jason and Grant and the rest were not actually in Manitou, at least not yet. Turns out, the Briarhurst is a finalist in a contest Sci Fi will run during the Halloween live show, in which viewers can vote for which of three finalists gets a visit from the Ghost Hunting troops. So the filming going on there now is for a segment that will run during the Oct. 31 event.

I'm back

2008-10-13T09:11:00.001-07:00

Someone needs to make a driving video game based on Naples traffic. It would be the most exciting thing ever.

Also, next time you're in Tuscany, you must go to Volterra and have dinner at Del Duca. It will be ridiculously expensive, but it will be worth it.

That's all, until I get the chance to mind-meld with my DVR.