[opendtv] SURPRISING QUESTIONS RAISED AT RENO COMMUNITY DTV MEETING
- From: dan.grimes@xxxxxxxx
- To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:36:07 -0700
Thursday, June 19th, 2008
The NEVADA Broadcaster
THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE NEVADA BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION
SURPRISING QUESTIONS RAISED AT RENO COMMUNITY DTV MEETING
As Nevada's television stations edge closer to the all important date of
February 17, 2009, a surprising set of questions were raised at the
second NBA sponsored DTV Community Meeting that was held last week in
Reno. The meeting was hosted at KRNV-TV on Friday afternoon, June 13,
2008.
There was a diversity of opinions being expressed during the 90-minute
meeting, from an audience that included representation from all of the
Reno television stations -- general managers, production staff, sales
staff and broadcast engineers. The station manager from KENV-TV in Elko
was also present.
Once again RC Willey was represented -- both with the store manager and
his DTV sales executive. The Reno store has already sponsored three
public training sessions. At their second meeting, 400 people attended.
Representatives came from the City of Sparks, the Nevada Association of
Counties, the Nevada State Cable and Telecommunications Association and
Charter Cable. Also in attendance were representatives from the Reno
offices of Senator John Ensign and Congressman Dean Heller.
One of the heaviest hitters in America’s upcoming DTV Conversion was
present and served as the featured guest speaker -- Tony Wilhelm,
Director, Consumer Education and Public Information, TV Converter Box
Coupon Program, NTIA, US Department of Commerce.
Three themes emerged during this meeting, and will be followed up at
next Monday's scheduled second NBA sponsored DTV Community Meeting being
held in Las Vegas:
A CLEARER MESSAGE
Despite the tremendous efforts of the National Association of
Broadcasters, the clarity of the message being communicated on all of
Nevada's television stations was questioned again and again. "We need
standard language from station to station." "Simplify the message."
"Explain the basics." One person even complained that "as soon as the
word "analog" is mentioned, you have lost half the audience on what you
are trying to say."
CONVERTER BOXES
Among the questions discussed were the availability, reliability, and
what / when to purchase the converter boxes. As the discussion moved
towards the translator situation -- critical throughout rural Nevada,
there was a difference of opinion. One of Reno's leading broadcast
engineers advised that the rural public should "get their box and put
them away." But NTIA advised "the viewing public needs to order their
coupons and purchase their converter box sooner, rather than later."
CAPTURE THE EXCITEMENT
Missing from all the ads -- which several general managers acknowledged
the public is already growing tired of watching, is the sheer excitement
of DTV, from the remarkable quality of the picture and sound, to the
multi casting of programming. "Do it now and you will get more
channels!" This message needs to be incorporated in future ads.
The next Reno meeting will be scheduled during September and will be
held at KOLO-TV. KENV-TV has also requested that a community meeting be
held in Elko. The NBA is considering holding two meetings on one day --
an afternoon session and an evening session; to be followed by a session
totally in Spanish on the following day.
SETTING THE STAGE FOR LAS VEGAS
KVBC-TV is the site of next Monday afternoon's DTV Community Meeting.
The June 23rd meeting will be held from 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM. To ensure
the success of the feedback that we need to hear, television general
managers have been asked to not only attend the meeting, but to bring
with them their key staff responsible for the transition. Every station
has also been encouraged to spread the word that this is a "community"
meeting.
Other related posts:
