MONDAY, MARCH 1ST, 2021 - Media and Entertainment

MONDAY, MARCH 1ST, 2021 - Media and Entertainment

The first day of March.  In your area is March coming in a lion or as a lamb?

This week I’m writing about MEDIA and ENTERTAINMENT.

Growing up, “Media” -  (to me) meant KCRG, WMT, KWWL television (and later PBS), and then a few radio stations.  For radio, my parents listened to WMT - which was kind of a mix between news, weather, easy talk (not interviews, not with an agenda, mostly public service kind of interviews), and maybe a song or too an hour - and then what might be called ‘easy listening’. And, likewise, it seemed as if we watched WMT news.  

I find it interesting that call letters were frequently acronyms - WMT was “Waterloo Morning Tribune” (although it was in Cedar Rapids, not Waterloo); and KCRG was named from the Cedar Rapids Gazette.  

These stations had media “personalities” - Tate Cummings was the long-time sports announcer with Ron Gonwer.  On the Friday night scoreboard, if the Boscobel Wisconsin high school football team won (which wasn’t in our television coverage), Tate would say “And, they are dancing in the streets in Boscobel tonight (and give the score). Bob Bruner did the news (and my father had a resemblance to him as both were bald - with the semi-circular fringe).  WMT radio did a 15-minute lunch program with Dean Lanfair - and - since it was half-a-block from my parent’s candy shop - I frequented and sat in the audience.

WMT had a Christmas program series in December, where local schools came to the studio to record a mini-Christmas concert.  My high school choir (Cedar Rapids Jefferson) was on every year.  (And, most of the local school choirs).  And - they got viewers!!

My sister is three years older - and thus got into music media.  She listened to Pat Boone, Tab Hunter, Paul Anka, Fabian, and the singers of the 1950s.  I’m not sure what radio station she listened to - but she got into the Beatles long before I did.  

We also read the Cedar Rapids Gazette newspaper- and I was a Gazette carrier.  It was an evening paper at that time - and kids like me could deliver the paper after school.  I was even the newspaper carrier of the week once!!  YEEHAW!!!  

Then every week I had to collect for the paper.  45 cents for the week, or $1.80 for four weeks.  Most of my customers were good but I remember one who never seemed ready to pay.  I walked on my route although some rode bikes.  I think my occasional numbness on my fingers and toes in super cold weather goes back to those days delivering papers!!!  And, I saved my money.  My sister will tell you I still have my first nickel!!  And, between my summer jobs and my newspaper money, I pretty much paid for my college education!!!

One memory that has been in my mind for years was local television advertising.  It seemed like a furniture (or other) store would have a President’s Day sale.  The TV ad would say the sale ended on a particular day.  And, then low-and-behold, the sale was extended.  WOW - somebody at that store must have decided that the sale was good and called the TV station to say “We’re going to extend that sale” (or, conversely, they didn’t sell all the stuff they wanted to sell, so extended the sale”.  

I guess I was naive and was amazed how they had the new ads are already written and ready to go - just when the sale was to end.  (Not understanding merchandising - that, of course, they knew they were going to extend the sale).

In a similar vein, the college bookstore always had a BIG sale in February.  BIG was an acronym for “Boss Is Gone” - so while the boss went to a college bookstore meeting, the employees would run the bookstore - and since the boss was gone, there would be bargains galore!!!  (Didn’t the boss approve the sales in advance?)

Along the line, I learned that ratings were important.  I don’t remember my parents ever getting a Nielsen rating letter (I have had a few) - but those ratings and viewership made a difference in advertising.  If (say) WMTs evening news got a 40 share and KCRGs evening news got a 10 share, WMT could (and would) charge more for advertisers to promote their products and services.  

Maybe I’ve become jaded over the years.  How many commercials have I seen?  Yes, everything has a cost - and television and newspapers have expenses.  Advertisers pay to get their spot in front of viewers - and the bigger (or more appropriate the audience), the better.

I play some games on my iPhone.  One game takes about 10 seconds per level - and then it is followed by a 30-second advertisement - BOO!!!  (I frequently close the game and come back in a few seconds later).  In that case, yes, I am “paying” for entertainment by being exposed to ads.  In that case, the end (30-second ads) doesn’t justify the mean (10-second game).  

So, paying for entertainment - let’s see.

For example, Joe Buck, who announces for NFL football on Fox and also does MLB baseball games makes approximately 6 million dollars a year. Others get paid more, and many others get paid less.  So, who pays Joe Buck’s salary?  Well, Fox Sports probably writes the check (or the direct deposit), but how does Fox Sports make its money?  Through advertising.  And, who advertises NFL football games?  Products that appeal to football sports fans - beer, trucks (and cars), and a variety of other companies.  I can’t remember a Hobby Lobby or Michael’s Craft ad on NFL football - but that is logical - most NFL fans don’t do sewing or crafts.

Even in the local market, ratings and money make a difference. (Even KHGI - Kearney, Hastings, and Grand Island Nebraska!!)  FOLLOW THE MONEY!!

More in the next few days.

LOVE WINS!!

HUGS!!

Karen