Promotion in times of Emergency

[Mom]

I logged onto several local stations in the midwest (where I used to live) to get some more specific updates on flooding and sandbagging and to see video of where flooding has already occured, who's most threatened, etc. On one station's website they had plenty of video stories to view. One problem. In between every single story (and in some cases not even stories, just more footage) I had to watch a 15-20 second promo on how I should log onto their website to win prizes!!!! Stories of people coping and working their a$$es off to try to save their homes interspersed with some hyped up male voice trying to get me excited about tickets to Six Flags. COME ON! This is not only in bad taste and disrespectful and as lame as lame can get, but it's a stupid move by the station. I gave up on watching video after I had to watch the same promo 4 times within the course of about 2 minutes. Another station had the same kind of promotion at the start of their video stories but I only had to view it once. Neither had advertisers "sponsoring" the flooding which I was thankful for but it seems to me that a station needs to be promoting its coverage during times like this, not how you can win prizes.

Thoughts?

[SamG]

It's probably an automatic thing. If you go to the website and watch the video from the state baseball tournament, it probably does the same thing. That's one of those "set it and forget it" things.

Go ahead and email the station (probably won't do anything, but it can't hurt). All it takes is for one management type person to see it and have the web guy change it.

[The Mockingbird]

Don't forget to keep watching this thread for your chance to reply, and win fabulous prizes!!!!

[Ping-Pong Ball]

It could be worse, they could be promoting their flood coverage...nothing like a little gratuitous self-promotion off a major tragedy. Like a news operation is going to miss the biggest story in years, possibly decades.

As ad dollars get tighter, expect more questionable sponsorships. It's going to get real bad, especially when presidential election years are usually biggest money making years for local TV stations and many places are already scrapping the bottom of the barrel.

[The Mockingbird]

And don't forget, Action 7 News will reward one lucky viewer with a lifesaving helicopter ride to higher ground!

Just watch every night at ten to see if your name is called!

[Mom]

The promos were gone from the website when I checked it today. Am I to assume that ...

A) Someone(s) from that station reads Medialine?

B) Viewers complained?

C) They just removed the promos on their own initiative?

D) The promotion ended and they had no prizes left?

[MOCR]

I'll choose D.

[NewsguyMark]

Nothing classier than using death and carnage to promo your 11....

No wonder people hate TV news!

[News Is Broken]

And don't forget, Action 7 News will reward one lucky viewer with a lifesaving helicopter ride to higher ground!

Just watch every night at ten to see if your name is called!

I sure hope they call my name tonight. I had to sleep in the attic.

[Sigonfile]

Just wait, the stations are already working on their "Special Edition Flood Coverage 2008" specials which will air prime time. Stay tuned for such catchy tunes as, "Who'll Stop the Rain" and "Drove my Chevy to the Levee".
Also, you'll see your favorite reporter standing in flood waters with sandbaggers tossing sandbags behind them. You can bet every resume tape in the Midwest will have a reporter's "flood pkg" on it.

[Roy Hobbs]

Just wait, the stations are already working on their "Special Edition Flood Coverage 2008" specials which will air prime time. Stay tuned for such catchy tunes as, "Who'll Stop the Rain" and "Drove my Chevy to the Levee".
Also, you'll see your favorite reporter standing in flood waters with sandbaggers tossing sandbags behind them. You can bet every resume tape in the Midwest will have a reporter's "flood pkg" on it.

When I was a reporter the best I could manage was flood pants...
http://images.buycostumes.com/mgen/merchandiser/12523.jpg

[Sigonfile]

I have come to the conclusion that "living will kill you" in today's world.