Fun_People Archive
2 Dec
Cash Giveaway - The Zen of Public Relations

Date: Sat, 2 Dec 95 01:12:33 -0800
From: Peter Langston <psl>
To: Fun_People
Subject: Cash Giveaway - The Zen of Public Relations

Forwarded-by: bostic@bsdi.com (Keith Bostic)
Forwarded-by: AJMain@aol.com

Cash Giveaway
	-- By Denis Murphy, (nbc36@vnet.net) WCNC, Charlotte, NC

Here at WCNC, we have been struggling to compete with our rival stations
who have been reduced to giving away huge sums of money to lure viewers
during sweeps months. This year, the market's number-one station,  ABC
affiliate WSOC-TV, is giving away "up to $1 million," while WBTV, the number
2, has topped that with a supposed $1.5 million giveaway. To win the money,
you must match "lottery" style numbers (mailed to Charlotte area residents
and also available in local fast-food restaurants) against winning numbers
aired during commercial breaks during the 5, 5:30 and 6pm newscasts.  Not
wishing to get into the cash giveaway game,  WCNC decided instead to display
our competitors' winning numbers as they are drawn. So instead of having to
flick channels to watch 2 newscasts simultaneously for a briefly appearing
winning number, contest participants can watch our newscasts and wait for
the winning numbers to be displayed at the bottom of the screen, for up to
10 minutes.  Our ratings have doubled as a result.

© 1995 Peter Langston