Wednesday, September 06, 2006

My YTV's Debut

We weren't close enough to Youngstown to catch the video, but we heard the audio simulcast of WYTV/33's sister station and its signature program - "My YTV"'s afternoon talk show "For the People" - on Cumulus standards WSOM/600 Salem.

Aside from a few first-day glitches, the show in general sounded to us a lot like a radio simulcast of a public affairs show.

Well, maybe not as dry as most Sunday morning shows aired by radio and TV stations, but the show does seem to have a high-minded interest in fueling the brains of viewers and listeners. (We'll see how that goes over.)

The show also gives WYTV a chance to heavily promote on radio not only its new MyNetworkTV digital/cable sister station, but its own 5 PM newscast. WYTV anchor Vince Bevacqua co-hosts "For the People", and we heard a typical "here's what we're working on for 33 News at 5" promo for that newscast during the show's simulcast on WSOM.

The rest of the "My YTV" programming day, aside from the MNT programming, the talk show, a 10 PM edition of "33 News" and a sports show after that, seems to consist mainly of very old "classic TV" shows like "I Love Lucy" and "Happy Days" and repeats of the local programming. Oh, Martha Stewart and new talker Greg Behrendt are in there as well, along with a couple of recent sitcom repeats.

And though the new station has managed low channel number placement on Valley cable systems owned by Comcast (3) and Armstrong (13), a peek at the programming schedule shows that dominant provider Time Warner Cable will air it on...cable channel 534, up near the HDTV simulcasts, and we believe right next to WYTV's own HDTV simulcast at 533.

It reminds us of TWC's channel placement of Canton independent LPTVer WIVM-LP/52...585...

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I watched all day yesterday (videotaped/tivoed it) and I have to admit how are they making money? ALL of the programs have commericals breaks that are nothing more than PSA's for God's sake!!! The morning classic TV block are all shows from CBS Paramont and were purshased on a cash basis : http://www.paramounttv.com/syndicationbible.htm . The weekend programs looks like they are from America one : http://www.americaone.com/ . So really I don't get it. The programs are done in blocks like my morning news, my classic TV, and my home ideas. But from a local programming point it was one hell of a fun train wreck to watch. Errors evey 5 seconds and noone seemed to care. As for the primetime, well after seeing a promo for fox faith during fashion house it shows you where this network is going. BTW the end credits for MyTV list the shows being from My Network TV and not 20th television/fox and the promotional considerations are most of the end credits. Hell it is a great start with lots of potiental but maybe if they add reruns of cheers,mash,roseanee,and married with children it could get better.

Anonymous said...

Aren't trainwrecks fun? The TV kind, at least. If mytv in y-town & c-town have one consolation, it's that hardly anyone is watching the drech.

Anonymous said...

After yesterday, I can safely tell you that my-ytv and my network tv will not be on my viewing choice. I did enjoy the train wreck with the million plus mistakes and as for those damn psa's well I am thining twice about the make a wish foundation. I hate to say it but I am missing WUAB and Kevin Treadeau/paid program a thon and second and thrid showings of Maury and Jerry outside of WBCB/WYFX.

Anonymous said...

I thought it was strange when Beturm De Suza was talking on talk on the town and mentioning how WFMJ had right to first refusal on yesterdays debate and making it known where the debate was held and why it was held there. Then on my sports talk the first caller asked if they were going to tape local high school sports events and made mention to the fact that one other station was already doing that (refeering to WYFX). Bob Hannon said that they were unable to do this in the past beacause ABC was not happy when they would preempt yet they preempt left and right. BTW I thought that broke broadcasting rule one: don't promote the competition.

Anonymous said...

Speaking of for the people,does the downtown news studio has bullet proof glass? Just curious.

Anonymous said...

What a fun night it was Friday 7/27, watching the per-recorded broadcast of MyYTV. It was somewhat of a comical continuation of WYTV's news story on July 4th, which was also a Vince fireworks story with State Representative Robert Hagen. on 7/27, Vince was interviewing Bob Dean, Warren City Council member, on the topic of fireworks. Mr. Dean is a staunch supporter of cracking down on fireworks in his town (something Boardman should listen to!). Mr. Deam was adamant that minors should be arrested for their use, and the parents of those minors should be arrested and held accountable as well. Mr. Dean said that one of the problems is when kids let off bottle rockets and fireworks in the middle of the street. Vince seemed extremely uncomfortable with Mr. Dean's position and his comments. Vince seemed to be continuously looking for a situation that Mr. Deam approved of. Gotta tell you why...on the late afternoon of July 4th Vince was in the street at the end of his driveway letting off fireworks with his kids! The reason it was so ignorant on Vince's part is that the story he did the night of July 4th on WYTV had Hagan saying that the folks who sign letters saying they are taking fireworks out of state, then use those fireworks in state are liars. And there was Vince and his family, blasting away on the 4th. Wonder how goofy he felt that night! No wonder you could see him twiddling his pen at the bottom of the shot when Mr. Dean was on camera. And, to put icing on the cake, Vince's cell phone went off in the middle of the interview, and he giggles that he should know better, and that it was just his brother from Massachusetts. WOOOPS!! Seconds later the phone toned that a message had been left...talk about an unprofessional goof!