WFLA-TV Announces Enhanced Labeling of Paid Programming
04 November 2003 - 11:46PM
PR Newswire (US)
WFLA-TV Announces Enhanced Labeling of Paid Programming TAMPA,
Fla., Nov. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Reflecting the station's long-standing
practice of, and commitment to, clearly differentiating between its
news coverage and its entertainment programming, including any paid
advertising segments, WFLA-TV today announced changes to the on-air
labeling of any paid segments on its entertainment program
"Daytime." Eric S. Land, president and general manager of WFLA,
said, "Our popular morning entertainment program Daytime has always
identified any paid advertising segments at the conclusion of every
show along with other program credits. Moreover, these segments
have generally been obvious by their nature. They are personal
appearances by advertisers, who use their time to talk about their
products and services. However, it recently was brought to our
attention that viewers who do not watch the closing credits might
not realize which segments on the program were paid advertising and
which were not. As a result, we have decided that, effective
immediately, any paid advertising segments on Daytime will be
introduced as such immediately preceding that segment, in addition
to the existing closing credit identification. This should
eliminate any remaining possibility for confusion." Mr. Land
pointed out that the Daytime show has always been visibly separate
from WFLA's news programming. No WFLA journalists are involved in
any element of Daytime. It uses none of WFLA's news sets and
includes no news or weather cut-ins. Its style, appearance and
personnel are clearly separate from WFLA's news content. WFLA's
news logo "WFLA News Channel 8" never appears on Daytime. Mr. Land
further noted that Daytime has been very successful since it was
launched two years ago and is often the #1 program in its time
period. Many local advertisers find it a valuable way to showcase
their products and services in more detail than can be accomplished
in traditional spot advertising. "All of us at WFLA are proud of
the quality of our news coverage, our entertainment programming,
and our commitment to keeping them separate. WFLA didn't get to be
Florida's #1 television station by compromising our principles and
ethics. We never have, and we never will," Mr. Land said.
DATASOURCE: WFLA-TV CONTACT: Eric S. Land of WFLA-TV,
+1-813-221-5740, ; or Lou Anne J. Nabhan of Media General,
+1-804-649-6103, Web site: http://www.mediageneral.com/
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