WKBD Responded!
I didn’t think they’d do it, or do it so fast. But UPN50 responded, right away, and with some really condescending things to say. I’m considering sending their response to all their advertisers….
<response>
We have received your email message and thank you for your interest in “Star Trek: Enterprise.”
The number of Detroit Pistons games and Big Ten Basketball games we air are contracted and scheduled before the season starts and we must comply with our contracts. Unfortunately, we can not always pick and choose the games we would like to broadcast and some occasionally fall on Wednesday nights, much as we attempt to schedule around them. But of course, last night’s Pistons’ game was chosen specifically because it was the home opener and we have been carrying the Pistons games for over three decades.
We know it is disappointing when a favorite show does not air in pattern. But we are programming for the Total Audience. And there are many people in our viewing audience who are loyal sports fans. They rely on WKBD’s free, broadcast television sports coverage because not everyone has access to cable stations or wants satellite service.
This week “Star Trek: Enterprise” will air on Saturday, November 1 at 4pm. And again at its regularly scheduled time on Sunday, November 2 at 7pm. It will not be preempted again until November 26. And it is the only UPN program that we air twice a week for our viewers.
Regarding your comment about Fox Sports, we are not sure why you think it would be possible for us to switch any days with them. And we are not sure why you think that the Pistons would rather be on cable television on Wednesday nights, than on free broadcast television. The current Pistons schedule was achieved after many months of negotiations, made more difficult by the fact that Fox Sports is now carrying all of the Detroit Red Wings television games that used to air on WKBD. And a great deal of the Wings games happen to air on Wednesday nights on Fox Sports.
Also we are not sure why you think that our Detroit Pistons viewers, who far out number “Star Trek: Enterprise” viewers, would want more games airing on cable and less games available to them.
</response>
<mythinlyveiledpassiveagressiveresponse>
Thank you for your prompt response. I think it’s great that you take the time to respond to every viewer who has feedback about programming concerns. In regards to the your comments regarding Fox Sports and cable programming below, I was not aware that Fox Sports is only on Cable. I do not have Cable, but I do watch Toledo Fox on channel 36 and viewed many of the MLB Championship games on that channel.
Also, I was not aware of Detroit sports demographics and the fact that they considerably outnumber those of Enterprise viewers. I was only expressing the opinion of one viewer who would rather see Enterprise than Pistons games. I’m sure the situation with Enterprise is different than that of other primetime spots on the big three networks (NBC, ABC and
CBS).
Thanks,
Adam Kramer
</mythinlyveiledpassiveagressiveresponse>
and the drama continues!