Vermont Association of Broadcasters 500A Dalton Drive Colchester, VT 05446 (802) 655-5764 Email: [email protected] Website: www.vab.org The VAB FEMA PSA PROMPTS WAIVER The FCC had to step in May 31 and grant a waiver to a new Voice FEMA PSA that includes an EAS tone. The PSA, titled “Wireless Alerts – Sounds in your Life,” was June, 2013 produced and distributed by the Ad Council as part of Hurricane BIG TURNOUT FOR THE 58th ANNUAL VAB CONVENTION Preparedness Week. The EAS tone appeared to be a violation of FCC regulations prohibiting More than 180 broadcasters from around Vermont false EAS tones. converged on the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Montpelier Friday, after a number of broad- May 16 for the VAB Convention.P1 Selling and pro- casters raised concerns, FEMA gramming whiz Fred Jacobs presented well-attended sought and was granted a one- morning and afternoon seminars. Engineers were year waiver from the FCC, which also in the spotlight as Don Haes presented RF train- will allow stations to air the PSA ing in the morning and Rich Parker hosted a State without fear of FCC fines. Broad- EAS Plan roundtable in the afternoon. casters were also reassured the PSA will not trigger any EAS re- Special guests at the Commercial of the Year lunch- ceivers. eon included Gov. Peter Shumlin and Curtis LeGeyt, P1 Selling Sales Seminar VP for Legislative Affairs for the NAB. More than 200 SINCLAIR NOW IN TOP THREE entries were received for this year’s Commercial of Annual revenue rankings of ma- the Year contest. The list of winners is on page two. jor TV groups show Sinclair Broadcasting is now in the top Just two days after the end of the first year of the leg- three, behind only FOX and CBS. islative session, Gov. Peter Shumlin addressed the Sinclair has been busy expand- crowd at the VAB Convention in Montpelier on May 16 ing in recent years and now owns at the Capitol Plaza. He touted some of the accom- 112 stations. They jumped over plishments of the year and took the time to praise Ver- ABC/Disney and NBC in the mont broadcasters for doing a great job helping to rankings compiled by TVNews- keep the public informed during times of emergency. Check and BIA/Kelsey. Groups Gov. Shumlin sums up the session on the list with local holdings include Hearst at #7 and Nexstar DENNIS SNYDER HONORED AT CONVENTION at #16. It’s hard to believe, but longtime Hall Radio Chief En- CLIO AWARD FOR BODETT gineer Dennis Snyder has retired from radio after more than 50 years in the business. The VAB Hall of Fame member has also served as VAB Treasurer since 1981. After getting a standing ovation from the large crowd at the convention, VAB President Eric Michaels presented Dennis with a travel voucher as a Dennis Snyder bids the VAB adieu. small ‘thank you’ for all the great work he has done. Tom Bodett of Dummerston, Ver- VAB ELECTS NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS mont has been the voice of Mo- tel 6 for almost 30 years. A 1986 There are a few changes on the VAB Board as a result spot for the chain (“Just Listen”) of the elections held during the VAB convention. Tom was inducted into the CLIO Hall Beardsley of the Radio Vermont Group returns to the of Fame during the annual board as the new Treasurer. Wally Caswell of Great awards gala in New York May 12. Eastern Radio is the new Secretary, and Wendy Mays of Hall Communications is the new Member-at-Large. Bodett, a longtime commentator for NPR and frequent panelist on Eric Michaels of WDEV will serve a full two-year term NPR’s “Wait, Wait...Don’t Tell as President, with Alex Martin of WCAX-TV as the new Me,” will also serve as CCV’s Vice-President. Ken Kasz of ABC22/Fox44 will contin- commencement speaker on June ue to serve as Past-President. Candis Leopold and Left to Right: Tom Beardsley, Wally 1 at Norwich University’s Shapiro Dan Dubonnet of Hall Communications will serve as Caswell, Alex Martin, Ken Kasz, Eric Fieldhouse. the VAB’s Legislative Liaisons. Good luck to all! Michaels and Wendy Mays. Radio Station Commercial Best Copywriting: WVTK-FM for “Super Hero.” Client: Weybridge Garage Best Produced: WBTN-AM for “Septic Man.” Client: Aaron’s Sep- tic and Drain Most Creative: WCVT-FM for “The Commissioner.” Client: House- needs.com. Agency TV PSA Commercials for Westaff and Allen Pools and Spas were the win- ners of the Best in Show awards announced May 16 at the Ver- Best Produced: Shadow Productions for “Bar Graph.” Client: mont Association of Broadcasters annual convention in Montpel- 11years.org. ier. Agency TV Commercial Mt. Mansfield Media of Colchester won the Best in Show award Best Produced: Mt. Mansfield Media for “When Bad Employees for television for a Westaff commercial titled, “SH@! Bad Employ- Go Viral.” Client: Westaff ees Do.” Mt. Mansfield also won the award for best produced Best Copywriting: McNaudio Media Solutions for “Silent Picture.” agency television commercial for another Westaff commercial, Client: Kelley Sales and Service. “When Bad Employees Go Viral.” Most Creative: McNaudio Media Solutions for “The Carpaca- Shadow Productions of Burlington won the Best in Show award lypse.” Client: Kelley Sales and Service. for radio for “Year End,” a commercial for Allen Pools and Spas. Shadow Productions also won awards for Best Produced TV Station PSA Agency Television PSA, Best Copywriting for Agency Radio Com- Best Produced: WCAX-TV for “Special Olympics – Vermont Pen- mercials and Most Creative Agency Radio Commercial. guin Plunge.” WCAX-TV also won four awards, including Best Produced TV Most Creative: WFFF-TV for “Distracted Driving.” PSA, Best Produced TV Promo, Best Produced TV Commercial TV Station Promo and Best TV Commercial Copywriting. Best Copywriting: WPTZ-TV for “Comes Here First.” Middlebury radio station WVTK-FM collected three awards, in- cluding Best Radio Commercial Copywriting, Most Creative Radio Most Creative: WVNY-TV for “ABC Your Voice.” Promo and Best Spec Spot Copywriting. Best Produced: WCAX-TV for “Darren Walk Talk.” Other multiple winners included WPTZ-TV, WVNY/WFFF, the TV Station Commercial Catamount Radio group in Rutland and McNaudio Media Solu- Best Produced: WCAX-TV for “2012 Lending.” Client: Opportuni- tions. ties Credit Union. More than 200 entries were received for this year’s competition Most Creative: WPTZ-TV for “Our Town Rutland.” Client: Casella. from radio and television stations and Vermont advertising agen- cies. Judging was done by a panel assembled by the Champlain Best Copywriting: WCAX-TV for “Larry Hibernates.” Client: Mat- College Communications Department. tress Depot. VAB Commercial of the Year Awards Complete List Radio Best in Show Agency Radio PSA Shadow Productions for “Year End.” Client: Allen Pools and Spas. Best Copywriting: RetroMotion Media for “Wicked Spensive Gar- age.” Client: GO VT. TV Best in Show Agency Radio Commercial Mt. Mansfield Media for “SH@! Bad Employees Do.” Client: Westaff. Best Copywriting: Shadow Productions for “Significant Other” Client: Winooski Insurance. Most Creative: Shadow Productions for “Recycling.” Client: Ver- mont Toner Recharge. Radio Station Spec Spot Best Copywriting: WVTK-FM for “Car Issues.” Client: Boondock Motors. Radio Station PSA Best Copywriting: WJJR-FM for “Catamount Radio 2012 Relay for Life PSA.” Alex Ball of Shadow Productions Alex Martin presents Best in Show Radio Station Promo collects the Best in Show for Radio for TV award to Crystal Young of Mt. award. (all photos by Jay Austin) Mansfield Media. Best Copywriting: WIXM-FM for “WIXM – Mix at the Mall.” Best Produced: WSYB-AM for “Who Dunnit Promo.” See the full credits for all of the winning entries at Most Creative: WVTK-FM for “Cash for Paws 2012.” www.vab.org/awards2013.htm GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD FOOD AND GOOD INFO AT THE VAB CONVENTION AND THE AWARD GOES TO... Ken Gilbert and Nicole Daigle of Ted Hollo of WBTN-AM Alex Martin presents the Best Radio PSA award to WVTK-FM Judy Anderson of WJJR-FM Radio Vermont’s Amy McGovern accepts award for WCVT’s Fred Hill Alex Martin congratulates Ronnie Kohrt of WIXM-FM Andy Gordon and James Henault of WCAX Brian Sumner of WPTZ Bruce Zeman and Nicole Daigle of WVTK All photos by Jay Austin. See more photos at www.vab.og and full award credits at www.vab.org/awards2013.htm .