[EAS] Single point entry of CAP messages

[Alan Kline]

I don't know about cable, since I haven't been a cable subscriber for 
years, but it certainly isn't true that TV stations bury their EAS tests 
in the wee hours. We make a point of doing the RWT at a variety of times 
so that both morning and afternoon shift personnel do them. Weekends are 
also included. Our state plan calls for the RMT to alternate between 
3:59am and 9:59 am, so every other month the overnight guy gets a shot. 
Obviously, we don't do tests during news or primetime, but otherwise no 
time is off-limits. Even Oprah's fans have to hear the "duck farts" 
occasionally.

Whether or not you see an activation on TV depends on the station you're 
watching. I'm CO of an affiliate with a full-time meteorology staff, so 
when we get a weather-related activation (more than 99% of activations) 
our guys are on the air instead of the EAS message. So technically, 
you're right--you don't see us relay the EAS activation. Of course, we 
believe that we're doing a better job of serving our audience with our 
weather staff handling things. Obviously, smaller stations without the 
weather staff are more likely to relay EAS activations. I couldn't give 
you any specifics; I'm busy keeping my own station legal...

ak

On 5/18/2011 10:12 PM, Alex Hartman wrote:
> If he does work in the TV industry, why does every TV/Cable station
> bury their EAS test at 1am?  (I know the answer, really...)
>
> I've lived in many states and it never fails, the EAS test the cable
> company or OTA station does, 12:30/1am every week. If EAS actually
> benefited TV, you'd think they'd use it more, wouldn't you? I have YET
> to see an EAS activation on TV for anything other than... hell, i've
> NEVER seen it activated on it's own. The local stations break in with
> a newscast for tornadoes or severe weather, but if it's an AMBER
> alert, you don't hear about it until the evening news, defeats the
> purpose, doesn't it?
>
> --
> Alex Hartman