WBZ-TV 4 rebranding

[Paul Hopfgarten]

I liked the X-15 Air Force (Of course I was 13 years old at the time)

Paul Hopfgarten
Derry, New Hampshire

-----Original Message-----
From: boston-radio-interest-bounces@rolinin.BostonRadio.org
[mailto:boston-radio-interest-bounces@rolinin.BostonRadio.org] On Behalf Of
Doug Drown
Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 11:06 AM
To: Brian Vita; Don A
Cc: BostonRadio Mailing List
Subject: Re: WBZ-TV 4 rebranding

My relatives in Schenectady --- including my 22-year-old cousin-removed, who
is anything but a broadcasting geek --- still refer to "CBS6" as WRGB.
Heritage calls do make a difference.  I remember cringing when, in the early
'70s, WMEX rechristened itself "X-15."  I thought, "And the point of this is
. . . ?"

-Doug

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brian Vita" <brian_vita@cssinc.com>
To: "Don A" <Donad_astelle@yahoo.com>
Cc: "BostonRadio Mailing List"
<boston-radio-interest@rolinin.BostonRadio.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 10:07 AM
Subject: Re: WBZ-TV 4 rebranding


> Don A wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >>>> "Almost" is right....Except that it de-emphasized the localism...
> >>
> >> And localism is one of their strengths.<<
> >>
> >> Again, a call sign is irrelevant to most viewers for that purpose too.
> >
> > Most is right....Unless the call sign has a history...and a
> > reputation..and goodwill.
> >
> > And WBZ has that....
> As I grew up, in a non-radio geek houselhold, we listened to WBZ or WHDH
> not 1030 or 850.  Interestingly, when it came to TV and someone asked
> what channel something was on, it was WBZ or channel 5 or 7 (pre-cable
> days).  Channel 4 was always referred to as WBZ.  The others were just
> channel numbers.  I still miss hearing (or seeing) "A Group W station"
> at the end of the ID, though, ironicly it was years before I new what
> the hell "Group W" was.  I still automatically think of NBC as channel 4
> then correct myself.
>
> Its interesting that in the 60's and 70's, WBZ did such a fantastic job
> of branding itself that it still sticks with me 40 years later.  Its
> unfortunate that some 20 something MBA felt the need to rebrand it into
> yet another generic channel.
>
> Just my thoughts.
>
> Brian Vita
>