Comments on: Lessons from Paid Programming on Cable TV http://startupprincess.com/lessons-from-paid-programming-on-cable-tv/ Thu, 24 May 2012 14:03:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jamie Lentzner http://startupprincess.com/lessons-from-paid-programming-on-cable-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-39278 Jamie Lentzner Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:37:16 +0000 http://startupprincess.com/wordpress/?p=1337#comment-39278 I too (like the others) got that call, and email and I have gotten it more than once. And everytime I get flutters in my stomach and get very excited.....then I realize what it is. Thank you for being so honest, I shudder to think that others may be fooled and even be willing to pay for this. Starting local is great advice - we all have an amazing story to tell, so go pitch it. Press is only as powerful as you make it - I have found that getting local TV, National TV even print dies down eventually - if you have a great product or a great service it will sell itself. Again - great advice so that others know what to do and not to be fooled. <abbr><em>Jamie Lentzners last blog post...<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JpdMom/~3/408468554/how-wholesale-b.html" rel="nofollow">How Wholesale Businesses Get Paid</a></abbr></em> I too (like the others) got that call, and email and I have gotten it more than once. And everytime I get flutters in my stomach and get very excited…..then I realize what it is. Thank you for being so honest, I shudder to think that others may be fooled and even be willing to pay for this. Starting local is great advice – we all have an amazing story to tell, so go pitch it. Press is only as powerful as you make it – I have found that getting local TV, National TV even print dies down eventually – if you have a great product or a great service it will sell itself. Again – great advice so that others know what to do and not to be fooled.

Jamie Lentzners last blog post…How Wholesale Businesses Get Paid

]]> By: Jamie Bird http://startupprincess.com/lessons-from-paid-programming-on-cable-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-34826 Jamie Bird Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:32:10 +0000 http://startupprincess.com/wordpress/?p=1337#comment-34826 I also was contacted, but by the "As Seen on TV" people. They have much of the same pitch as Life and Leisure. Thank you for this information. I had read it prior to talking with them, so it saved me a lot of time and energy doing the research on my own. Regarding television segments, I agree with Michelle! I contacted our local news station and they came to tape a four minute feature for free. Going through that process was a great start, because it was more nervewracking than I originally anticipated having a camera focused solely on me. Getting practice locally prepared me should I ever get the opportunity to do something bigger in the future. Thanks again for this information! I also was contacted, but by the “As Seen on TV” people. They have much of the same pitch as Life and Leisure. Thank you for this information. I had read it prior to talking with them, so it saved me a lot of time and energy doing the research on my own.

Regarding television segments, I agree with Michelle! I contacted our local news station and they came to tape a four minute feature for free. Going through that process was a great start, because it was more nervewracking than I originally anticipated having a camera focused solely on me. Getting practice locally prepared me should I ever get the opportunity to do something bigger in the future.

Thanks again for this information!

]]> By: Heather Allard http://startupprincess.com/lessons-from-paid-programming-on-cable-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-34478 Heather Allard Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:21:26 +0000 http://startupprincess.com/wordpress/?p=1337#comment-34478 Nancy, What a great post. I, too, was contacted by one of these companies. Their name was something dangerously close to HSN and it was going to cost me $17,000 to be "featured" in their spring shopping lineup. If I'm not mistaken, I believe Heather from Mom 4 Life was contacted about something similar. My sister is a former news producer in Boston and she said that it should NEVER cost you anything to be on TV. Thanks for sharing such a great story. Heather Allard "The Mogul Mom" Nancy,

What a great post. I, too, was contacted by one of these companies. Their name was something dangerously close to HSN and it was going to cost me $17,000 to be “featured” in their spring shopping lineup.

If I’m not mistaken, I believe Heather from Mom 4 Life was contacted about something similar.

My sister is a former news producer in Boston and she said that it should NEVER cost you anything to be on TV.

Thanks for sharing such a great story.
Heather Allard
“The Mogul Mom”

]]> By: startupprincess http://startupprincess.com/lessons-from-paid-programming-on-cable-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-34288 startupprincess Tue, 19 Aug 2008 03:33:31 +0000 http://startupprincess.com/wordpress/?p=1337#comment-34288 Michelle, Excellent supportive advice here! You're an awesome Fairy Godmother! Anyone else have any TV tidbits to add/share?? ;) Michelle, Excellent supportive advice here! You’re an awesome Fairy Godmother!

Anyone else have any TV tidbits to add/share?? ;)

]]> By: Michelle McCullough http://startupprincess.com/lessons-from-paid-programming-on-cable-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-34272 Michelle McCullough Tue, 19 Aug 2008 01:47:28 +0000 http://startupprincess.com/wordpress/?p=1337#comment-34272 Nancy, it's so nice to hear from someone who has been there. Hopefully your experience will save others a lot of time and money. TV stations speak in a different language and the information you touch on is critical. I worked for a television station while attending college and learned that there can be low cost and even free ways to get your product seen without paying high prices. I might add three additional considerations for those who really want to be on TV: 1. Find new channels/networks and new shows to be featured on...Since they don't have a proven track record, sometimes they offer space for free or significantly discounted because they want to have it filled but don't have a big viewership yet. Though the viewing numbers may be slim to start, your price per view will be much cheaper and they love you for jumping on board early and will often grandfather you in when the viewership improves at a much cheaper rate. 2. Start local...find your local morning talk shows and send your products to the hosts. They often are looking for interesting pieces and since you are local you have a good "in". This is also good to start a "As seen on ...." list for your product or service. Don't be afraid to start small...little free spotlights can sometimes mean more than paying for the "big fish" sponsorships. 3. Talk in "trade"...some stations/shows will be willing to discount or trade advertising if you are willing to advertise for them. Though not always beneficial for you (and don't do it, if it doesn't match with your goals), in some instances your company may be able to add one of the station's web banners to your website in exchange for advertising on their station. You don't get what you don't ask for! Nancy, it’s so nice to hear from someone who has been there. Hopefully your experience will save others a lot of time and money. TV stations speak in a different language and the information you touch on is critical. I worked for a television station while attending college and learned that there can be low cost and even free ways to get your product seen without paying high prices. I might add three additional considerations for those who really want to be on TV:

1. Find new channels/networks and new shows to be featured on…Since they don’t have a proven track record, sometimes they offer space for free or significantly discounted because they want to have it filled but don’t have a big viewership yet. Though the viewing numbers may be slim to start, your price per view will be much cheaper and they love you for jumping on board early and will often grandfather you in when the viewership improves at a much cheaper rate.

2. Start local…find your local morning talk shows and send your products to the hosts. They often are looking for interesting pieces and since you are local you have a good “in”. This is also good to start a “As seen on ….” list for your product or service. Don’t be afraid to start small…little free spotlights can sometimes mean more than paying for the “big fish” sponsorships.

3. Talk in “trade”…some stations/shows will be willing to discount or trade advertising if you are willing to advertise for them. Though not always beneficial for you (and don’t do it, if it doesn’t match with your goals), in some instances your company may be able to add one of the station’s web banners to your website in exchange for advertising on their station. You don’t get what you don’t ask for!

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