For months we have been inundated with news about the National Recession. First we saw the financial troubles on Wall Street, then it was the housing crisis, then it was in Detroit and slowly but surely that recession mentality trickled down to Main Street right here in Region 8. Now I know there are some folks who are enduring hard times here. And I would never discount their personal situations. However, I would argue that Region 8 has not been nearly as affected by this recession as other parts of the country. We continue to hear good news here in Region 8 with additional industries and good jobs coming to the region. Consumer spending remains stable. We don’t have a housing crisis and we have major construction projects getting underway. July Fourth…Independence Day… is coming up soon. Two hundred and 33 years ago, our founding fathers declared their independence from a country that had them in a strangle hold. Well folks, this recession mentality has our country in a stranglehold right now. I would like to challenge every living and breathing person in Region 8 to take action! Declare your independence and Reject the Recession. Here at KAIT we’re doing just that. We are Rejecting the Recession Region 8, and we encourage you to join us. In the next few weeks you’re gonna hear a lot about our Reject the Recession campaign. In every newscast during the Month of July, we will provide you stories and solutions to help your family Reject the Recession. We’ll have tips from local experts and real-life examples submitted by the citizens of Region 8. Our news team will hit the road, for a LIVE look at how some communities are working to Reject the Recession. We will work with local businesses to offer significant, exclusive discounts and giveaways to help you Reject the Recession. And one lucky person will personally walk away with $888 at the end of the month to help them Reject the Recession. Starting Monday you’ll see this on TV, online, and on your mobile phone. Folks, nationally there are a lot of areas fairing far worse than us. If we are going to make things better here we’ve all got to work together to get it done. Rise up Region 8! Stand with us! Join our campaign and Reject the Recession! It will make this A Better Region !
« May 2009 | Main | July 2009 »
June 27, 2009
June 18, 2009
Honoring our Fathers.
Last month I took the time to speak a little about mother’s for Mother’s day. It is only fair then to speak about Father’s for Father’s day. As I sat down to gather my thoughts on fatherhood and the memories of my father, I realized that talking about Mothers is simply a whole lot easier. Especially here in Region 8. You see, saying something nice about a mama just comes naturally in this part of the country. If you don’t believe me ask just about any wife out there what her husband says about his Mama. Father’s however, are totally different. Here in Region 8 sons are taught to respect our fathers. We look up to them. We emulate them. We try our best not to let them down and, and this is the big one, we don’t share with them how much they mean to us. Things are changing with younger generations. But people my age and older sometimes have difficulty sharing those things with their father. We need to get past that. If I have just described the relationship you have with your father, I challenge you to start this Father’s Day. We are on this world for far too little time to not share how we feel with those closest to us. I lost my father in 2003. Luckily we spent a lot of time together before he passed. But I often wish I could take him fishing and listen to his jokes just one more time. If you want to make this a Better Region 8, hug your dad and tell him you love him. I sure wish I could hug mine.
A Better Region 8 - Hug your Dad this Father's Day!
June 17, 2009
4 days since the Big Switch
It has been just over four days since KAIT and other television stations across the country made the Big Switch. At the behest of the Federal government, television broadcasters have been working toward this transition for years and we are now in the digital TV world. I have to tell you, we have experienced a much smoother transition here in Region 8 than I had expected. KAIT reaches almost three hundred thousand households each and every day. There was the potential that some folks could be left without a television signal, and until we physically made the switch, we relied on technical drawings and estimates to figure that out. You should know that to date we have had less than four hundred phone calls to the station. And most of those have been re-scanning issues that we have helped folks resolve. There are some isolated cases that still need some help and we are working with everyone that we can to find a solution. If you have a friend or relative that cannot currently receive KAIT, please have them call us at 972-5017 or log on to kait8.com for big switch instructions. We will do everything we can to help our neighbors restore their service. For all of you that have successfully transitioned and for every one that was just plain tired of us talking about the Big Switch, Thank you. We appreciate your patience and the steps you have taken to continue to receive KAIT. We have the greatest viewers in the world and your response and preparedness for the Big Switch has made this A Better Region 8.
A Better Region 8 - After the Big Switch
June 08, 2009
Be Prepared for the Big Switch
For over two years we have been talking about the Big Switch to digital television. We are now just a little over three days away. KAIT will switch off our analog transmitter for the final time Friday morning at 7 o’clock. If you are a cable subscriber, you should see no change. However, if you receive KAIT over the air you will have to take action. On Friday morning, in addition to turning off our analog transmitter, we will transition our digital signal from channel 9 back to channel 8. After 7am on Friday you will need to rescan your digital television or your digital converter box. Once the rescan is completed you will be able to receive KAIT once again. You should only have to perform the rescan once and you will be permanently set up to enjoy the digital TV world. Since every manufacturer builds their digital TVs and converter boxes differently, there is no way to address all of you to explain how to get this done. Please consult your owner’s manual now so you will know how to rescan on Friday morning. Again, If you receive our signal via cable, you should not have to do anything and your reception of KAIT should not change. However, if you receive KAIT over the air, please be prepared to rescan your digital television or converter box Friday morning. On kait8.com you can visit the Big Switch section to learn more on the need to rescan this Friday morning. After years of planning and working toward this conversion, we are here. Please be prepared and take the steps necessary for the Big Switch. If we can make this transition easily, it will make this A Better Region 8.
A Better REGION 8 - Big Switch Preparations
June 02, 2009
The Big Switch-For Real This Time!
The Big Switch is here for real this time. I believe that most folks here are ready for this but there is something you need to know and take action on if you receive our signal over the air.
As you recall, KAIT and other TV stations across the nation will be turning off analog signals on Friday, June 12th, 2009. We will turn off ours at 7am that morning. In addition, at that time, our digital signal will change channels from channel 9 back to channel 8 where our analog signal has been since 1963. That is when you will have to take action if you receive our signal over the air. After 7am on June 12th you will need to rescan your digital television or your digital converter box. Once the rescan is completed you will be able to receive KAIT once again. You should only have to perform the rescan once and you will be permanently set up to enjoy the digital TV world.
If you receive our signal via cable, you should not have to do anything and your reception of KAIT should not change. On our website you can visit the Big Switch section to learn more on the need to rescan on June 12. After years of planning and working toward this conversion, The Big Switch finally comes to a close and you know, that will make this A Better Region 8.
A Better REGION 8 - Big Switch Fast Approaching
Recent Comments