The Minneapolis Star from Minneapolis, Minnesota • Page 54

IPreview The Minneapolis Star Friday, Feb. 16, 1979 10D Switching, stations roll out stars to reel in viewers network anchormen, Walter Cron-klte. Cronkite agreed this week to aid Channel 4 cause ay coming to Mlnneaoolis on March and commissioned six original songs. The songs play on local pride, Minnesota's climate, WCCO's Image and, In the sixth song, the fact that Channel 4 will remain stable while the other stations change. Channel 4's musical message started on radio stations two weeks ago, and on television last week.

One recurring theme is to refer to WCCO as "Four Friends." The other slogan developed by the Carmichael-Lynch advertising 1 2 for a press agency Is, "You Know Where to Find Us." It's an implicit attempt to portray WCCO as a cathode-ray security blanket. Several CBS stars including Bill Blxby, Lonl Anderson, Ken Howard, Loretta Swlt, John Houseman and Ron Lelbman will be voicing the "You Know Where to Find Us" motto In televised promotional spots. The WCCO trump card Isn't a song or newspaper ad. It will be a local appearance by the dean of (Stations, from Page ID) board blitz. Channel ll's "We've Got It Now" message Is set to be plastered across trade publications (Advertising Age, Television-Radio to conference and, presumably, to othi er promotional lend himself duties.

Age, Broadcasting), the mass press (Minneapolis and St. Paul newspa pers, outstate papers, TV Guide Newsweek, Time) and broadcast on 16 to 20 radio stations in Minne sota. WTCN even commissioned i song for the occasion. Joe Sicurella and Associates of New York produced two instrumental versions of the "We've Got It Now" song. One has a lively jazz-rock beat; the oth nln I 1 er, more moderate version is for use In promoting the news team WTCN's biggest publicity is geared for the weekend of March 2.

NBC president Fred Silverman will lead a delegaton of more than a dozen network stars into the Twin Cities for what WTCN calls Its "In Celebration" weekend. Characters from Disney World in Florida will entertain children at St. Paul's Landmark Center on the morning of March 3. At 5 p.m. that day, there'll be a live broadcast from the IDS Center's Crystal Court, featuring plugs from Silverman, Stevenson, Landon, Conrad, Gless and several others.

Also planned are a fireworks display at Parade Stadium, a champagne reception at the Guthrie Theater and, on the morning of March 5, a broadcast of the "Today" program from Minneapolis. KSTP, Channel 5 Channel 5, which triggered the switches by deciding to dump NBC and affiliate with ABC, is guarding its promotional plans as though they were the formula for the H-bomb. Inquiries about the station's promotional schemes led from the KSTP promotion department to the Campbell-Mithun advertising agency to station manager Ralph Dolan. Dolan said that only president and general manager Stanley Hubbard was authorized to discuss Channel 5's plans. Hubbard was in the West Indies.

KSTP has been buying space in TY Guide and other publications. One ad shows "Happy Days" star Henry Winkler astride a motorcycle. The accompanying message says that "Moving Day is March and adds that "ABC is really moving 'Happy Days' to Channel Stay tuned." An ABC spokesman said the network and its new affiliate were "not about to go head-to-head" against the massive NBC-WTCN blitz on the weekend of March 2. He said much of the ABC-KSTP promotion would be timed to coincide with Channel 5's broadcasts of the state high-school hockey tournament games, beginning March 15. Cosell and other "major ABC Sunday, February IS, 1979 12 lil 9 P.E1.

on North Shore of lake) Sponsored by The Minneapolis Star Epolce Skis WCCO TV Calhoun Beach Club Dogsled Racing Exhibition Exhibition Celebrity Cross Country Ski Races: LadiesMens Divisional Apres-Fest Lounge at the Calhoun Beach Club Races. Bring your skis. FREE ski bibs for all entrants. Awards and Prizes. Instructions begin at 12:30 Races at 1:00 See this classic sport of the stars," along with top network executives, will make appearances in the Twin Cities during the tournament, the spokesman said.

KMSP, Channel 9 Channel 9's job is to sell itself to the public as a newly independent station, and the Martin-Williams advertising agency has devoted itself to the task. Sandra Bucholtz, vice-president of the agency, said Channel 9 was spending about $100,000 to promote Itself. A two-word slogan has been devised for the campaign, but Bucholtz refused to say what it is. There is speculation that the KMSP slogan will be something like, "Why Wait?" Those words, used recently by a San Diego station, would be a reference to KMSP's plans to broadcast local newscasts at 9:30 p.m., half an hour ahead of the competition. Far North first-hand at Winter Minnesota Speed Skating Association Exhibition fest '79! You may be the lucky Come inside to warm up with your favorite hot beverages and snacks including cocktails, coffee and soft drinks in the beautiful Calhoun Beach Club Boulevard Room.

Open to the public during this special one day event! Broomball Tournaments A face-off between The Star's staff reporters and WCCO Television reporters. Also some of your favorite local celebrities will try their hand at it. Top Minneapolis Park Board Teams will show you how the game should really be winner ol a dogsled ride exhibition at 2:00 Hot Air Balloons Figure Skating Show: Top Minnesota skating talent! Watch them fly across the ice, and thrill to the beau'y and grace of some or America top-rated piayea. I ournaments begin at 5:10 skaters, figure skat ing 4:00, speed skating 4:30 Prize Drawings for urand Prize: One Week Vacation two. Grand Bahama Island.

Contributed by: MAINLINE TRAVEL Burger Brothers Ice Fishing Contest rS Helicopter Escort Bring your finning gear. 2 contests: Sunfish Crap-pies. Gift Certificates 1st place $50, 2nd $30, 3rd $20. Noon to 4. Channel 9 is likely to try to capitalize on the fact that it's losing a network affiliation.

The idea would be to promote Channel 9 as a station that is free of network obligations. In fact, some KMSP executives already have been using that logic in conversations with local media observers. KMSP has reserved the theater on the lower level of the IDS Center for promotional parties on March 27 and 28. Its new slogan will be unveiled then, to an audience consisting largely of advertisers and their representatives. WCCO, Channel 4 Prizes drawn all day Donaldsons Ice Disco Contest Call 375 1400 to enter contest.

You may be the lucky winner of a $150, $100 or Don- nMuonA iriff rprtificntp Mark the start of Winter Fest '79 by looking to the sky! Watch the exciting preparation and the breathtaking ascent at 12:30 of the WIEDEKKEHR BALLOON ACADEMY and TWIN CITY BALLOON PILOT'S ASSN. fleet and its MINNESOTA ARMY GUARD helicopter escort fleet! (weather permitting) Must pre-register, NK. comet of lake Burger Brothers Van. Contest open to a limited number of skaters. Register early and in advance to be eligible.

Amateurs only. Hours 1-4 Many more activities and prizes galore Arabian Horse Antique Cutter Parade Magnificent horses draw genuine cutter sleighs from eras past. Bring your camera to International Food Bazaar Ethnic poodle from KRAMARrsUK EASTERN EUROPEAN DELI. MARINO'S, CALHOUN REACH CLUB, NEW PRAGUE HO-TEL, NICKLOW'S, PEPITO'S. Open this delightful MINNESOTA ARABIAN ASSN.

and HALF ARABIAN ASSN. events. Exhibition at Channel 4 isn't switching networks, leading to concern at the station that WCCO would be forgotten in the midst of the publicity surrounding its competitors. Promotion director Martha Stan-ville said, "The newspapers aren't going to be talking a lot about us, because we're not changing (But) no one can just sit by idly and take the public for granted." WCCO's solution is to publicize itself and hope to benefit from the anticipated viewer confusion over the affiliation switches. General manager James Rupp said the station is spending about $500,000 on its promotional plans.

WCCO began planning last fall. It conducted focus-group interviews with volunteers, who suggested that WCCO's public Image was that of an old friend. Armed with that concept, WCCO went to Tuesday Productions in San Diego MINNEAPOLIS A FREE Horse Drawn Sleigh Shuttles provided by 5th Northwestern Bank! Sleighs running continuously around the lake from I p.m. -5 p.m. Park your car and hop aboard for a free ride to the center of activity on the north shore! ON LAKE CALHOUN 3 FIREWORKS FINALE 9 P.M.

presented by LUND'S I I.