Tallahassee Democrat from Tallahassee, Florida • Page 24

Tallahassee Democrat Florida MIAMI Hype-heavy ECSunday, August 22, 1993 v. news puts TV station over the top I WSVN has been criticized for emphasizing sex and violence, but its news programs are at the lop of the ratings heap. By Dan Sewell THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MIAMI I "TONIGHT ON 7-NEWS! IN-; DEPENDENT DAVID BEATS NET- WORK GOLIATHS! SOUTH FLO-iRIDIANS' SECRET VICE ANCHORMAN PLOTS ASSASSINA-! TION! DUKAKIS SAYS 'BAN IT IN NOW, LIVE FROM SOUTH FLORIDA'S NEWS STA-iTION. They said it couldn't be done, but Miami independent station WSVN continues to lead ratings in Miami with its one-hour, 10 p.m. I stove 1 fa i i newscast, often beating network se- rhite Saver IV Mf VS-n Commode 11 1 'Water-saving design ldeal 1 1 I HnnY wlflHI pV It I for new or remodeled bath II in fil Hf lIK'lW Seat available extra II Ji jl, il.J'l 'Water Saver Commode Water-saving design ldeal for new or remodeled bath Seat available extra 5-Light 2-Tier 20457,8:20719,20 Bulbs Available Chandelier Extra For IIMf'il i ill' II HI 'I I 1:1 ft I I .11 I All Light Polished brass finish Clear lucite and reflective beveled glass panels 73330 nxtures 1 1 1 1 (o) in the same time period, Just four years ago, broadcast-'.

industry experts predicted a second-; rate fate for WSVN after it lost its affiliate status in a series of network switches in South Florida. I Instead of showing old movies and sitcom reruns, however, WSVN fought back and has become a profitable, industrywide success story by emphasizing news seven hours a day, more than any local station in the country. Rapid-fire style sets station apart But it's not only how much news they do. It's how they do it I Self-proclaimed as "South Florida's News Station," WSVN has developed a style that would stand out among any local newscasts. The pace is rapid-fire, with 20 stories sometimes crammed in before the commercial.

i The stories are reported or read earnestly and urgently by flashily at-Itired reporters and anchors backed by splashy, fast-moving graphics and ll oL" 18' 7 I I' 4-Light Chandelier With II Oak Bath LJ 1 1 Vanity With Top II 1 1 Honey Oak finw 1 1 1 1 .19" ovalsinkcut-oirtSjr Polished Brass Finish nnei.Tn.n?jWm i Tri-View Oak Bath Cabinet Frosted glass shades 20V diameter 'Uses four 60- "Uw ititufii-ii watt medium base bulbs max. 79198 Automatically turns on at dusk andc 24" 2S" 'Surface mount 23689 I 'w. 1 mar AS -M 1. foil us n-t electronic music. The sports anchor at times delivers his reports as rap music; the news co-anchor often wears dazzling fashion accessories.

Critics have grumbled that WSVN's motto could be "if it bleeds, it leads" or "if she's bare, we dare." Crime, accidents, gossip and sex i scandals with footage using elec- 300-Wj Oak j) Halogen! 4-Piece Oak 20695 Rath AMMA II 'Includes 300-watt halogen bulb. Commode Seat Oak Light Fixture Solid Oak construction Beveled bronze glass panels Polished brass finish accents 18V wide 79405 mount 'Operates on household WW I a-Jr IT Bi V. IP-- 1 IWT MlS Faucet Available Extra 1 i tronic graphics that hamper only the most limited of imaginations often i dominate. WSVN also provides a repertoire more traditional news, with video 'pouring in from its "satellite news 'center" or "update desk" as it stories at its viewers. There 'are nightly reports on Cuba for heavily Latin Miami.

I WSVN's style is credited with lur-jing young viewers to TV news and forcing its competitors to loosen up their own styles. It also has attracted national industry attention, as well as some imitators. But it's not just the MTV generation that watches WSVN, although it may be a secret vice for some. Michael Dutko, a Fort Lauderdale attorney in a high-profile criminal defense practice, said he's noticed a paradox: his friends and associates often scoff at WSVN. But 5-Tier Lucite Chandelier Polished brass finish Uses seven 25-watt candelabra base bulbs max.

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WSVN executives reject the "tabloid TV" tag, saying they are presenting news in a viewer-friendly way. No thanks, says Michael Dukakis It's all too much for Michael Du- kakis, who would like WSVN-style news to stay out of Boston. The former Massachusetts governor and presidential candidate got acquainted with WSVN during teaching stints at Florida Atlantic University over the past two years. Earlier this year, Dukakis unsuc- cessfully fought the sale of Boston's WHDH-TV to WSVN's parent company, Sunbeam Television Corp. He and other Boston civic leaders since have met with WSVN's Massachusetts-born owner, Edmund Ansin, to discuss their worries "because I care a lot about this city and this state," Dukakis said.

"To turn television news into a kind of televised version of The National Enquirer, I'm just concerned," said Dukakis, who added that he found just about all of South Florida's local news to be "downright depressing." "This is a great medium," he said. "At its best, it can do enormously good things." Teal or blue marble Ready to use just fill with water and plug it In 'Seats 5 to 7 people 29422.3 Semi-Flushmount 8" Hexagon Ceiling Fixture Polished brass finish 'Clear beveled glass panels Uses three 40-watt candelabra base bulbs max. UL listed 73391 I Fi Fixture 73342 $199 Cover LOWE'S How To Install Drywall 2 Every Saturday in Ausust 3:00 p.m. How To Install Wallpaper Every Thursday in Ausust 7:00 p.m. ILOlUE'Sl Prices May Vary After August 25 If There Are Market Variations See Store For Details Regarding Product warranties We Reserve The Right To Limit Quantities 1993 Lowe's Inc.

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