Stay tuned "if you want to be educated," about the truth about the battle between Nexstar Broadcasting and Cable One.
No, that wasn't an ad promoting the 30-minute Nexstar infomercial that ran earlier tonight on KODE and KSNF. That was KODE news anchor Jimmy Siedlecki shilling for his bosses...during the 6 p.m. newscast.
The newscasts of the two Nexstar stations have suffered the most during this battle royal and it continued tonight. I did not see how or if KSNF promoted the infomercial during its newscast, but since it is the station with actually has Nexstar's name attached to it, I find it hard to believe that it might have gone unmentioned.
The total eradication of the barrier between news and advertising continued at the beginning of "TV Cable Fable," the catchy title given to the infomercial, when it was opened by KSN-KODE News Director Larry Young, who primarily served to introduce Nexstar COO Duane Lammers, who then went into his half-hour spiel.
"Let me apologize for any inconvenience our disagreement has caused you and your family," Lammers said. He briefly reviewed the history of cable television, then noted that the local stations have "created a legacy of serving our communities with pride and distinction." Lammers continued to dispute the cable companies claim that they should not have to pay for free television, by noting that the companies have been packaging the local stations with other stations that people do not want. He compared the practice to getting a drink of water at a fountain, which costs nothing, but if it is packaged as bottled water, you have to pay for it.
During the half hour telecast, Lammers:
-Indicated Nexstar would continue fighting the battle with other cable companies as its retransmission contracts come up.
-Urged people to sign up with Dish Network and said that Direct TV will soon have the capability to broadcast the local stations in the Joplin area.
-Said that Saga, owner of KOAM-TV, is supporting Nexstar's position and that it, too, would be fighting to be paid for its broadcasts when its contracts are up.
A particularly amusing segment had Lammers answering e-mail from KODE and KSNF viewers. Apparently, no one responded to the call for e-mail messages with anything important to say since one of the e-mail writers simply told Nexstar he agreed with its stance and another asked what appeared to be a planted question.
The writer asked if the situation between Nexstar and the cable companies could cause KODE and KSNF employees to lose their jobs. Lammers said there would be "absolutely no layoffs or any job losses as the result of this conflict." He did not mention if his company might find another excuse to lay off employees.
Any readers from other areas besides Joplin in which these Nexstar infomercials have aired, I would appreciate if you could get in touch with me and give me details about those programs.
I would also love to hear from anyone from Saga, owner of KOAM. What Lammers said is clearly at odds with interviews KOAM General Manager Danny Thomas gave the Pittsburg Morning Sun recently, in which he said KOAM would not take any such stance and, in fact, criticized the coverage being given to the rival stations, noting that KOAM has more viewers anyway.
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Michelle Nickolaisen, in her blog "Seceding from Society" at www.secedingfromsociety.blogspot.com notes that the Diamond R-4 Board of Education is meeting tonight to discuss extending Superintendent Mark Mayo's contract another year beyond the next school year.
"Wow - our school board amazes me," she wrote. "They're required to have notification of board meetings up, right? Well, they posted one sometime between six A.M. and now. Guess when the meeting is? Tonight. At like, 6:30 or 6:45. Supposedly they're going to renew Mayo's contract. "
Actually, Michelle, I happened to check the site during my planning period today (about 11 a.m.) and it hadn't been posted at that juncture. The Missouri Sunshine Law requires notices of meetings to be posted at least 24 hours in advance. However, I am sure the letter of the law is being followed, if not the spirit. I would guess the agenda was posted in a window or on a door at the high school...where the only people who would see it are students who are not likely to attend anyway.
Of course, if the board does agree to extend Mayo's contract to the end of the 2006-2007 school year, maybe he will be close to actually earning the doctor title he has been using in front of his name. (My understanding is that his "doctor" title comes from his law degree, and that he is just starting on his educational doctorate.)
It should be pointed out that Michelle's information about the proposed extension to Mayo's contract did not come up from the agenda, which features no such information. The closed session involves personnel and other some reasons, but no mention is made of the superintendent's contract. Only a list of people who are going to make presentations and their general areas of discussion are mentioned for the open session.
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No Child Left Behind requirements are going to increase the number of MAP tests that Missouri schools have to give. Considering that many Missouri schools dropped a number of MAP tests due to cuts in state funding, how is the state planning on funding the increase or will the testing increase stretch the budgets of already underfunded school districts?
NCLB requires students to be tested in math and reading each year between third and eighth grade. Currently, tests are given in the following fashion:
Third grade- Communication Arts
Fourth grade- math
Fifth grade- no tests
Sixth grade- no tests
Seventh grade- communication arts
Eighth grade- math
Ninth grade- No tests
Tenth grade- math
Eleventh grade- communication arts
Twelfth grade- no tests.
Beginning next year, the tests will be given to the following:
Third grade- Communication arts, math
Fourth grade- communication arts, math
Fifth grade- Communication arts, math
Sixth grade- Communication arts, math
Seventh grade- Communication arts, math
Eighth grade- Communication arts, math
Ninth grade- No tests
Tenth grade- math
Eleventh grade- Communication arts

It will be interesting to see if the state legislature comes up with a way to cover the costs of eight extra tests, as well as improve the foundation formula through which public schools are funded.