MMMM #181 The New Year

     2012 is going to be a landmark year for the media in Montgomery.

     The gathering of WAKA CBS 8, WNCF ABC 32 and WBMM CW 22 under one state of the art roof will offer tremendous opportunities. Construction is progressing and we'll be in the new HD facility on Harrison Road in plenty of time for the Fall 2012 TV Season.

     TV and just about all other media continues to flow to smartphones, keeping people in touch all day every day.

     The challenges that have faced print aren't going away. The Montgomery Advertiser saw additional layoffs in 2011, a shrinking of the paper's width, and a tightening of the overall operation.
     Prime Montgomery Magazine  published for its first full year in 2011 (The 2 year anniversary is in April) and is going strong.    

     Alabama Public Television closed its Montgomery Studio and production facility on Madison Avenue in 2011, firing all but one employee, an engineer. I understand APT has started hiring some people in recent weeks to operate its studio in the Alabama Statehouse when the Legislative session begins next month. It's unclear what programs they will air and when. Their website appears to be down this Sunday evening.

     Online media continues to grow, though profits are another story. Some local Montgomery sites are doing a good job covering events in the Capitol, like MidtownMontgomeryLiving.com
     Radio is still struggling too, with the usual format changes and consolidation of stations (not unlike what's underway with CBS 8).
     In the Fall of 2012, this website will celebrate its 5th Anniversary...Lord willing and the creek don't rise. Which on a rainy night like tonight seems like a distinct possibility!

[ADDENDUM: The U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether to stop regulating speech on Broadcast TV tomorrow. Broadcasters argue in a multi-media world, they are being treated unfairly.]
[The Monday Morning Media Memo is a regular feature of this website!]