Log In | Become a Member | Contact Us


Leading printing executives into the future

April Fool's Day Special Report:


GAtSC Launches New Cable Television Channel, Called PrintTV

April 1, 2003 -- The Graphic Arts Television Show Company (GAtSC) today announced the creation of PrintTV, an exciting new cable station available in most areas of North America. Slated to launch on April 2, the station will carry mostly original programming. The goal of the station is to promote the printing industry to print buyers, while providing entertainment and educational programs for employees in the industry.

The nonprofit station will initially target ad agencies and design firms, and will also reach out to the one million people who work in the industry. "We have been working to make this happen for a long time and we should all celebrate this historic day," said Regis Delmontagne, President of GAtSC. GAtSC is owned equally by the PIA, IPA, PAI, IAP, AIP and other industry associations, as well as the NRA, the Girl Scouts, and the Committee to Re-Elect Richard Nixon.

Research overwhelmingly concludes that nearly everyone in the Graphic Arts industry watches television. Advertisers have been assured that a portion of the profits will be donated to the Associations involved in this effort.

Some of the original programs include:

- "WAKE UP ROCHESTER!!", a technology focused program hosted by Frank Romano and Barb Pellow of RIT. The show will feature pictures of snow.

- "Live with Regis and Dickie V", a morning talk show hosted by Regis Delmontagne and industry curmudgeon, Dick Vinocur. What they will talk about no one knows, but a daily segment will include a list of who Dick knows in the industry, with Regis feigning surprise as he mentions each person.

- "Creepy Economic Thoughts", daily commentary hosted by Dr. Joe Webb; the commentary might be retitled as "Dr. Doom’s Thought for the Day." Insightful comment will be provided by Bozo the Clown, James Carville, Paul Begala, and Jerry Mathers as the Beaver.

- "ViewPoint", an edgy program where host Mike Vinocur brings print buyers face-to-face with printers who have fumbled a recent print project. It will be a steel-cage match.

- "Trading Spaces", a show where printing executives trade places with executives at another company to re-arrange each other’s printing plant. In the first episode, a participant was heard muttering "Now I know I put that web press somewhere."

- "International Paper", a unique program sponsored by xpedx that examines how paper is used in foreign countries.

- "Capital Grill", PIA’s lead lobbyist, Ben Cooper, interviews elected officials about the issues that matter most to the printing industry, and viewers can participate in a daily quiz where they can win PrintPac donations. Losers will be locked in a room with Ralph Nader.

- "Survivor", this reality show takes product managers from various prepress manufactures to an exotic location to see who can demonstrate the cooking abilities of various light sources on the various fresh-caught "meals."

- "Charles’ Place", a daily keynote address on hot industry topics given by Charlie Pesko of CAP Ventures.

Despite the sluggish advertising market, several companies have already signed up, noting the strong demographics of this potential audience. Thirty-second spots during the day are expected to cost about $15,000 each. Half-hour infomercials running in the middle of the night are expected to cost as little as $8,000 per night. Ford, Visa, HP and Xerox have already secured spots for April with others expected to sign up later this month, and Heidelberg expects that this will be the primary way of advertising the new "Speedmaster Benz."


- Back to the April Fool's Home Page


Special Note: All these stories are presented in the true spirit of April Fool's Day. None of these stories are true, nor are they intended to reflect the strategy and intent of any real person or company. Our purpose with the April Fool's Edition is to elicit a smile, and we hope you will enjoy our spoof! We are an Equal Opportunity Offender: Our contributors name many industry companies in their stories, none of which should be taken seriously. Please offer your feedback.


This was a collective effort by many of our contributors. We decided a universal byline was best since so many helped with each story. Thanks to Gail Nickel-Kailing, Molly Joss, Frank Romano, Cary Sherburne, CAP Ventures, Bill Farquharson, Noel Ward, John Dunn, Paul White, Dr. Joe Webb, Robert FitzPatrick, Steve Aranoff, Vince Marini, Jeremy Smith, John Zarwan

Latest Videos

More Videos »

Economics and Research Center

Blog

Economics & Research Center »

Industry Snapshot

The Industry Snapshot is a collection of regularly updated industry data. The snapshot includes Industry Capacity, Capacity utilization, Printing Shipments, employment, and other and various measures of business activity.

View Snapshot »

Audio Chart

Popular Stories from Last Week

(10) Donnelley and Bowne Deal
(9) This Week with Frank Romano
(8) Postal Service Outlines 10-Year Plan
(7) Transformation of publishing
(6) IPA/IDEAlliance Merger
(5) Worldcolor reports profits
(4) RR Donnelley to acquire Bowne
(3) Universal Millennium acquisition
(2) manroland to purchase WIFAG
(1) Reversible boxes!

Recent Webinars

More Webinars »

Research Reports

More Reports »

  

Become a Member

Join the thousands of printing executives who are already part of the WhatTheyThink Community.

Log in or register to access your WhatTheyThink Account

Help & Member Center

About

WhatTheyThink Services

WhatTheyThink Network

Copyright © 2010 WhatTheyThink. All Rights Reserved