DALLAS, Jan. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Belo Corp. (NYSE:
BLC), one of the nation's largest pure-play, publicly-traded
television companies, announced today that its stations provided
free airtime to 151 congressional and gubernatorial candidates
across the U.S. during the 2010 election season through the
Company's "It's Your Time" program. In addition, Belo
maximized the impact of its voter education efforts by broadcasting
more than 162 hours of political coverage on its 15 news-producing
television stations in the seven weeks leading up to Election Day.
From September 19 to November 1,
Belo television stations aired an average of 72 local and national
election-related stories each week. The coverage included 14
debates that gave viewers a focused look at the candidates and
their platforms. Belo re-broadcast an average of 144 stories
weekly on the Company's six regional and local cable news channels.
The Company also streamed and archived election-related stories and
the debates on its 20 station Web sites through Election Day.
Other highlights of the Company's election coverage
included:
- a one-hour gubernatorial debate aired on KGW-TV, Belo's NBC
station in Portland, between
incumbent Oregon Democrat Governor
John Kitzhaber and Republican
Chris Dudley;
- a one-hour Arizona U.S. Senate debate aired by KTVK, Belo's
independent station in Phoenix,
between incumbent Republican John
McCain and challengers Democrat Rodney Glassman, Libertarian David Nolan, and Green Party candidate
Jerry Joslyn;
- a one-hour gubernatorial debate hosted by KTVB, Belo's NBC
station in Boise, between
incumbent Idaho Republican
Governor C. L. "Butch" Otter and challengers Democrat Keith Allred and Independent Jana Kemp; and,
- a one-hour Kentucky U.S. Senate debate aired on WHAS-TV, Belo's
ABC station in Louisville, between Republican Rand Paul and Democrat Jack Conway.
Many Belo stations extended their political coverage this
election season to multi-media platforms through Webcasts, mobile
media and interactive polls. KGW NewsChannel 8 broke new
ground with live coverage on multiple-media platforms. The station
deployed 14 crews across Oregon
and Washington, airing unique
election coverage on its primary channel, its digital subchannels,
its Web site and mobile applications.
"The political coverage our stations provide our local
communities creates a more informed electorate and enhances
dialogue with the voting public," said Dunia A. Shive, Belo's president and Chief
Executive Officer. "Belo is pleased to give candidates a
platform to air their positions on important issues through the
'It's Your Time' program."
About Belo's "It's Your Time" Program
Belo pioneered the "It's Your Time" program in 1996 to educate
viewers on issues facing their local communities. Each
eligible candidate participating in "It's Your Time" receives five
minutes of free airtime. Since the program's inception, Belo has
provided free airtime to almost 1,000 candidates in eight
consecutive election cycles, including 2010.
About Belo Corp.
Belo Corp. (NYSE: BLC), one of the nation's largest pure-play,
publicly-traded television companies, owns and operates 20
television stations (nine in the top 25 markets) and their
associated Web sites. Belo stations, which include
affiliations with ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and the CW, reach more than
14 percent of U.S. television households in 15 highly attractive
markets. Belo stations rank first or second in nearly all of
their local markets. Additional information is available at
www.belo.com or by contacting Paul
Fry, vice president/Investor Relations & Treasury
Operations, at 214-977-6835.
SOURCE Belo Corp.