WITI’s Contact 6 has been an advocate for Milwaukee consumers for 50 years, providing millions in refunds. But what WITI and its viewers get back is priceless. “It makes you feel better,” one viewer says.
There are very few constants in the life of a local television station. Owners come and go, locations change, as do on-air personalities and slogans. Even some station’s call letters get a rebrand.
So, for a station to maintain a news franchise for 50 years through this sea of change is almost unheard of.
WITI, the Fox O&O in Milwaukee, branded as Fox 6, is celebrating its 50th year of Contact 6, a consumer protection program helping pursue consumer resolutions and refunds both on air and off.
And during its 50 years, Contact 6 has not only generated refunds in the millions of dollars, the program has cultivated something far more valuable to WITI.
“When you see that they are active in your community, it really gives you a sense of loyalty to that television station,” says Elizabeth Allen.
Contact 6 helped Allen get a refund for a construction project gone awry.
“It gives you a sense that they are really responsible to their community and their people, their watchers or viewers,” Allen says.
Surprisingly, over those 50 years, there have only been three faces fronting the program.
Tom Hooper was the first Contact 6 reporter in 1972 and remained as the face of the program for 27 years until 1999.
Katrina Cravy took over in 1999 and helped consumers for the next 17 years until 2016.
https://www.facebook.com/jennasachs/videos/3105566976387893
Jenna Sachs has been the Contact 6 reporter since 2016.
“It’s really exciting to hone my focus on the consumer and trying to help people every day,” Sachs says. “It’s got such an amazing tradition in Milwaukee.”
Sachs says the Contact 6 franchise has “a lot of name recognition. People see our station out and about and say, Hey Contact 6, because that’s what they associate with our station.”
In 2021, Contact 6 helped resolve 257 viewer complaints and save consumers nearly $458,000, according to the station. Money back for FOX6 viewers ranged from $5 for a rebate to $60,000 for a refinanced mortgage.
The station says Contact 6 responds to every person who submits a complaint form.
And the complaints come in, large and small. Contact 6 regularly helps viewers resolve complaints concerning medical bills; cellphone/internet bills; contractor work; missing deliveries; product warranties; broken appliances; defective furniture; car repairs; canceled flights/hotel rooms; and more.
https://www.facebook.com/jennasachs/videos/7542859585727903
Contact 6 has a full-time case manager working behind the scenes searching for exactly who the right person is to discuss the complaint.
Then it’s the power of the press, Sachs says. “Our TV station has a lot of name recognition in the area and that gets us through a door that the consumer can’t get through themselves a lot of the times,” Sachs says. “We are harnessing the power for good, to get our consumers some recognition to resolve some of their problems.”
https://www.facebook.com/jennasachs/videos/1084403665646900
Allen has a more colorful way of describing the obstacles consumers often face. “You see these people getting screwed over all the time,” Allen says. “I understand how frustrating it is and how easy it is to give up and let them win.”
Sachs says the Contact 6 segments typically air on WITI’s 10 p.m. newscast, and average two-three reports a week.
And the most common consumer problem?
“Oh, refrigerator repairs,” Sachs says.
Regardless of the consumer problem, or who the program helps, Allen says the Contact 6 reports provide something for everyone.
“It’s nice to have a story where people are being helped,” Allen says. “It makes you feel better.”
https://www.facebook.com/jennasachs/videos/496105695018328
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