WBRC

These awards honor the best examples from TV stations in the U.S. More than 100 judges from stations across the country chose 100 gold and silver award winners in 50 categories.

The event will offer voters an opportunity to hear candidates discuss the issues of importance to them ahead of the Birmingham mayoral election on Aug. 24.

TV stations make meaningful contributions and connections in a variety of beneficial ways with their communities. Here’s a round-up of how some stations are helping and serving their communities.

When a deadly tornado touched down in Birmingham, Ala., during the late news, WBRC’s coverage led the market in household viewers. Station management says strong First Alert branding and an all-hands approach made the difference.

WVUE, Gray’s Fox affiliate in New Orleans, took a tongue in cheek approach to its Super Bowl Sunday strategy with a series of promos for its 10 o’clock news. “We went hyper local,” said Blaine Strawn, WVUE’s marketing director. “Granted, most viewers outside of New Orleans won’t understand, but we knew our viewers would.”

“Rather than just one promo,” said Scott Brady, WDRB’s creative services VP, “we launched a whole new news campaign. This was a half-day of tremendous viewing sampling with much of our competitors’ audience tuning in as well! The Strategy was Super Bowl Sunday rather than just the Big Game Ad.”

As you would imagine with the home town team Kansas City Chiefs playing in the Super Bowl, viewership on the Fox affiliate, WDAF, would be high. And the creative services team at Nexstar’s WDAF was ready.

At KOKH, Sinclair’s Fox affiliate in Oklahoma City, the station wanted to “rock the idea of what news promotion can be,” said Ethan Edwards, KOKH’s creative services director, talking about the spot his team put together for the Super Bowl.

KPTV, Meredith’s Fox affiliate in Portland, Ore., used Lego art to create a highly visible and totally original campaign for its morning news program, Good Day Oregon.

Over the next couple days, we’ll share what some Fox affiliates aired on their stations during the Super Bowl, starting with these spots from WBRC, Gray’s Fox affiliate in Birmingham, Ala. (DMA 44).