KEARNEY, Neb., Aug. 9, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- NTV, Pappas Telecasting Companies' ABC affiliate in the Lincoln-Hastings-Kearney and North Platte, Nebraska Designated Market Areas (DMAs), today announced that it has initiated a free text message service for its viewers via Textcaster@ software. The new feature, "NTV First Alert," delivers news and program-oriented text messages to cell phones, including AMBER Alerts, breaking news alerts and national security alerts, a daily AM weather forecast, NTV & FOX 4/17 contest information, sports updates, severe weather warnings, and previews of stories from each evening's NTV News. Viewers may sign up for this free service by visiting http://www,nebraska.tv, then clicking the "NTV News on Your Cell Phone" link. Using industry leading software powered by TextCastefi, NTV's text messages instantly reach the mobile phones of users who opt-in.
In making the announcement, Rosemary Danon, Vice President of New Media of Pappas Telecasting, said, "We're very happy to be able to offer this exciting new service to our viewers. Industry estimates show that nearly 70% of the U.S. population - over 180 million users - own cell phones, and this number continues to grow rapidly. It's logical to expect that people will keep relying on cell phones as a staple of their communication needs. We expect 'NTV First Alert' to be a vital method of keeping the public informed and entertained."
Janet Noll, General Manager of NTV, FOX 4/17, and WB 100, added, "'NTV First Alert' gives our viewers an opportunity to get important news as it breaks, no matter where they may be. Of particular significance are our Severe Weather Warnings, which will give people advance notice so they can take cover when thunderstorms or tornadoes are approaching. We're also very proud to offer AMBER Alerts, which have proven to be so effective in aiding the recovery of abducted children from dangerous predators."
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), which championed the development of AMBER Alert plans throughout the United States, describes AMBER Alerts as "emergency messages broadcast primarily via radio and television, and in some areas post(ed) on electronic highway signs, when law enforcement determines that a child has been abducted and is in imminent danger. The broadcasts include information about the child and the abductor, such as physical descriptions, as well as information about the abductor's vehicle, which could lead to the child's recovery and the apprehension of the suspect."
The AMBER Alert notifications offered by NTV are of particular significance, especially when considering that time is of the essence in child abduction cases. A study released by the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Washington reported that, while murders of abducted children are rare events, "74 percent of abducted children who are murdered are dead within three hours of the abduction." Getting information out to the public as soon as possible is vital. NCMEC's website reports that 213 children have been recovered since the AMBER Alert plan was established.
Pappas Telecasting has already initiated text-messaging service at KPTM-TV, the FOX affiliate in the Omaha DMA, KTNC-TV, the Azteca America affiliate in the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose and Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto DMAs, offering the first text service with AMBER Alerts in Spanish, and KMPH FOX 26 in the Fresno-Visalia, California DMA. The company previously announced plans to offer text-messaging service at KDBC-TVI El Paso, Texas, and KSWT-TVI Yuma, Arizona
About NTV
NTV's ABC affiliates KHGI and KWNB, which are owned and operated by Pappas Telecasting, can be viewed over-the-air on channel 13 and channel 6, respectively. The stations' coverage area includes a majority of Nebraska, and the northern part of Kansas. NTV soon will be broadcasting to the communities of O'Neill and Valentine. FOX affiliates KTVG and KSNB, operated by Pappas Telecasting, can be viewed over the air on channel 4 and channel 17, respectively. The communities of O'Neill, McCook, and Valentine will soon be added to the viewing area.
NTV also manages the advertising on the WB 100 channels on cable systems in most Central Nebraska cities.