2003
COMMUNITY SPONSORSHIPS
GUIDE
Our Commitment

From breathtaking views to the loving concern of neighbors, Western North Carolina enjoys a beautiful quality of life few areas can match. As Western North Carolina's news leader, WLOS is committed to improving and protecting this wonderful place we call home. Creating partnerships with community organizations is just one way we do this. Over the years, WLOS has helped hundreds of organization raise money for and awareness of their programs and services. Through the power and reach of television, WLOS provides opportunities for community organizations to positively affect our region. WLOS is truly honored to help make a difference in the community that we serve.

Because of this commitment and an incredible demand for our services, WLOS has developed a series of guidelines and criteria to insure that we help as many organizations as possible. These guidelines allow us to be certain that every event and organization we sponsor gets ample exposure. They also provide a means to facilitate the fair evaluation of all sponsorship opportunities.

Time Restraints

Four times a year, WLOS participates in the television ratings period. During these times, the bulk of our on-air promotional time is spent promoting the station and its programming. Because of this, it is difficult for us to sponsor any event that occurs or requires promotion during the following time periods:
"January 20 - February 25
"April 14 - May 22
"June 30 - August 7
"October 20 - November 27

As you can see, this greatly reduces the amount of time available during parts of the year to participate in community service events. For that reason and to ensure that sponsored events get adequate exposure, WLOS can
"Sponsor no more than two community service projects per month
"Sponsor no more than one event per organization per year.
"Begin promotion no more than two weeks prior to the event.

Event Criteria

"WLOS prefers events and organizations that raise funds for specific projects, rather than those seeking to create public awareness campaigns.

"Because our strength lies in our ability to reach people in this area, we are looking for events held in Western North Carolina.

"We ask that WLOS be the exclusive television sponsor, including cable.

"We ask that the WLOS logo be on all collateral material for the event, i.e. posters, t-shirts, brochures and that you please provide two samples of all collateral materials.

"We ask that the organization provide WLOS with at least 10 complimentary tickets when applicable.

"Because we want to make the highest possible impact on our community, we are looking for organizations that spend no more than 25% of money raised on the cost of the event itself.

Organization Criteria

"We ask that each organization submit a written sponsorship proposal at least six months prior to the event. Your proposal should include:
1.What is expected from WLOS?
2.What WLOS will receive in return
3.An event operating budget
4.A proceed distribution budget.

"We ask that all community organizations requesting support from WLOS be certified as non-profit.

"WLOS gives highest priority to events and organizations that spend all proceeds on local initiatives.

"We are seeking organizations that do not spend money on other media outlets, including radio, newspaper, billboards, direct mail and cable.

Sponsorship Guidelines

"WLOS will produce one spot per event. We are more than happy to produce additional spots at a reduced rate.

"Because of the nature of news, we cannot guarantee news coverage or news talent participation.

"Any spots that WLOS produces free of charge remain the property of WLOS and cannot be used on cable or other television outlets. While we will correct any content errors, the creative aspects of the PSA are the sole responsibility of WLOS.

"We cannot make guarantees about the number of PSA's that will air or where they will run. Unfortunately, we cannot provide affidavits of performance.

"WLOS will evaluate each sponsorship year-to-year. Sponsorship one year does not guarantee sponsorship the following year.

"We ask that you reserve the first right of refusal to WLOS for the following year's event.

"If WLOS agrees to sponsor an event, we need the following:
1.an event logo
2.organization logo
3.other sponsor's logos
4.copy points.

News Coverage

Please email, fax or mail information about your event to WLOS News 13 about a week before the event. We cannot guarantee coverage, but we will consider every item we receive. The news release should answer the following questions:

1.What is going on?
2.Who will be involved?
3.Where is it happening?
4.What time?
5.Who is the contact person, and how can we get in touch with them?
6.Why do you feel this is important to our community?

The criteria we use to determine which stories we will cover include: opportunities for video and sound and relevance to our community, among other things. Also, the more flexible you are, the more likely we will be able to make it to the event.

Understand that we typically do not plan our news coverage until(at the earliest) the day before. Whether we can cover your event depends on what else is going on that day, breaking news, and where our news crews will be that day. Final decisions are usually made that day. WE CANNOT GUARANTEE NEWS COVERAGE FOR ANY EVENT!! Even if we say we will be at an event, please understand breaking news or other circumstances could prevent us from making it.

News 13 also runs a list of events in the community during our morning newscast. If you wish to have your event considered for the "Daybook," please make that request as far in advance as possible.

WLOS News 13 also features a segment called "G.I.F.T. Heroes"(Getting Involved for Tomorrow). Each week, in our 5:30pm newscast, we highlight a person in our community who volunteers their time to help others. Often these people belong to non-profit organizations. If you would like to nominate someone as a G.I.F.T. Hero, please send us information about that person, and why they deserve the honor.

Other Promotional Avenues

Should WLOS decide not to sponsor your event, here are some alternatives that will help you get the exposure you are looking for.

"Send your pre-produced psa's to WLOS. We are happy to place pre-produced spots into our psa rotation. Please submit these in a BetaSP format. We cannot accept VHS. Send tapes to WLOS Community Service, 110 Technology Dr, Asheville, NC 28803.

"Post your event on the WLOS.com community calendar. Simply click the link at the bottom of the WLOS.com homepage and it will walk you through the process.

"Submit a press release for your event to the WLOS news department by emailing it to news@wlos.com or by faxing it to 828-651-4618. We cannot guarantee coverage, but we will certainly consider your submission.

"Purchase advertising on WLOS. We are more than willing to work with non-profit groups with small budgets to create affordable and effective advertising schedules and can even help you find money for advertising.

WLOS Contacts

Event/Organization Sponsorship Proposals
Please send all forms and proposals to:

Guy Chancey, Director of Marketing and Production
110 Technology Drive, Asheville, NC 28803.
828-651-4541.
Fax: 828-651-4601.
gchancey@sbgnet.com

Preproduced PSA's:
Please send all preproduced PSA's on BetaSP to:

Delise Childress, Promotion Manager
110 Technology Drive, Asheville, NC 28803.
828-651-4545
Fax: 828-651-4601
dchildre@sbgnet.com

Press Releases
Please send press releases to:

News13 Assignment Editor
110 Technology Drive, Asheville, NC 28803.
828-651-4639
Fax: 828-651-4618
news@wlos.com

Purchasing Air Time on WLOS
If your organization is interested in purchasing time on WLOS please contact:

Donna Daniels
110 Technology Drive, Asheville, NC 28803.
828-651-4538
Fax: 828-651-4578
lmccrani@sbgnet.com

Community Service Sponsorship Form

If you would like WLOS to promote your event with public service announcements, please fill out, sign and fax this form with your written proposal to Guy Chancey at 828-651-4601.

Organization Name:

Contact Name and Phone:

Event Name:

Event Dates and Times:

Event Location:

Event Objective:

Please answer the following questions:

1.Will WLOS be the exclusive television sponsor for the event?

2.Will WLOS' logo be on all collateral materials?

3.How much money (donations) do you anticipate your event will raise?

4.Will more than 25% of the proceeds of the event go toward funding the event itself?

5.Is your organization certified as a non-profit?

6.Is your organization willing to provide an event operating budget and a proceed distribution budget to WLOS?

7.Does the event raise money that will be spent on local initiatives?

8.Do you have a public service announcement already produced?

9.Does your organization have an advertising budget?

10.Is your organization spending money on any media outlets, including radio, newspaper, cable, direct-mail or billboards?

Organization Representative Signature/Date