PBS39 Provides Historic Election Coverage with New Platforms, Reporters and Set
PBS39 unveiled a new studio and new technology during the station’s first full night of election coverage in more than two decades.
Bethlehem, PA. - November 7, 2018 - On Tuesday, November 6, PBS39 provided the Greater Lehigh Valley with 3.5 hours of commercial-free election night coverage. The broadcast included six live reporters, five in-studio experts from area colleges and universities, three live interviews with winning candidates and 18 community-focused stories from the field. In addition, the station reached the public in a brand new way with 92,514 real-time digital billboard impressions. In an election year with women at the forefront, PBS39 was the local news source of choice for women 25-49 in the Valley.
“I am so very proud of this team for creating one of a kind, truly impactful content for our television viewers, digital followers and even area commuters,” Tim Fallon, Chief Executive Officer of PBS39 said. “Bringing the very first public media election coverage to the Greater Lehigh Valley in 25 years is truly making our community a better place in which to live.”
PBS39’s coverage extended beyond the television screen. In partnership with Adams Outdoor Advertising, live news updates and results were visible on digital billboards throughout the Greater Lehigh Valley. The team at PBS39 was able to update the billboards in real-time using Twitter. Messages encouraged voters to perform their civic duty at the polls and later that night, election results were posted live.
“Election night was the first of many historic nights for PBS39,” Yoni Greenbaum, Chief Content Officer of PBS39 said. “As a public media outlet, our core mission is educating and making our content available to everyone, wherever they may be. Our experiment paid off and our coverage on a variety of platforms exceeded this goal.”
PBS39 will continue to work to create a community that is inspired, engaged and vibrant. Visit PBS39.org to learn about more upcoming initiatives and locally produced programming.
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About PBS39
PBS39 is a community-owned public media station licensed to Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, Pa., serving eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. PBS39 is owned and operated by the Lehigh Valley Public Telecommunications Corporation. PBS39 acts as the catalyst to promote civic engagement, and to fulfill the regional needs of the Greater Lehigh Valley through its dynamic communication platforms and resources. PBS39 Reporter Corps TM journalists are embedded in the ten counties that make up the Greater Lehigh Valley, including Lehigh, Northampton, Bucks, Montgomery, Berks, Schuylkill, Carbon and Monroe in Pennsylvania, plus Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey. The PBS39 Reporter Corps TM creates community-focused content for PBS39 News Tonight and for the PBS39 digital platform. For more information, visit wlvt.org.