Do you use Promo? Take our survey.: Panorama: Rocky Mountain PBS: a7

Denver

28°

Blogs Health Care Tech Talk Green Living National Parks Super School News The 1930s

Facing the Mortgage Crisis
Colorado in the 1930s - an online exhibit
Public lands in the media spotlight
Great memories, fun stories - five reflections
Camping in Black Canyon of the Gunnison
'Antiques Roadshow' Denver - 2010 broadcast schedule
Video interview with CCC alumnus Al Coven
Student newscasters talk about the program
The Colorado Historical Society's dioramas
'Ask the man who owns one' - Colorado loves its Packards!

Masterpiece Contemporary: Collision (Part 2 of 2)
Sunday at 9pm

Mystery of Chaco Canyon
Wednesday at 8pm

True Whispers: The Story of the Navajo Code Talker
Tuesday at 8pm

Nova: Why Do We Dream?
Tuesday at 7pm

Beyond Wiseguys: Italian Americans & the Movies
Wednesday at 9pm

Do you use Promo? Take our survey.

posted Tuesday, May 19, 2009 10:42am

See more on: Blogs, Green Living

Promo survey here.

Last week, in response to our CEO Doug Price's blog, a number of you suggested either getting rid of Promo (our TV guide) or offering an electronic version to cut down on costs.

The good news is we already offer e-promo, and more than 2,100 people so far have made the switch (45,000 still receive the paper version). Check it out now and sign up here. It's a great resource, it's paper-free – and it comes out before the snail-mail print version.

With e-promo, an e-mail is automatically delivered to your inbox once a month with three docs for download:

1. Complete TV schedule for the upcoming month
(same as paper Promo)

2. Featured programs spread
(same as paper Promo, but in color)

3. At-a-glance calendar of primetime programs
(available only in e-promo)

As Promo's editor, I'm a fan of the printed version. But, let's be honest: Promo often goes unread – and many of you probably put it straight into the junk mail pile. Imagine how much paper we could save, not to mention the money, if we didn't print it!

That isn't to scare all you Promo people out there. It's encouraging to hear from those of you who put it on your coffee table, refer to it religiously and keep it highlighted and annotated. And, it probably won't go away anytime soon, although we may reduce the page count like we're doing for June.

But paper Promo is a huge expense – on average, nearly $15,000 per issue, printing and shipping included – and we need to see if it makes honest sense to continue. Opt out of the printed version today at rmpbs.org/promo.

Please take a brief, 8-question survey about your Promo-reading habits (or lack thereof). We want to know how we can put your membership dollars to the best use.

Click here to take our survey. Honest feedback welcome below, too!

-Elizabeth Mayer, Rocky Mountain PBS

What's your point of view?

mina kidd
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 › 4:39pm
I will be upset for you to do Promo only online. I will have to print the whole thing out and it will be a mess to keep by my TV. I go thru my Promo daily and as soon as I get a new one. I mark in red what I want to see so that I don't miss an Indep Lens or POV, etc. Your small format fits perfectly in my space and is much easier to use than a bunch of 8 1/2 X 11 sheets. I give $15 a month and will make it $16 if that will cover the cost of MY promo. I NEED it badly.

Larry McLaughlin
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 › 4:40pm
Most of the time it just sits on the coffee table.

Dave Webster
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 › 4:42pm
E Promo would be great for me. I hope it has the Create schedule on it.

I currently get the enews.

joanne thompson
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 › 5:03pm
Yes, yes, yes I use Promo and want to keep receiving it. Thankyou.

Phil Norton
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 › 5:10pm
I have signed up for the electronic version twice and still haven't seen a thing! ??

Barbara & Bill Martin
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 › 5:13pm
Our computer is in the basement and the TV is upstairs in the family room, so it is not convenient to go to the cellar for Promo.

As for a reliable program source, the computer doesn't always work - so Promo would be unavailable.

We much prefer a printed Promo on which we regularly highlight "not to miss" programs and help plan our week's activities.

I fully understand RMPBS' need to raise more money and reduce expenses.
We live on a fixed income and cannot contribute more than at present. Our preference is to cut expenses.

Let's stop spending money on "Doo-Wop" and similar low-value re-re-reruns.
How about shutting down the station at night. There simply cannot be a meaningful number of viewers between 12 midnight and 5am.

Thanks.
-Bill and Barbara Martin

beth bowman
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 › 5:51pm
Online is good for me

Theresa Kozney
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 › 6:27pm
I check the online schedule and use the 'remind me' so that I don't need to write it down.

Clliff Malmquist
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 › 6:29pm
I don't have a problem with the email version. I never did make a habit of checking Promo dduring the day to see what would be on. Now when I receive an email, I might glance through it early in the day and then try and remember that there is something I want to tune into that evening.... Aside from that, the odds are that when I turn the TV on, I go right to Ch. 6 no matter.....

Elizabeth Galles
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 › 6:31pm
I think that a CHOICE is the best solution. Although the e-promo version would be fine for me, many folks do not have internet access. Please continue to send the printed magazine to them. I am sure that the amount you will save with many people choosing the online Promo will make a difference. However, I have requested the e-promo 3 times now, and still have not received it. Better get that problem resolved or all of us e-promo folks will be going back to the paper version which has always been a reliable programming source guide.

donna mcfadden
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 › 7:24pm
i have now switched to the internet version. i was very worried i would miss some of my favorites, but in fact the whole evening program page shown in a monthly format was FABULOUS. certainly
not a choice if no internet, but it has worked for me. thank you for the choice.

Teresa McMullin
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 › 9:06pm
No need to print this online. Don't remember being offered Promo, but don't need it. We get the schedule weekly through our Sunday paper television section. That is enough. I already get the weekly e-news.

Rosemary Scheuering
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 › 11:29pm
I want the printed Promo as I use it daily, often more than once a day. I don't turn my computer on all the time.

R Selos
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 › 9:09am
While I rarely look at Promo during the month, in my opinion it would be a mistake to stop printing it. I enjoy the weekly emails the most. But as someone said earlier, if printing the schedule were required, it would be scattered all over the place and never get read. I'm for keeping Promo!

Rose Dobler
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 › 9:16am
We will be moving to Kenya, but when I am here I actually read more on line than the book- I usually read the first page or two and that all I get to. Thanks for an awesome station and programs.

CIndy Berriosros
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 › 9:16am
I love Promo. As soon as I receive it, I mark all the programs that I want to see so that I can either watch it when it airs or tape it and watch it at another time. I don't have a computer at home so I love to have Promo. In fact, if you cancel Promo, I will not renew my subscription.

Kay Shaw
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 › 2:45pm
I use Promo but am willing to try the on line version. It is important to make the print as small, but still readable so that we all won't be wasting "tons" of our paper. In doing the Featured Program part, please don't put in colors, it just costs us more. Or another thought is to ask people who want an on line version to pay extra. Thanks for asking!

Jean Tillotson
Thursday, May 21, 2009 › 4:05pm
I miss the Promo and wondered where it went. I always go through it to seewhat is coming. I would like to receive it on the internet (although I always liked to hold it in my hands and thumb through it several times.) I have missed some programs I wanted to see, but did not have the "Promo". I would be glad to have it again, even on the internet.