WPLG gave away iPads, and vacations for Facebook likes. WTVJ quickly followed suit with daily iPad giveaways of their own. Now WFOR, which lags way behind every Miami station in Facebook popularity, are upping the ante by offering a brand new Audi A3 to one lucky person who likes the station’s Facebook page.
But there is a caveat
The contest is open to viewers in the viewing areas of all 14 CBS-owned stations in huge television markets like New York City and Los Angeles, so the odds of winning are quite high. And then there’s that contest rule 5 b. which states the winner gives up rights to their likeness to CBS in perpetuity
b.Participation in the Sweepstakes and/or acceptance of the prize (s) constitutes entrant’s and/or winner’s (and guest’s, if applicable) permission for the Stations or its agents to interview the winner(s) (or guest(s), if applicable), to photograph, film, and record each winner (or guest, if applicable), and to use in commerce and in any media now or hereafter known throughout the world in perpetuity, his/her name, prize won, hometown (city and state), biographic information, likeness, photograph, audio or video recording, and/or any statements made by him/her regarding the Stations and/or the Sweepstakes, for purposes of trade, publicity, or Sweepstakes without notice or additional compensation, notification, or permission, except where prohibited by law.Each winner (and guest, if applicable) agrees to sign a publicity release confirming such consent prior to acceptance of the prize, except where prohibited by law.
Lackluster ratings aside, Channel 4 has lagged behind most local news stations in Facebook likes, and Twitter followers too. As of this writing 39,316 have liked the station’s page, while WSVN for example sits a 74,336 likes without giveaways, WTVJ has 80,945, and WPLG is the most liked South Florida television station on Facebook with 116,000.
Of course those Facebook page likes, other than bragging rights, might not mean much anymore. News got out recently that Facebook has plans to limit the exposure page posts get to just 1-4% of a page’s followers. If brands want more exposure they’ll have to pay extra, like news feed ads the social network released not long ago.
