By JAMES CLARK Editor for the Southern Standard
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You no longer have to make a trip to McMinnville to see the Park Theater.
Now the entire nation can get a glimpse of the historic downtown landmark thanks to a TV commercial now airing throughout the country on networks such as Fox, CNN and Discovery.
The commercial was filmed at several locations around Warren County, including Main Street, Charley’s BBQ, Ben Lomand, the home of Steve and Lisa Harvey, and a farm in Dibrell. Around 110 minutes of film were shot for the 30-second commercial.
The advertisement features Ben Lomand CEO Levoy Knowles as the narrator as he walks through small-town America. The commercial was paid for by the United States Telecom Association, which is trying to break into the cable TV business much like Ben Lomand has with its BLTV.
However, this measure is being adamantly opposed by the cable TV industry, which doesn’t embrace additional competition.
“Big cable companies are fighting us in Washington,” Knowles says in the ad. “So we’re asking Congress for TV freedom so that more companies can compete for your business.”
Local resident Tammy Crouch has two speaking parts. She tells viewers when it comes to cable TV, “Some of us don’t even have a choice.” If Congress eases its regulations, Crouch tells viewers, “Then we’ll be free to shop around.”
Robert Clem also has a speaking part and several other Ben Lomand employees are featured. Local residents Sam Allen and Elsa Mullican are shown talking on a Main Street bench.
Knowles says he’s been contacted by friends and telephone company executives from around the country after they have seen the ad. It’s getting considerable air time on CNN.
“I’ve had a number of people call and e-mail me to give me a hard time about being on TV,” said Knowles, who also said he’s well pleased with the final product. “I knew they wanted to get a local flavor which is real important to the big companies.”
Knowles said Ben Lomand hasn’t experienced much difficulty getting into the cable TV business. Ben Lomand currently has about 4,200 customers and is adding roughly 100 customers a week. All Warren County residents will have access to BLTV by mid-summer, Knowles said.
“But other parts of the nation haven’t been as fortunate as we’ve been,” said Knowles, who indicated it’s been a dogfight between the cable companies and phone companies in some places.
Knowles said the goal is to give consumers a “triple play,” which is phone, TV, and high-speed Internet access all on one line. He pointed to cable company monopolies as one reason cable prices have soared 86 percent in the last 10 years.
The United States Telecom Association points to studies that indicate when consumers have a choice for video service, rates can decline as much as 15 to 20 percent.
“TV freedom … now that’s the future, faster,” Knowles says in the closing shot which features him in front of the Park Theater.