None of the local TV stations in the Mobile, Alabama-Pensacola, Florida TV market are expected to broadcast the MDA Labor Day Telethon scheduled for Sunday, September 2nd, according to a list of TV stations currently affiliated with the association on its official website.
This would be the second year in a row that none of the TV stations in the area had plans to broadcast a telethon from MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association).
The MDA Show of Strength (previously known as the MDA Labor Day Telethon, the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon and the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon) is an annual telethon in the United States to raise money for the MDA.
WJTC-TV was the last local TV station to broadcast telethon programming from the MDA after having done so every year from 1996 to 2010. Afterwards the MDA announced plans to provide telethon affiliates about six hours of programming in 2011 rather than about 21 hours and 30 minutes of programming as they did in previous years. The plans also included providing the entire telethon to the stations on the day before Labor Day from 6:00 p.m until 12:00 a.m rather than from 8:00 p.m. on the day before Labor Day until 5:30 pm. on Labor Day like previous telethons (WJTC-TV usually began broadcasting the telethons on Labor Day rather than the day before).
The telethon for 2012 is now scheduled to be provided for three hours from 7:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. rather than from 5:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. just like the last telethon. Residents of the Mobile, Alabama-Pensacola, Florida TV market may still be able to receive the telethon for 2012 if they have access to WGN America, a cable TV and satellite programming service, or the MDA website with a live video stream of telethon programming.
Good. What they did to Jerry Lewis tossing him out like the trash without even a proper thank you and goodbye after 50 years of service to MDA — serves them right. They were all money and “corporate” when they tossed him, seems now the TV stations are being “corporate” right back. Sad this is the world we live in.
Goodbye MDA Telethon — no hard feelings, it’s just “business”, now get lost.
well you all got rid of me when you got rid of Jerry Lewis..I’m sure there are MANY people who feel the same way..sorry that the kids have to suffer because of your stupidity..Karla
MDA didn’t realize the good thing they had when Jerry Lewis hosted. He’s the one that really made the positive difference. Without him, the telethon is lifeless. They took the heart away.