Live 5 WCSC Holding Antenna Giveaway

Still having trouble adjusting to digital television? Live 5 WCSC is holding a free over-the-air digital TV antenna giveaway on Wednesday.

It’ll happen right outside our main studios on Charlie Hall Boulevard in West Ashley at lunchtime.

A DTV Education bus making stops across the country will pull into the Lowcountry with $15,000 worth of antennas to give away. From 10:30am until 12:30pm (and while supplies last) visitors will receive an antenna and get information on how to use them. You’ll also be able to ask questions you have about digital television.

For some families hit hard by the economy, they haven’t been able to afford a digital antenna, but are also facing the decision to end their cable or satellite service to cut monthly costs.

Families without newer digital television sets would not receive any local stations without an antenna if they discontinued their cable or satellite service.

Telethon plans major changes

Major changes are ahead for the MDA Labor Day Telethon, the Muscular Dystrophy Association announced Thursday.

The annual event, which comedian Jerry Lewis has hosted for all of its 45 years on television, will be trimmed from a 21-hour to a 6-hour program.  The 2011 show is slated to air on Sunday night from 6:00pm until Midnight, and not air at all on Labor Day itself.

The change is being made, according to executives within MDA, to not only cut production costs, but increase the number of viewers.

Live 5 WCSC has carried the telethon for more than 30 years, with Ann McGill, Meteorologist Chad Watson and reporter Tracey Amick anchoring local updates from our studio.  Lewis and an assortment of co-hosts anchor the national broadcast from Las Vegas.

Candidates for Governor Debate Tonight

Your Live 5 Insider really, really hates the word gubernatorial.  It just doesn’t sound right. 

That minor detail aside, South Carolina’s Gubernatorial candidates — or, those candidates fighting for the chance to be your next governor — will debate the issues tonight.

You can see the debate live online:  live5news.com will stream the event starting at 7:00pm tonight.  Then, stay logged in after the debate because the candidates have been invited to stick around for a live chat, which is expected to begin at 8:00pm.

CBS Plans Big Things for May!

It’s time to talk season finales! May on CBS will bring the big finales to THE AMAZING RACE and SURVIVOR: HEROES VS. VILLIANS, plus cliffhangers for your favorite regular series.

We’ve made a list of the biggest shows and brief descriptions of what you can expect. So get your calendars and jot down these dates because you’ll definitely want to make sure you’re tuned in to LIVE 5 WCSC:

Staying Ahead of the Storm

This week is Severe Weather Awareness Week in South Carolina. It’s a time when people are encouraged to review with their families what they’d do if a severe storm, like a tornado, would threaten their neighborhood.

As part of that, LIVE 5 WCSC is taking part in a statewide tornado drill at around 9:00am on Thursday. At that time, we will test our severe weather warning equipment. It gives you a chance to see exactly what to look for on the screen in case of a tornado warning, which means that a tornado has been spotted in the area.

You’ll see a crawl on the screen, but remember: it’s just a test.

If you have a NOAA Weather Radio, be sure to turn it on at 9:00am as well, so that you can hear their tornado drill.

The more familiar you are with what to look and listen for during the testing, the more prepared you’ll be if such a storm ever actually makes it your way.

(And we’ll keep our fingers crossed that you and your family will never have to actually use this knowledge.)

The Grammy Awards Want You Involved

Sunday’s 52nd ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS is trying to get the television audience involved in big ways.

It begins with a special duet designed to raise money for Haitian earthquake victims. Nine-time GRAMMY winner Mary J. Blige and world-renowned pop tenor Andrea Bocelli will join forces and perform the Simon & Garfunkel classic, “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

That once-in-a-lifetime duet will be made available for download at iTunes following the telecast with all proceeds benefiting the Red Cross’ ongoing earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. This year marks the 40th anniversary of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” receiving GRAMMY Awards for Record of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year; the song will provide a moving tribute to survivors of the tragic events in Haiti.

But that’s not where getting interactive stops!

Obama Prepares for Address, Challenges

See President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address live from the nation’s capitol Wednesday on LIVE 5 WCSC.

Obama, now in his second year in office, will detail his plans for the next twelve months as well as update the American people on where things stand. His remarks will come just after the election of a Republican into the seat held by Democrat Ted Kennedy for nearly half a century, and thereby, a GOP hope of defeating the comprehensive health care reform plan.

Coverage begins Wednesday night at 9:00pm, and the Republican response to the president’s address will follow Obama’s speech. Katie Couric will anchor coverage, which is expected to last through 10:30pm. TWO AND A HALF MEN will follow at 10:30pm.

Live 5+ Airing State of State Address

Live 5+, WCSC’s second digital channel, will carry Governor Mark Sanford’s State of the State address this Wednesday night.

Sanford will deliver the annual update to a joint session of the state’s General Assembly in Columbia. He is expected to lay out the plans for his final months in office.

Tune in to Live 5+ Wednesday night at 7:00pm. You’ll find it on WCSC Channel 5.2, Comcast channel 212 and Knology channel 146.

An Easy Way to Help Earthquake Victims

Live 5 WCSC and your local Harris Teeter stores are teaming up to help victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

It’s easy to donate: just buy a $1 or $5 relief card at your Harris Teeter now through January 31st. That money will go directly to the American Red Cross International Response Fund.

Click here for more information, and thanks for any donation you can afford. Your help will make a world of difference.

Thanks So Much!

The final local tally for the 44th ANNUAL JERRY LEWIS MDA TELETHON was $229,184.

Thanks so much to Lowcountry viewers who were so generous despite the rough economy. The money raised today will stay right here in our area, helping local families affected by any of the various neuromuscular diseases the Muscular Dystrophy Association is fighting.

Behind the scenes, Live 5 WCSC producer Mike Rabon was awarded an MDA Broadcast Journalism award. Rabon received the Gold Award for Special Event Feature. Rabon, along with executive producer Jim DeMauro, produces the video presentations featuring local children battling Muscular Dystrophy in one of its many forms and the efforts to help them live normal lives and raise money to find a cure.

Live 5 WCSC aired the telethon from 9:00pm on Sunday through 6:30pm on Monday. This was our 32nd airing of the event.