Public Service Announcement Policies


This is a general notice and statement of WABI-TV's policies regarding Public Service Announcements and is subject to change at any time.

Purpose/Intent

When sufficient airtime is available, PSA's will be aired free of charge to qualifying, registered non-profits and charitable organizations who DO NOT have the funding to otherwise get their public interest message out to the community. In addition, the station may, from time to time, provide public service airtime to registered non-profit & charitable organizations that have funding available to purchase advertising, but wish to achieve additional exposure through public service airtime assistance.

The station is under no obligation to broadcast every PSA delivered to or produced by the station and retains sole discretion in determining whether or not and how much PSA time is allocated.

All PSA's submitted will be considered, based on content and appropriate use, however, the station assigns the following priority level to all PSA's submitted for air.

Top Priority: Station orchestrated or participatory initiatives.

High Priority: Local & regional initiatives.

Moderate Priority: State initiatives.

Low Priority: National initiatives.

The station also supports industry initiatives with PSA time (i.e., Maine Association of Broadcasters NCSA programs and various National Association of Broadcasters initiatives.

Pre-produced PSA's should be received as much in advance as possible, no later than one week prior to requested start of flight. All PSA's approved for air will run in rotation with other approved PSA's on an R.O.S. schedule. Affidavits and proof of run schedules are NOT provided for PSA schedules.

PSA Content

Content of all PSA's submitted for air MUST meet the following guidelines:
  • PSA's must serve the public interest.
  • And/or promote fund-raising initiatives with proceeds going directly towards advancing the mission of non-profit organization.
  • And/or promote awareness initiatives for particular non-profit organization.
  • And/or promote new or on-going service, program or event that is FREE TO THE PUBLIC.
  • Not designed to promote a service or program that is NOT FREE TO THE PUBLIC.

Commercial Sponsorships or Identification

As a general policy, the station will not air PSA's that include ANY commercial sponsorship, or identification with the following exceptions:

The business is serving as the venue of an event or promotion featured in the PSA (i.e., "Help the Red Cross by participating in the Blood drive this week at Bangor Mall.")

The business is a partner with the station in a promotion for a specific non-profit organization ("WABI-TV and WXYZ radio invite you to join in the fight against heart disease.")

Other exceptions to this rule may be considered. However, there shall be no exception without the approval of the Public Service Director and the General Manager.

Production Charges

All PSA's will be produced at the current production rate.

Station Identification.

All PSA's aired by WABI-TV shall carry the station's logo. If a PSA is delivered without the logo, the station will make the addition at no charge.

Community Bulletin Board

The station's Community Bulletin Board offers free production and free airtime for simple announcements within the CBB format as listed below. Organizations must meet the usual non-profit criteria.

The station has no obligation to promote every announcement.

CBB information must be received one month prior of the event being promoted.

CBB Format

  • Event Name (i.e., Bean Supper/Hunters Breakfast/Church Event)
  • Event Date & Location
  • Phone Number (Number viewers can call for more information)