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WOI-TV, Iowa State University's commercial television station, is taking bold steps to compete with the big boys of broadcasting based in Des Moines.
The television station, an ABC affiliate with its studio and main offices located in Ames on the ISU campus, has substantially increased the number of employees stationed at its Des Moines office. And Bob Helmers, WOI general manager, said even more employees will be moved to Des Moines in the next year.
"The gloves are off here," Helmers said. "We're going out and competing like a commercial television station should have been from the beginning."
Since July, seven additional sales and support staff employees are working out of the 2111 Grand Ave. office than at the same time one year ago, according to Helmers. Within the next year, Helmers, whose office is now in Ames, plans to join them.
WOI hopes to stay at its current downtown spot, and is negotiating to rent more space there, Helmers said. In the next month, two more advertising salespeople will join the existing sales force, he said.
These changes are part of an effort to make poorly rated WOI profitable and more competitive. Helmers believes more viewers are already tuning into Channel 5 to watch a bevy of new syndicated shows and an improved news product.
He refused to reveal the latest WOI Nielsen ratings, saying...