WCMH-TV Columbus Earns the Ad Council's Crystal Bell Award

NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- NBC4 WCMH-TV received the Ad Council's Crystal Bell Award today at TVB's Forward Conference—an annual event for local television broadcast leaders. The Crystal Bell Award is presented each year to one local television station that demonstrates leadership and provides exceptional support in disseminating Ad Council public service messages.

The Ad Council, a national non-profit organization, is the largest producer of public service advertising (PSAs) in the United States. Through partnerships with non-profit organizations and federal government agencies, the Ad Council works to stimulate action and social change on public issues through PSAs and innovative communications programs. All Ad Council PSAs are aired and run in donated time and space.

The Crystal Bell Award was presented to WCMH-TV for its commitment to donating airtime for more than 20 Ad Council public service campaigns in the past year, supporting critical social issues including Bullying Prevention, Hunger Prevention, Recycling and Stroke Awareness.

WCMH-TV was noted for its particular support of Project Roadblock, a partnership between the TVB, the Ad Council and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration designed to prevent drunk and buzzed driving during the winter holidays. Since Project Roadblock was initiated ten years ago, local television stations have donated over $30 million in media support to airing Buzzed Driving PSAs. As a result, more than 60 percent of the campaign target audience recognize the PSAs and 50 percent said they will always get a ride, take a taxi or use public transportation rather than drive buzzed.

"We are thrilled to recognize WCMH-TV in Columbus as an outstanding partner that has helped us reach people with health and safety messages that are having a significant a positive impact on their communities," according to Peggy Conlon, president and CEO of the Ad Council. "WCMH-TV's support of our campaigns, including the roadblock with the TVB in support of buzzed driving truly exemplifies the power of public service messages to improve and save lives."

"It's a privilege to serve our community as a local broadcaster. That privilege comes with a significant responsibility to provide vital information to the community in order to increase awareness of critical issues," said Dan Bradley, President and General Manager of NBC4 WCMH-TV.

About NBC4 (WCMH-TV)
NBC4 (WCMH-TV) is a Media General Company and an affiliate station of NBC. NBC4 delivers relevant content, accurate weather, and keeps you connected through outreach and advocacy in the community. When, where and how you need us. NBC4. here for you.

About TVB
TVB is the not-for-profit trade association of America's commercial broadcast television industry.  Its members include television broadcast groups, advertising sales reps, syndicators, international broadcasters, associate members and over 500 individual television stations.  TVB actively promotes local media marketing solutions to the advertising community, and in so doing works to develop advertising dollars for the medium's multiple platforms, including on-air, website and mobile.  TVB provides a diverse variety of tools and resources, including www.tvb.org, to support its members and to help advertisers make the best use of local ad dollars.

The Ad Council
The Ad Council is a private, non-profit organization with a 70-year history of marshaling volunteer talent from the advertising and media industries to deliver critical messages to the American public. Having produced literally thousands of PSA campaigns addressing the most pressing social issues of the day, the Ad Council has affected, and continues to effect, tremendous positive change by raising awareness, inspiring action and saving lives. To learn more about the Ad Council and its campaigns, visit adcouncil.org. You can also visit facebook.com/adcouncil or follow the Ad Council on Twitter @AdCouncil.

SOURCE Ad Council