Four Ways To Pressure The Networks

While Network Executives are admittedly sheltered from viewer mail, they do feel the effect of a volume mail on any given subject. The following suggestions will help increase the weight of your complaints or compliments on specific programs or commercials and make it more likely that the network will respond.

1. State your credentials. If you hold any executive title in your company, or in your town or city government, or even in a reasonably well-known organization, get it into the letter. If you are a member of an organization, church, synagogue, club, etc., mention this. A routine letter of complaint signed by a member of a Kiwanis chapter or church or any religious group will probably receive more attention than a good letter signed by someone they may consider a "nobody". 
2. When a show is sponsored by only one or two companies, send a copy of your letter to the sponsor. Individual sponsors have little control over what goes into a program supported by several companies; but if they are the sole or the sharing sponsor, they are much more sensitive to viewers' comments.
3. When writing a letter of complaint or comment to a network show, send a carbon to the local station. They usually like to know what the local viewers are thinking, and if they get enough comment on one side of a question, they'll add their pressure to yours.
4. Make sure that you know what you're talking about. It is not unusual for the networks to receive letters complaining about shows that have appeared on other networks.

One final point is worth mentioning. Networks and stations, for all their faults, are not utterly spineless. They do have some sense of responsibility to the public, and when they are bold enough to step into an area of controversy, they will usually not be intimidated by threats of boycotts, nor will they be influenced by vituperative letters. If you see a television show or any videos in some stations which you think are in bad taste, or unfair, or poor for whatever reason, by all means let the people responsible know about it. But remember that your letter will have greater weight if it is rational and thoughtful, not just angry.