This weekend I started getting questions about KTRK abc13. Is the station changing names just like KPRC? The short answer is I don't think so.
The reason behind the confusion is, if you are following the Disney/ABC Television Group Houston station's page on Facebook, then you got an email from Zuckerberg and crew stating it was changing names from "abc13 KTRK Eyewitness News Houston" to "ABC 13 Houston."
If I had to guess, I'm gonna have to take responsibility for this one. It goes with the whole "Father of Houston TV social media and overall dunderpate" thing at the top of this very blog.
Back in 2008, I created the KTRK Facebook page before management (or any other Houston TV station) was really even sure what this social networking thing was. That meant there was no promotion of the FB page ad nauseam on air or online like you find today.
So when I was coming up with a name, I just packed the "abc13 KTRK Eyewitness News Houston" title full of every branding element known to the audience as you can probably tell. I figured this way you would find the station on Facebook no matter how you searched for it. At this point there were probably less than 100 television stations even on Facebook.
It was my argument we needed to jump on this Facebook and Twitter thing quickly to establish a presence and followers before everyone else. Time proved that was probably the only smart thing I've ever pushed for.
If I hadn't left the station in 2009, I would have wanted to shorten the Facebook page's name by now so it's probably good the station is just getting around to doing a little social tidying up if you will.
In 2010, when I consulted KPRC on its Facebook pages, there was already the "KPRC Local 2" branding in place so the naming decision was already taken care of.
To my readers, "Keep Calm and Chive On" or whatever the kids say these days. But if you see KTRK changing names on air, then please notify me and feel free to call me an idiot.
