A new generation of morning TV news arrived in Cincinnati Wednesday, and several organizations were hip to the new way to hype themselves.

        The Cincinnati Art Museum sent a dozen people to Fountain Square at 5:20 a.m. Wednesday to promote the Treasurers for a Queen exhibit during WKRC-TV's Good Morning Cincinnati (5:24-8 a.m. Channel 12) debut from the Fifth Third Center storefront.

        The Palace Restaurant sent over its new chef with Danish and muffins.

        The United Way sent several people with a sign welcoming anchors Cammy Dierking, John Lomax and meteorologist Steve Horstmeyer.

        And folks from three radio stations owned by Clear Channel (owner of Channel 12) took advantage of the free promotion by standing behind the floor-to-ceiling glass windows in the southwest corner of the new Greater Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau office on Fountain Square.

        Cosmetically, the 2 1/2-hour telecast came off with only minor glitches. It had smooth camera work, nice outdoor shots from two rooftop FountainCams, nice new graphics and good pacing.

        Mr. Horstmeyer's microphone failed briefly, and he once referred to the sunrise as a sunset. (Possibly he was just giddy to be working by a window where he could actually see the weather, instead of being stuck inside the station's windowless Triple Doppler 12 Stormcenter.)

        The only thing this newscast lacked was news. Channel 12 didn't report the top stories seen on Channels 5, 9 and 19 (and in The Enquirer) about Jesse Helms retiring from the U.S. Senate, and a Kenton County judge blasting the Archdiocese of Cincinnati for failing to check the criminal record of a former girls basketball coach sentenced Tuesday on a sex abuse charge.

        Channel 19 also cited an Enquirer story about a new $1.7-million Over-the-Rhine swimming pool and playground, while Channel 9 read parts of Cliff Radel's Enquirer column about Coca-Cola collector Ed Kleier.

        On the other hand, Channel 12 ignored the TV spam seen on the other channels Wednesday morning — like Joe Walsh agreeing to open a Spam museum, and an interview with a person eliminated Tuesday from Fox's Murder in Small Town X reality series.

        Instead Channel 12 viewers saw Ms. Dierking singing “Rubber Ducky” to the mascot for Riverfest's Rubber Duck Regatta — which enabled the station to hype its Riverfest fireworks telecast Sept. 2.

        Channel 12 viewers also saw Mayor Charlie Luken, up for re-election in next month's primary.

        “We can use all the good news we can get,” the mayor said. “The whole city is happy that you're here. At this time, it couldn't be better advertising for the city.”

        Mr. Luken also presented the Channel 12 team a key to the city. The anchors also were given a cake and cookies Wednesday. (Too bad somebody didn't give them a newspaper.)

        Although the few dozen spectators didn't compare to the hundreds outside NBC's Today studios, Channel 12 proved that live TV cameras will draw a crowd.

        If Wednesday's premiere was any indication, a Cincinnati live morning show will draw a polite crowd. Only a handful of people stood close to the windows and waved obnoxiously, while most sat on a Fountain Square wall sedately watching the telecast.

        Mr. Horstmeyer and the perpetually perky Ms. Dierking invited viewers to join them on the square.

        “Come on down,” the meteorologist said. “We'll be here forever — or at least until I retire.”

        Or as long as anybody has anything to promote.

       Contact John Kiesewetter by phone: 768-8519; fax: 768-8330; e-mail: jkiesewetter@enquirer.com.

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