National broadcaster unveils site for Baby Boomers

October 6, 9:29 AMBaby Boomer ExaminerPaul Briand

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Hearst Argyle Television station is reaching out to Baby Boomers with a new web site of news, information and nostalgia dedicated to that generation.

The site -- called "Boomers" -- debuted on many of its station's web sites today, having been announced as part of early morning telecasts, including WCVB-TV's TheBostonChannel.com. Hearst Argyle Television includes 26 stations across the country, including ABC, NBC and CBS affiliates.

Though not new news, today's main story includes an interview with the first Baby Boomer to receive a Social Security check -- Kathleen Casey-Kirschling, 62, a retired teacher who was born one second after midnight on Jan. 1, 1946.

The content is a mix of print and video. Viewing the video requires download of Microsoft's Silverlight plug-in.

There are categories of information relating to Lifestyle, Health, Family and Money. In addition, there is the opportunity to write in and tell personal stories. Today's topic concerns caring for elderly/sick parents. There is also a Calculators section that includes information on how to calculate the risk for diabetes, college savings and more.

And its debut poll asks the question: Which influential event sticks out in your memory?

-- JFK assassination

-- Woodstock

-- Moon landing

-- Miracle on ice

-- Reagan shot

-- "Star Wars" released

The site has some rough edges. The video viewing plug-in has to be downloaded, then you have to reboot your computer. A slideshow of popular vehicles for Baby Boomers doesn't load properly. And it's difficult to find the site's entry point from the the individual home pages.

To view, insert "baby-boomers/index.html" to any of the Hearst Argyle Television station web sites. Examples:

In Boston, Mass.: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/baby-boomers/index.html

In Cincinnati, Ohio: http://www.wlwt.com/baby-boomers/index.html

In West Palm Beach, Fla.: http://www.wpbf.com/baby-boomers/index.html

In Monterey/Salinas, Calif.: http://www.ksbw.com/baby-boomers/index.html

The "Boomers" content is the same from one part of the country to the other.