But it works. If you have Fox on but you're not paying attention, you look up when you hear the *GONG*. They would have gotten rid of it years ago if it didn't have the desired effect.
Actually I tend to ignore their alerts anymore. Last Sunday we slept in unusually late for us, because we'd been to a Christmas party Saturday night. So I got up at 9:45 Arizona time and turned on the tv and saw the word "Alert" across the screen and didn't even bother to pay attention right away as I poured my coffee. It was several minutes before I realized we'd captured Saddam Hussein. A true "Alert".