Several media activist groups have petitioned the FCC to stop the sale of the Tribune Co. to billionaire venture capitalist Sam Zell. The groups in question are the United Church of Christ and the Media Alliance, as well as the Media Access Project. They are calling for the FCC to reject the deal because the company would own a newspaper […]
No, we’re not back to our lame “on the clock” anthology before the NFL draft…. but the XM/Sirius merger really is on the clock. The FCC has accepted the application for the merger, and now it has started the unofficial 180-day period of reviewing the deal. Comments and petitions for and against the deal are due July 9 and responses […]
It looks like the fate of Internet radio is going to hinge on Congress. Four major companies who stream on the web – RealNetworks, Yahoo, Pandora, and Live 365 sent letters to all 535 members of Congress regarding the increase of royalties that will have to be paid effective on July 15, with rates that were retroactive to January 2006 […]
Canada’s version of the FCC, the Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission, approved the merger between CTV Globemedia and CHUM, Ltd. However, the comission did not approve thhe transdfer of five television stations – in Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver, given the fact that CTV already owns a television station in each market. Hadn’t it done so, it would have […]
A federal court has thrown out the FCC’s profanity ruling against Fox over two Billboard Music Awards broadcasts and said the agency’s “fleeting expletives” policy was “failing to articulate a reason basis for its change in policy.” You can download the decision here (thanks to TV Barn for the link; you must have a PDF reader to view the document.) […]
It looks like the post-Imus effects have finally hit Chicago. And not surprisingly, A.J. Pierzynski is involved. According to Chicagoland Radio and Media, there could be trouble for Ozzie Guillen and Mike North. (The audio is available at 670thescore.com.) Mike North maybe getting a call from a Mr. Mason, and I don’t mean Perry. And I wonder how long it […]
It looks like momentum to save Internet Radio is tilting to our side: Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) introduced legislation on Thursday to save the fledging medium. The Internet Radio Equity Act would vacate a recent ruling by the Copyright Royalty Board that would have boosted fees for webcasters anywhere from 300 to 1200 percent, essentially putting […]
Two lawmakers have introduced a bill to reverse the net radio royalty increase fee that goes into effect on May 15. Reps. Don Manzullo (R-Ill.) and Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) introduced the bill in a bi-partisan effort yesterday in order to overturn the Copyright Radio Board’s decision that would increase the rate of royalties per song from .08 in 2006 to […]
The FCC has determined that the iPod is not a competitor to satellite radio, a possible blow to the hopes of XM and Sirius merging. Who’s celebrating this? The National Association of Broadcasters, of course. That’s the group (along with the RIAA) that doesn’t want you to have a choice of what platform you want to listen to your music. […]
Post No. 200! The Sun-Times Robert Feder reports that Urban AC WVAZ-FM (or V103) “dodged a bullet” from the FCC and renewed the station’s license after it rejected a complaint from a Joliet listener who claims that her family was slandered and harassed by the syndicated Tom Joyner radio show.
If this comes to pass, they’d better hope the Republicans are in control of Congress and the White House in 2008. XM Press Release There will be a joint conference call and press conference to announce the deal at 7:30 am (CT) Tuesday. You can listen to it on Sirius Channel 122 and XM Channel 200, and available on each […]
The FCC rejected a rather bogus license challenge from Third Coast Press over Chicago’s 18 television stations. (I’ve never heard of them either.) While there are problems with local news, it’s not up to special interest groups (left or right) to determine what should be on newscasts, let alone what programming should be on local television stations. Update: Here is […]
Ad Age’s Simon Dumenco calls for the resignation of FCC Chairman Kevin Martin. Couldn’t agree more. In the words of The Simpsons‘ Comic Book Guy: Worst. Commissioner. Ever.
Welcome to the first annual T Dog Blog Turkey Awards. We’re here to reward stupidity and simpletonism in the fields of broadcasting and in media in 2006 (so far.) Judging by the long list of winners (or shall we say “losers”? ), 2006 was a busy year for being stupid, ignorant, lame, boring, moronic, etc… You get the point. So, […]
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