The Wires (Feb 16, 2008)

Inside Radio: Mayor drops F-bomb on live radio. You can forgive the producers at Citadel's WJR, Detroit for not being at the switch when Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner used the f-word during a live interview show. His explanation: "I started to say 'fuss' and changed to 'ruckus' and the words were merged into one." The Supreme Court has yet to decide whether to hear the FCC's appeal to a lower court ruling overturning its "fleeting expletive" rule. Ironically, Finkbeiner suspended his spokesman for three weeks after he used the f-word during an off-air interview with a WJR producer earlier this week.

PC Magazine: PC Mag rounds up top 12 customizable streamers. From PC Magazine online: To all the oldsters who say that kids these days are spoiled for refusing to pay for music, I say “bah!” Free, legal music has existed forever—or at least since the invention of the radio—and you folks had good radio stations and programs to listen to, back in the pre-Clear Channel era. These days, a good radio station is hard to come by and CDs are $20 a pop. So, what’s a music lover to do? Turn to the Internet, of course, where you can find music-streaming services that are not only free and legal (like all radio) but customizable… These sites are a perfect match for a certain type of music listener: the kind who wants a little more control than typical Web radio affords, but who also wants to listen to new music that might not be in his or her iTunes folder… Even better, they’re all free, and you won’t get sued for using any of them. So what are you waiting for?

TV Technology: Martin Wants Full-Power Broadcasters to Help Low-Power. And he’s looking to full-power broadcasters to help out with any extra DTV spectrum they might have lying around.

TV Technology: Martin: 5 Percent Could Lose Signal in Transition. At a hearing on DTV before the House Telecommunications Subcommittee Feb. 13, Chairman Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) asked how many viewers who get new converter boxes for their old TVs will draw a blank on DTV.

Jane, You Ignorant Foul-Mouthed Slut (Feb 15, 2008)

Last month, Diane Keaton said the "F"-word on Good Morning America.

Yesterday, Jane Fonda stunned TV viewers on the East coast by saying a expletetive referring to a female genitalia that started with the letter "C" on The Today Show.

Fonda was discissing the 15th anniversary of the "V" Monologues when she let the "C" word slip out, but oddly enough, cohost Meredith Vieira didn't give any reaction when Jane said the expletetive.

After a commercial break some minutes later, Vieira issued an apology.

Whether this will be another test of the FCC's "fleeting expletives" policy is yet to be seen.

This morning's Jane Fonda interview can be viewed here.

HERE!

Football Withdrawl Dreams (Feb 15, 2008)

The defense on both teams were apparently absent and the announcers kept announcing a touchdown, safety, or an interception return for a touchdown, and the score near the end of the game was run up to something like 101-98 in favor of Chicago.

When dreaming, I usually have some kind of soundtrack going on in the background, whether it was a football broadcast, a medley of Beatles songs, or something like a long gone radio station from the past with deejays and oldies music, yet there's no radio to be found anywhere.

Well, only six more months until exhibition football begins, when the weather will be hot and muggy instead of cold and wet as it was today.

The Wires (Feb 15, 2008)

Randy Dotinga: At a time when the media are struggling across the board, it's a shame. For one, KOGO provides news during big news stories to all the other Clear Channel stations in town. The layoffs mean that there will be fewer experienced radio journalists on hand the next time there's a disaster and San Diegans turn to radio to find out what's going on. All three of the laid-off reporters ---- Wade Douglas, Marilyn Hyder and Sally Hixson ---- were veterans of radio journalism. In some ways, the cutbacks aren't surprising. Despite strong ratings, the station's morning news show was canceled last year to make way for a talk show featuring Baltimore transplant Chip Franklin. Meanwhile, Clear Channel ---- which is being sold ---- is pushing for cost-cutting

Radio Briefs (Feb 13 1/2, 2008)

The HD2 channels for KYXY and KSCF are dead air.

Pirate 93.7 went dark. KDB from Santa Barbara was heard clearly from my house.

KLQV 102.9 has gone HD. No HD2 signal yet. No HD on KLNV 106.5 yet.

Soccer Beating Prime-Time TV? (Feb 13 1/2, 2008)

"Even Soccer from Mexico is more entertaining than anything written by the current slate of WGA writers."

Now I read this article from SOSD:

U.S.-Mexico match provides glimpse into future

Last Wednesday's soccer match featured a soccer match that ended in a 2-2 tie between the United States and Mexico at Houston's Reliant Stadium. Who knew that someday, soccer would be beating out some of the prime-time shows offered by the major networks?

Television ratings for the U.S.-Mexico rivalry continue to suggest that soccer is more than just a niche format. It's more interesting programming than whatever reality shows the networks are coming up with.

In the 18-34 years of age demographic, Univision scored a goal with the match as it outdrew every broadcast network except Fox, which was running "American Idol", at the same time in Central and Eastern time zones.

In Houston, where the match occurred, Univision's numbers even topped Fox!

If you live in a border town like San Diego, you also have TV stations fror Mexico to watch the soccer games on. Too bad Cox doesn't carry most of the Tijuana affilliates of the Mexican networks Televisa (45 and 57) and TV Azteca (21 and 27). Since San Diego is an interface metro area to a Mexican city, we would think that Cox would do better and program in the channels from Tijuana. Instead, we have to rely on rabbit ears and outdoor antennas to get the Mexican channels that feature sports and other fare. Nevermind that it's Spanish language. Cox already carries 12, 17, 41, and 33, all Spanish-language stations.

Spamalot Changes Britney Refernce (Feb 13 1/2, 2008)

Britney Spears is out, Posh Spice is in — as a lyric for the Lady in the Lake in the Broadway musical "Monty Python's Spamalot." Asked why the lyric was changed in the song "Diva's Lament," "Spamalot" author Eric Idle said Tuesday in an e-mail: "Because we don't laugh at sad people. Mike Nichols (the show's director) requested it and he's right. We changed the lyrics in London, on tour, on Broadway and in Las Vegas. We think that it's now too sad. Britney Spears is being tortured to death and we don't want to be on that side." The changes went into the various companies last week

Podcast and Internet Station (Feb 13 1/2, 2008)

Featured Internet Radio Station: Classic Rock Albums http://www.live365.com/stations/rifradio. Classic Rock Albums is a Live365 hosted Internet Radio Station located in Lansford, North Dakota and operated under the rifRadio umbrella. The show plays all the best in classic and contemporary rock. Currently on the playlist you'll find Dreaming Isabelle's track “Awake.”

The Wires (Feb 13 1/2, 2008)

TV Tech: Netflix Reluctantly Drops HD DVD Rentals...After a couple of weeks of relative quiet on the next-gen disc war front, things are starting to break this week—in favor of Blu-ray Disc

TV Tech: Best Buy Gives Preference to Blu-ray...A second body blow to HD DVD also came early this week when big-box retailer Best Buy announced from its Minneapolis headquarters that by early next month, America’s largest consumer electronics retailer will begin to “prominently showcase” Blu-ray hardware and software products at its brick-and-mortar stores, as well as on its Web site

Clear Channel Must Divest in Four Markets: The Department of Justice said today that it will require Clear Channel, the largest operator of radio stations in the United States, to divest radio stations in four cities in order for a group of private equity investors led by Bain Capital (Bain) and Thomas H. Lee Partners (THL) to proceed with their acquisition of a controlling interest in Clear Channel. The Department said that the transaction, as originally proposed, likely would have resulted in higher prices to purchasers of radio advertising in Cincinnati, Houston, Las Vegas and San Francisco because Bain and THL already have substantial ownership interests in two firms that compete with Clear Channel in those cities. Bain and THL have ownership interests in Cumulus Media Partners LLC (Cumulus), a large nationwide operator of radio stations, and THL also has an ownership interest in Univision Communications Inc. (Univision), a large nationwide operator of radio stations that broadcast primarily in Spanish. Read the full press release at the link.

XLNC1 Still on 90.7 (Feb 13, 2008)

XLNC 90.7, which signed on Valentine's Day (yecch!) in 2000 playing classical music, is apparently still going to be on 90.7 until engineers are finished testing the new transmitter for the new frequency on 104.9 FM.

Their website xlnc1.org states that they have moved to 104.9 FM but are still making adjustments to their equipment.

The station wants you to tell them how they sound at their new frequency at 104.9 FM.

If you can’t receive XLNC1 now, please include your LOCATION (City and/or Zip) to help the station's engineers pinpoint the areas that need improvement. Feel free to contact the Membership Department if you have any additional comments or questions: (619) 575-9090 x452.

They are still broadcasting at 90.7 FM but this is temporary. The station is planning to stop broadcasting at 90.7 FM once the signal at 104.9 FM improves. The play lists that are posted on xlnc1.org are for the broadcasts at 104.9 FM and they are not posting play lists for the broadcasts at 90.7 FM.

SNL Lives Again (Feb 13, 2008)

NBC has confirmed that the show, which has been off the air since the start of the strike, will return Saturday, Feb. 23 as the striking Hollywood writers representing the Writers Guild of America voted Tuesday to end their three-month strike that turned Hollywood into a third world country. Writers will be back on the job Wednesday after voting in Beverly Hills and New York.

SNL aired only four episodes before the onset of the strike in early November.

A host and musical guest for the return episode haven't been announced yet.

Podcast and Internet Radio (Feb 13, 2008)

Classic Tracks Radio http://www.classictracksradio.com Classic Tracks Radio is an Internet Radio Station broadcasting Classic Tracks, Great Oldies and More around the World 24 hours a day. The station is operated and ran by music and radio enthusiasts, and features many genres of music spanning the decades from the 1950's through to today's contemporary hits, along with special shoes ot spice up the schedule. Check out Classic Tracks Radio now, which in the past has featured such CyberPR artists as Terry Garland and Paul Cullen: http://www.classictracksradio.com/listen.html

The Wires (Feb 13, 2008)

JS Online: From Tim Cuprisin -- Unless something goofy happens, striking writers could be back to work as early as Wednesday, and the networks can start trying to salvage the TV season. The main question for viewers is when their favorite shows will be back. In some cases, the conventional wisdom is four to six weeks, with fewer-than-usual episodes, maybe another half-dozen for many shows

Happy Hare: In radio, I learned to skate on taking sides in politics. I’m open to emceeing events for anyone worthy who asks. One of my judgmental errors was bringing on Spiro Agnew. Some time ago. I accepted Duncan Hunter’s invitation to come to one of his fund raising rallies and be on stage. The deal was that he would call me up to the mic and I would say a few nice words about him. Easy for me. I like him personally. The scene of the rally was an east county ranch where all the gun rights guys came out to contribute big chunks of money to his campaign. That day, his campaign supporters showed up in western outfits, expensive cowboy, boots and hats, sculptured belt buckle, and saddle bags full of money. When Duncan introduced me I jumped up, ran to the mic beaming and bellowed, “Howdy!”

Just In! KFMB-DT To Move To Channel 7 (12:30am, Feb 12, 2008)

From Bill Lawrence, Assistant D.O.E. KFMB-TV: "KFMB-TV, Channel 8, is pleased to announce that KFMB-DT, will be switching channels for our over the air digital broadcast from UHF 55 to VHF 7. We expect to change to Channel 7 on (or about) March 6, 2008. If you receive our digital signal over the air, you will be required to retune your receiver at the time of the channel change. If you receive our digital signal from cable or satellite, no changes are necessary to continue receiving our digital broadcasts. As we approach the cutover date, additional information will be available on our web site at www.cbs8.com and here on the HD Forum."

The Wires (Feb 12, 2008)

NY Post: From Stephen Lynch -- Holy high frequency! You mean DJs will actually pick the songs? It's a sign of how dysfunctional modern radio has become that the seemingly obvious is worthy of remark. But it's been years since DJs selected the records they played at most stations. Playlists, carefully crafted from market research, replaced personal choice long ago - at some conglomerates, dozens of radio stations across the country use the exact same sets, pre-recorded in a New York studio. The demise of the DJ was hastened by the "Jack" format

MichiGuide: From Art Vuolo -- I’ve preached about the iPod, but it’s not the only thing radio has to defend itself against. The enemy has been redefined as Internet radio, mobile phone competition for listening time (texting, phoning, etc.) and social networks. To beat the “bad guys,” you need to know who they are. Radio may be just the ticket for baby boomers, but it’s not even on the radar screen among most 18-to- 24-year-olds

Inside Music Media: From Jerry Del Colliano -- I often write about the tragedy of needless cutbacks at a time when radio needs to invest in content, marketing and, God knows, management. Instead, super managers with impressive track records are being let go. Program directors are doubling up not only in their markets but in other cities. It’s folly. Sales people are being fired – how can that be at a time like this. On-air talent is being let go because their salaries are too high and thus, present a greater opportunity for financial belt-tightening. It’s insanity (read more - Inside Music Media)

Chris Carmichael: Not an island in the CCU franchise anymore, Clear Channel Communications is thinning the herd heard in the market. Three market professionals: Marilyn Hyder, Sally Hixon and Wade Douglas have been let go from the KOGO news staff. Add a few other behind the board and other folks that make the stations - CC-SD is imploding on itself. Who is going to sweep the floors let alone turn off the lights?

FMQB: Clear Channel Calls Proposed Satellite Merger "A Genuine Threat."

Notable Grammy® Winners (Feb 12, 2008)

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Song of the Year and Record of the Year: "Rehab", Amy Winehouse.

Best New Artist: Amy Winehouse.

Best Rock Song and Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance: "Radio Nowhere", Bruce Springsteen.

Best Country Song and Best Female Country Vocal Performance: "Before He Cheats", Carrie Underwood.

Best Comedy Album: "The Distant Future", Flight Of The Conchords.

Complete list here

Notable others:

Best Short Form Music Video: "God's Gonna Cut You Down", Johnny Cash.

Best Dance Recording: "LoveStoned/I Think She Knows", Justin Timberlake.

Best Electronic/Dance Album: "We Are The Night", The Chemical Brothers.