Rumors, Schumors (Nov 8, 2008)

KDES To Move (Nov 8, 2008)

The Wires (Nov 8, 2008)

NC Times John Maffei: Finding its voice: Cox begins search for Vasgersian's replacement. After seven years as the TV voice of the Padres on Cox Channel 4, Matt Vasgersian is moving across the country, taking a job as the lead anchor for the new MLB Network that is scheduled to launch in 50 million homes throughout the country on Jan. 1. From the e-mails we receive, I imagine half of you reading this are happy that Vasgersian is leaving. The other half are sorry to see him go. He's different. He's irreverent. With references to obscure movies and music lyrics, he skews a little young. He has a hard time tolerating lopsided Padres losses and laughs it up with partner Mark Grant. All that said, when he's on his game ---- which is often ---- he's among the best play-by-play men in the game. Read more at the NC Times.

Media Memo: A final deal between the Digital Media Association, which is representing the Web sites, and SoundExchange, which collects royalties on behalf of the music labels and other copyright owners, isn’t expected until later this year. But “the hard stuff has been done,” says Pandora founder Tim Westergren, who has become the public face of Webcasters during negotiations

Inside Music Media: 2008 was a bad year for radio and records. Radio stocks dropped to below a dollar. Audiences continued to erode. Advertiser cutbacks -- partially from the bad economy but also due to many other new media choices. Top executives had the look of a deer in the headlights. Cutbacks will continue through the holidays and into the new year.

TV Tech: FCC Approves White Space Devices, but it Could Have Been Worse. Commissioner comments suggest they have endorsed power levels that are well above those shown to cause interference in FCC testing.

TV Tech: 7-Inch ATSC Portable TV for $109.99. While it appears to have a 16:9 screen, the resolution is only 480+234 pixels.

Radio World: Media Watchers Speculate About Obama's Impact. Expect emphasis on tighter FCC regulation and opposition to consolidation

Radio World: NAB Engineers Emphasize That Digital Power Hike Isn't a Threat. It would 'not meaningfully increase potential interference'

Radio World: Supremes Debate Indecency. It's the first such case to reach the court in three decades

TV Tech: FCC Approves Distributed Transmission. The FCC this week issued an official green light to implement DTS, a technology that closes holes in a digital television station’s service area.

Leslie Report: Changes Coming to FCC. Also, might Obama favor shorter license terms for broadcasters?

Just in...XTRA Stuff (9am Nov 7, 2008)

XTRA has finally done something right...a year late... it will simulcast Los Angeles Laker games from Los Angeles sister station KLAC 570.

The Wires (Nov 7, 2008)

Randy Dotinga: The golden age of radio drama is long gone, snuffed out by the rise of television. But if you missed it the first time, there are many ways to catch up. It turns out that classic radio drama is undergoing a revival of sorts. Fans can find long-forgotten shows on satellite radio, on the Internet and on compact disc, and they don't always have to pay to listen (read more - Randy Dotinga - North County Times).

Just In...ABC Drops Alyssa Milano Project (updated 9am, Nov 6, 2008)

Once again, we have a case where the network has a creative difference problem with the producers who wanted to do the series their own way, which would have been better than the way the network would have wanted it.

ABC Studios/DreamWorks' "Single With Parents" -- in which Alyssa Milano stars as a woman juggling her dysfunctional family, friends and boss -- was one of five pilots ABC ordered in August to series for midseason. However, production on the project, co-starring Annie Potts and Beau Bridges, had been postponed several times over disagreements about the show's creative direction.

The plug was pulled after one pilot.

Can't the suits ever learn. ABC is acting like Clear Channel. They just can't do media right!

Just In... (Nov 6, 2008)

The Wires (Nov 6, 2008)

MediaPost: The FCC voted unanimously on Tuesday to allow the unlicensed use of unused spectrum, or “white space,” for wireless broadband. Some broadcasters (including the NAB) argued that allowing unlicensed devices on vacant radio airwaves will cause interference with TV signals or wireless microphones. Read more from MediaPost at the link.

Inside Music Media: The official end of traditional media occurred yesterday. Or, to be more precise, it marked a long downhill process that began several years ago and ended last night. Presidential politics was ugly this year -- and I'm not talking about the candidates, parties, attack groups. That, too. What we've witnessed is the point of no return -- where radio, television and print handed its power, influence and soon revenue over to new media - What can we learn? 1. Talkradio as we know it is deader than music radio. It may be all some stations have, but it's not all that for the listener who now has so many more choices -- especially the next generation. 2. Podcasting -- what I call the new radio -- gave us a preview of what life will be like in the next four years

Mel Phillips: The current FCC, took its last collective breath by approving ‘white space’ for broadband. They threw their high hard one while they could. The historic election of President Barack Obama will bring with it a Democratic majority not only to the Senate but to the FCC as well. Not only did this FCC approve ‘white space’, it did it with a unanimous 5-0 vote.

Bonaduce Back To Philly: As expected, Philadelphia area native Danny Bonaduce will return to his hometown to host mornings on WYSP/Philadelphia. The station had been without a morning show since the firing of Kidd Chris in May. The Danny Bonaduce Show will commence on Monday, November 10 from 6 to 10 a.m. on 94.1 FM and online at 94wysp.com.

The FCC Under Obama: The FCC Under Obama. (editor: This is what Clear Channel didn't want!!!) What will Barack Obama's presidency mean for the FCC and for broadcasters? President-elect Obama is on record as supporting greater efforts to promote media diversity and localism, and as strongly opposing further media consolidation

Radio and Records: Sirius & XM Set To Combine Channels Next Week. As America now comes together, basking in the post-election afterglow, Sirius and XM appear to be ready to do the same. R&R has now confirmed what we recently alluded to: Next Wednesday, Nov. 12 will be D-Day for channel realignment. As we speak, jocks and sweepers on both services are alerting listeners to channel moves going down that day.