Uh, about that Merger…

Thursday, June, 19, 2008 by Mel Phillips.

Since the end of last week when FCC Commissioner Kevin Martin let slip his apparent approval of the XM-Sirius merger, those opposed to the idea have been quite vocal.  Now the merger is not looking like the lock we thought it would be.  Let’s see - on one side, those who are for the merger:  XM and Sirius.  Those opposed?  Everyone else.  We know where Peter Smyth, president and CEO of Greater Media, Inc. stands.  His Op-Ed  in the Boston Globe made it quite clear…

Peter considers the merger a “radio monopoly” which would give the merged company 300 channels, some of which “could provide local programming aimed at specific large markets.”   Should the FCC decide to approve the merger, Smyth feels that “the FCC should relax the multiple ownership rules and permit companies to own more than a handful of stations in any given market.”  This is something a House subcommittee  voted against on Tuesday, so he can probably toss that proposed exception.  Smyth went on to add every terrestrial radio guy’s favorite condition - interoperability with the inclusion of HD tuners that can pick up the XM-Sirius channels…

This sudden change in merger climate is like life itself.  Nothing stays the same.  Ask Willie Randolph… 

 10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1862]  Free at last:  Slavery is outlawed in the U.S. territories…1964]  The Civil Rights Act  of 1964 is approved after surviving an 83-day filibuster in the Senate…
2. 1934]  Beware the FCC:  Congress establishes the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).  The original duties of the FCC were to: ”regulate interstate and foreign communications in the public interest.”  Regulating the airwaves came later…
3. 1943]  This I swear:  Henry Kissinger  becomes a naturalized U.S. citizen…
4. 1952]  Talkin’ baseball:  Dodger pitcher Carl Erskine pitches a 5-0 no-hitter against the Cubs at Ebbets Field…1977]  Carl Yastrzemski  hits a 460-foot home run at Fenway Park that strikes the facade to the right of the retired numbers and is the only home run to reach Fenway’s right field roof facade…1979]  The reign of “Billy Martin II” begins in a cycle of 5 trips back as Yankee manager…
5. 1952]  Debuted on this date:  “I’ve Got A Secret” on CBS-TV…1970]  “Ball Four“, the tell-all book about the Yankees makes former Yankee pitcher Jim Bouton public enemy #1 with the pinstripers…1978]  Jim Davis’ “Garfield” makes its first public appearance as a comic strip…1987]  Ben and Jerry and the Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia introduce a new flavor: Cherry Garcia…
6. 1953]  Getting “The Chair“:  Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are executed at Sing Sing on charges of conspiring to pass U.S. atomic secrets to Russia, although their sons have been fighting to free their names for years…
7. 1986]  Celtic tragedy:  University of Maryland basketball star, Len Bias, Boston’s 1st pick (and 2nd overall) in the NBA Draft, suffers a fatal cocaine - induced seizure…
8. 1992]  Struck down:  Guardian Angel Curtis Sliwa is ambushed and shot twice in a cab.  Two John Gotti Jr. trials have ended in mistrials and a 3rd trial is still possible…1999]  Stephen King   is struck from behind by a mini-van while walking in North Lovell (ME) near his home.  King will spend the next 3 weeks in the hospital recovering…
9. 1999]  Nothing royal about this wedding:  Britain’s Prince Edward  marries commoner Sophie Rhys-Jones in Windsor, England…
10. 2000]  Seventh heaven:  Phil Jackson, Laker coach, wins his 7th NBA title in 9 years, his first with Los Angeles which was led by Shaquille O’Neal.  Not this year zenmeister…

Music Memories:

• 1966]  Number One on this date:  “Paperback Writer” - Beatles…
• 1971]  Signed, Sealed & Delivered:  Don Kirshner (Monkees, Archies, TV shows, etc.) signs a group called Tomorrow.  The group featured a singer by the name of Olivia Newton-John…1980]  David Geffen’s first signing on his new Geffen label is Donna Summer.  The signing is too late as almost all of her hits were on Casablanca, her prior label…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday”:

Poppy Montgomery (33), Paula Abdul (46), Kathleen Turner (54), Ann Wilson (58), Phylicia Rashad (60), Salman Rushdie (61), Elaine “Spanky” McFarlane (66), Tommy Devito (73) and Gena Rowlands (78)…

Timeline Countdown:  1 day until the beginning of summer and 16 days until July 4th…

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