No Lucky 8’s For Radio Sales…

Thursday, August, 7, 2008 by Mel Phillips.

The Chinese are starting the Summer Olympics on 8-8-08 because 8 is their lucky number, something Westwood One was hoping would rub off on them in selling the summer games.  It didn’t happen.  WWI president and CEO Tom Beusse was “proud to deliver this unrivaled content to our listening audience” in the press release that announced the company’s coverage in July - today, not so much…

Tom Beusse told the world just yesterday that (sales) “are softer than we wish it would be.”  Buesse believes that “China’s political issues have been distressing” to some advertisers who are already under budget to trim budgets.  Of course China’s Gestapo treatment  of visiting journalists doesn’t help either.  Even a serious anger management course wouldn’t make a dent in these people.  Brutality or not, Olympic coverage on WWI radio begins tomorrow with live updates around the clock…

On the TV side NBC is attempting to measure viewers and their behavior using their own creation called Total Audience Measurement Index  or TAMI.  TAMI will draw TV viewership data from Nielsen, Video on Demand from Omniture, Internet audience data from Quantcast and on-site metrics from Omniture.  If they succeed in producing valuable data, the index may establish a new standard for understanding reach across a multi-device environment, a rather ambitious undertaking.  You have to commend NBC just for trying…

More on 8-8-08 in my Commentary… 

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1782] A decoration of merit: George Washington creates the Order of the Purple Heart, a decoration to recognize merit in enlisted men and non commissioned officers…
2. 1947] Where’s Gilligan?: The balsa-wood raft Kon-Tiki, which had carried a six-man crew across the Pacific, crashes into a reef in a Polynesian archipelago…
3. 1974] Going to Hall: Yogi Berra and Sandy Koufax enter Baseball’s Hall of Fame  in Cooperstown…1999] The Giants’ Lawrence Taylor enters the Pro Football Hall of Fame…
4. 1974] Wedding Bells: Peter Wolf  (J. Geils Band) and Faye Dunaway  rock down the aisle. They will divorce in 1979…
5. 1990] Here comes the storm: “Desert Storm” begins as President George H.W. Bush orders U.S. troops and warplanes into Saudi Arabia to guard the oil-rich desert kingdom against a possible invasion by Iraq…
6. 1999] Joining the 3,000-hit club: Wade Boggs becomes the 1st major leaguer to hit a home run for his 3,000th hit while a member of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. On the same date, Tony Gwynn  of San Diego picks up his 3,000th hit…
7. 2000] Mazel Tov: Al Gore picks Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman to be the 1st Jewish VP candidate of a major party ticket.  Today Lieberman  is campaigning for John McCain…
8. 2004] Joining the 300-win club: The Cubs Greg Maddux  becomes the 22nd pitcher in major league history to record 300 victories as he leads Chicago to an 8-4 win over San Francisco…
9. 2005] “Happy Trails“: ABC-TV anchorman Peter Jennings  dies at 67 from lung cancer…
10. 2007] Number 756: Barry Bonds  hits his 756th career home run, passing Henry Aaron as the all-time leader in home runs…

Music Memories:

• 1965] Released on this date: “It Ain’t Me Babe” - The Turtles…
• 1970] The newest member of Fleetwood Mac: Christine McVie  joins the group…

Commentary:

8’s will be wild tomorrow when the Summer Olympics begin in Beijing.  At eight minutes and 8 seconds after 8, it will be 8:08:088/8/08.  The six consecutive number count of time of day, date and year will continue to happen each year through 2012.  The 1-12 (clock hour, etc.) cycle will end in 2012 and won’t restart until 3001.  If you miss the six 8s tomorrow morning you’ll have another chance tomorrow night…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday“:

Charlize Theron (33), David Duchovny (48), Wayne “Newman” Knight (53), B.J. Thomas (66), Garrison Keillor (66), Don Larsen (79), Herb Reed (Platters) (80) and Stan Freberg (82)…

Timeline Countdown: One day until the Summer Olympics in Beijing, 25 days until Labor Day and 28 days until the NFL opener (Washington @ NYG)…

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