Radio Comes To Arbitron’s Aid…

Tuesday, October, 7, 2008 by Mel Phillips.

While the war between Andrew Cuomo and Arbitron heats up over the use of Portable People Meters, Radio groups have filed a reply comment with the FCC asking the agency to stay out of the dispute.  CBS Radio, Bonneville, Entercom, Buckley, Greater Media, Lincoln Financial, Citadel, Emmis and Megamedia have all banded together telling the FCC that Arbitron has “convincingly demonstrated that the agency lacks jurisdiction to review the PPM Coalition’s claims and initiate the requested inquiry.”  About the only radio group missing was the group representing Pirate radio…

The radio groups are not defending the PPM methodology.  What they are saying is that the FCC lacks jurisdiction to review the PPM Coalition’s claims.  They are also saying “a well established and competent independent industry-created entity (the Media Rating Council) is responsible for that and they are currently evaluating the precise concerns raised by the coalition.”  “For the FCC, which does not have expertise over audience ratings methodology to interject itself into this dispute would be counterproductive and intrusive, accordingly, it is respectfully submitted that the FCC properly should defer to the expertise of the MRC.” …

Should the FCC intercede it would create a precedent-setting and monumental misuse of power.  One final point raised by the broadcasters is this:  “Audience measurement services provided by Arbitron are based upon voluntary private contractual relationships and the laws of the various states governing such relationships.  Any alleged deficiences in the methodology used for measurement services can, and should, be addressed under the relevant state contract law principles.” … 

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1916] Rambling Wrecks: Georgia Tech beats Cumberland College 222-0. As Warner Wolf would say, “if you took 221 points in this game, you would still lose” and here’s the kicker: Georgia Tech gained 978 yards on the ground, never throwing a pass. Now that’s running up the score and the clock…
2. 1952] Billy Ball on defense: Second baseman Billy Martin makes a game-saving catch as the Yankees win their 4th straight World Series, beating Brooklyn in Game 7…
3. 1960] Debatable: JFK and Richard Nixon square off in round 2 of their presidential debates. General consensus has JFK wining this one too…
4. 1960] Premiered on this date: “Route 66” starring George Maharis and Martin Milner will run 4 seasons…1982] That horrible screeching coming from the Winter Garden Theater can only be “Cats“, opening on Broadway. It will become the longest running show in B’way history…1995] Boston’s Fleet Center a.k.a. as the ‘Fleece Center’ opens with a 4-4 tie between the Bruins and Islanders despite Cam Neely’s hat trick for Boston.  Here’s a look at Neely’s career…
5. 1967] Game 3 of the World Series between St. Louis and Boston goes to the Cardinals 5-2 as they go one game up with a 2-1 game edge in the series…
6. 1985] Tragedy at sea: Four Palestinian terrorists hijack the Achille Lauro. They surrender after 2 days but push wheelchair bound passenger Leon Klinghofer off the boat…
7. 1988] You’re fired: Lou Piniella is fired as Yankee manager by George Steinbrenner for the second time. Don’t look now but here comes “Billy V” and all Piniella will do is win the World Series as manager of the Cincinnati Reds in 1990…
8. 1988] Turn out the lights: At 5:30 p.m. WNBC goes off the air. The station that started as experimental 2XB in 1919 breathed its last radio breath, signing off forever. WFAN took over the 660 frequency…
9. 2001] Record-breaking: Barry Bonds wraps up his record-breaking season by hitting his 73rd home run while Rickey Henderson becomes the 25th player to record 3,000 hits…
10. 2003] Elected: The Governator, Arnold Schwarzenegger is elected Governor of Cahl-e-for-knee-uh in the recall election of Gray Davis…

Music Memories:

• 1978] Released on this date: “Hold The Line” - Toto…

Commentary:

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of WNBC going dark, former promotion director Janice Penino gathered a packed house of former employees at Hurley’s, a former watering hole that used to be one block away from the station and the infamous 30 Rock.  It was far from a funeral but a festive affair and a renewal of friendships and good times past.  Personally, I had a great time and would like to thank Janice for turning back the calendar.  Let’s do it again but not wait another twenty years…Congratulations to the Red Sox, Rays, Dodgers and Phillies - especially the Sox… 

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday”:

Toni Braxton (42), Simon Cowell (47), Yo-Yo Ma (53), John Cougar Mellencamp (57), Oliver North (65), Joy Behar (65), Desmond Tutu (77) and Al Martino (81)…

Timeline Countdown: 18 days until the first game of the World Series and 26 nights until Halloween…

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