Arbitron Responds With Reliability…

Friday, October, 31, 2008 by Mel Phillips.

(Weekend Edition) 

With Andrew Cuomo and the PPM Coalition breathing down its neck, Arbitron responds with reliability in the form of a calculator that subscribers can use to gauge PPM numbers.  There’s also one for diary estimates.  What this widget does is estimate the margin of error for Gross Rating Points (GRPs) of radio advertising schedules in PPM markets.  In layman terms it will make it easier for clients to estimate the margin of error around the ratings published in Arbitron’s eBook.  The calculator is available for download here…

Meanwhile The Wall Street Journal reports that Andrew Cuomo has begun an investigation of sales of Arbitron stock by company executives.  Arbitron is cooperating with the investigation.  A spokesman for Cuomo’s office said, “The review is in its early stages, and any allegations of insider trading should be taken as only that: allegations.  It remains to be seen where the facts will lead.”  Okay Andrew, allegations they are.  Whatever you say…

If Arbitron had a sense of humor, they could of sent out erasers to all clients.  Now that would’ve been a funny promotion…

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1894] Number One with a bullet: Billboard Advertising is published for the first time (11/1). The trade publication will later be known as Billboard Magazine…
2. 1926] The final disappearing act: Harry Houdini dies from complications of a ruptured appendix at 52 (10/31) on Halloween, no less…
3. 1941] What huge busts: Okay get your mind off the female anatomy. Mount Rushmore is declared completed after 14 years of work. 60-foot busts of Washington, Jefferson, (Theodore) Roosevelt and Lincoln are finished and the landmark would soon open to the public (10/31)…
4. 1946] Premiered on this date: WEAF changes call letters to WNBC (11/1)…
5. 1947] “Happy Trails“: The legendary thoroughbred “Man O’ War” dies at the ripe old age of 30 (11/1)…1979] Former first lady Mamie Eisenhower passes away from natural causes at 82 (11/1)…1988] Distinguished director, producer and actor John Houseman dies from spinal cancer at 86 (10/31).  Remember “Paper Chase“?…1988] Debbie Gibson holds a seance at her Halloween party to contact the spirits of Liberace and Sid Vicious but gets Zasu Pitts instead (10/31)…1991] Broadway producer Joseph Papp is the victim of cancer at 70 (10/31)…1993] River Phoenix collapses and dies in Hollywood at 23 (10/31). An autopsy reveals that he overdosed on heroin and cocaine…1993] Movie director Federico Fellini dies following a heart attack at 73 (10/31)…1999] Football Hall of Famer Walter Payton is a victim of cancer at 45 (11/1)…
6. 1948] Chicago Tribune street cred is questioned: The front page of the Chicago Tribune screamed ‘DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN’. Too bad it was the other way. Truman defeated Dewey (11/2)…
7. 1959] The birth of payola: “Twenty-One” contestant Charles Van Doren tells a House Subcommittee on Legislative Oversight that he was given questions and answers in advance of his appearances. The committee starts radio investigations as part of their probe. Uh-oh (11/2)…
8. 1964] SOLD: CBS Inc. purchases 80% of the New York Yankees for $11 million (11/2). They buy the remaining shares eventually. CBS actually loses money when they sell the team to the George Steinbrenner-led Cleveland group 9 years later…
9. 1970] Wedding Bells: Michelle Phillips and actor Dennis Hopper get married (10/31). The marriage ends in divorce 8 days later when Michelle discovers Dennis’s sneaker smelling fetish…1988] Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis walk down the aisle (11/1). Two years later it’s over…
10. 1976] From peanuts to president: Former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter defeats Republican incumbent Gerald R. Ford (11/2) to become the first president from the deep south since the Civil War. Texas is in the southwest so LBJ doesn’t qualify…

Music Memories:

• 1962] Number One on this date: “He’s A Rebel” - Crystals (Darlene Love sings lead) (11/1)…1963] “For Once In My Life” - Stevie Wonder (11/2)…1969] “Abbey Road” LP - Beatles (11/1) (#1 for 11 consecutive weeks)…1969] “Suspicious Minds” - Elvis Presley (11/1)…1971] “Gypsy’s, Tramps & Thieves” - Cher (11/2)…1981] “Private Eyes” - Hall & Oates (11/2)…1984] “Caribbean Queen” - Billy Ocean (11/1)…
• 1963] Released on this date: “Be True To Your School” - Beach Boys (11/2)…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday“:

(10/31) Rob Van Winkle a.k.a. Vanilla Ice (40), Rob Schneider (44), Peter Jackson (47), Jane Pauley (58), Kinky Friedman (64), Dan Rather (77), former astronaut Michael Collins (78), Lee Grant (81), and former Brit jockey and author Dick Francis (88)…(11/1) Coco Crisp (29), Jenny McCarthy (36), Lyle Lovett (51), Dan (America) Peek (58), Jim Steinman (61), Rock Needleman (61), Larry Flynt (66), Marcia Wallace (66), Bill Anderson (71), Gary Player (73), Al Arbour (76), Betsy Palmer (82) and James Kilpatrick (88)…(11/2) David Schwimmer (42), k.d. lang (47), Maxine Nightingale (56), Stephanie Powers (66), Pat Buchanan (70), David Blatt a.k.a. Jay Black (70) and Earl “Speedo” Carroll (71)…

Timeline Countdown: Happy Halloween, Standard Time (back one hour) starts at 2 a.m. Sunday morning, 4 days until Election Day and 27 days until Thanksgiving…

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