Analyzing The CBS/Yahoo Alliance…

Thursday, December, 4, 2008 by Mel Phillips.

To begin with, both CBS and Yahoo are in trouble.  The former Tiffany Network is more Odd-Lot and might eventually be sold and Yahoo is rudder-less without a leader.  Neither had anything to lose by uniting.  Yahoo dumped its turkey, Launchcast and CBS increased its Internet reach.  Yahoo lost interest in Launchcast which has shrunk 43% to 2.9 million U.S. listeners in the year ending in October, according to the Internet research firm com.Score Inc.  Rather than challenge the new Internet music royalty rates, they pass along their problem to CBS which will handle sales for Launchcast, something they’re already doing for AOL…

The agreement will combine Launchcast’s 150 stations with the more than 150 stations operated by CBS.  CBS in turn will get lots of Internet space on Yahoo to plug its radio stations.  A win-win for both Yahoo and CBS.  David Goodman, president of digital media and integrating marketing at CBS (I’d love to see that business card!) thinks so: ”This announcement reinforces our company’s position as the No. 1 Internet radio company in the world.”…

Yahoo, like AOL, now gets the benefit of CBS Radio’s local ad sales expertise.  Internet radio operators have been building large audiences for their online stations but have not managed to make money from the new medium.  I hope Yahoo realizes that CBS hasn’t been able to either… 

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1783] Say goodnight Gracie: General George Washington bids farewell to his officers by raising a tankard or two at Fraunces Tavern in lower Manhattan. The tavern is still there and open for business…
2. 1978] Her Mayoress: Diane Feinstein becomes San Francisco’s first woman mayor when she’s named to replace George Moscone who was murdered…
3. 1980] Guardsmen from hell: The bodies of four American nuns slain in El Salvador just days before, are found. Five national guardsmen are later convicted of murder…
4. 1987] D-I-V-O-R-C-E eventually: Madonna files for divorce from Sean Penn but changes her mind. She files for good in January, 1988, ending their love-hate marriage. These two sat in front of me at a movie. They were ushered in when the theater went dark. Madonna was wearing Sean all night. I was tempted to whisper “get a room”.  Here’s a clip from their wedding…
5. 1990] We are here to pump…you up: Due to the Persian Gulf crisis, gas prices sky-rocket to: $1.60 a gallon in New York City. Outrageous!!!
6. 1991] Please release me: AP correspondent Terry Anderson is released as a hostage in Lebanon after nearly 7 years in captivity…
7. 1993] “Happy Trails“: Frank Zappa dies at 52 from prostate cancer. Frank was a nice guy who would often ask for imports from my office at CBS International. He was very knowledgeable and loved all kinds of music.  Here he is on CNNs “Crossfire“…
8. 1995] Dumb and dumber: Michael Jackson appears with legendary mime Marcel Marceau at a NYC press conference promoting Jackson’s special on HBO…
9. 1997] I started to choke: The NBA suspends Latrell Sprewell of the Golden State Warriors for one year for choking and threatening to kill his coach, P.J. Carlesimo. What, you can’t do that?  In this clip Sprewell says “hello” to someone in the crowd…
10. 2001] FREEZE: The U.S. freezes the financial assets of organizations allegedly linked to the terrorist group Hamas.  Here’s a frightening clip of Hamas TV propaganda…

Music Memories:

• 1956] Recording on this date: Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash a.k.a. the “Million Dollar Quartet” record together at Sun Records in Memphis. The session is not released for 25 years.  This is one of the songs they recorded that day…
• 1961] Released on this date: “The Duke of Earl” - Gene Chandler…
• 1988] Curtains: Roy Orbison plays his last live concert at the Front Row Theater in Highland Heights (OH).  Here’s a video tribute to Roy…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday“:

Jay-Z (39), Tyra Banks (35), Marisa Tomei (44), Jeff Bridges (59), Southside Johnny (Lyon) (60), Freddy Cannon (68), Max Baer Jr. (71), Wink Martindale (74) and Deanna Durbin (87)…

Timeline Countdown: 17 days until winter, 18 nights until Hanukah, 21 shopping days until Christmas, 27 nights until New Year’s Eve and 30 days until the NFL Wild Card playoffs…

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