Radio And Internet Coverage Leads Way…

Tuesday, January, 20, 2009 by Mel Phillips.

There will be so much inauguration coverage today that you may not be able to get a cellphone signal.  Radio will be well represented with coverage from Clear Channel, HD Radio, NPR, Westwood One’s Metro Traffic and whatever coverage your local station provides.  TV will have MSNBC, CBS, ABC, Fox and C-Span.  Covering our first techie president requires a deep commitment from that genre of technology too and there will be blanket coverage on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and iPhone through iheartradio.  Finding coverage of Barack Obama’s inauguration today might be the easiest part of your day…

According to the Washington Post, the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association is advising users to “have a backup plan” in case communications are disrupted.  The cellphone industry has prepared for months to boost capacity, anticipating record-breaking demand.  Companies have spent millions of dollars to add radio channels, install mobile cell towers, expand in-building wireless coverage and bolster network capacity.  Major wireless carriers are urging customers to expect minor delays and to reduce their usage and now, here’s my favorite part - the disclaimer: “but they said networks are expected to handle the surge in use.”  Whenever I hear that I’m immediately suspect…

This historic presidential inauguration won’t lack for coverage.  You can count on it being the most listened to, viewed and talked about event in history.  I can’t wait to see the total number of impressions registered…     

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1885] On a roll: The roller coaster is patented by L.A. Thompson…
2. 1892] Jump it up: The first official basketball game is played at a YMCA court in Springfield (MA). The game is played using peach baskets with 9 players on each side. The game is invented by Dr. James Naismith, a phys-ed teacher at Springfield College…1968] In one of college basketball’s classic match-ups, Elvin Hayes and Lew Alcindor face off as #2 ranked Houston beats #1 UCLA 71-69. Hayes scores 39 for the winning Cougars…
3. 1961] This I Swear: John F. Kennedy is sworn in as our 35th president…1989] George H.W. Bush becomes our 41st president…1993] Bill Clinton becomes #42…2001] George W. Bush becomes #43…2009] Barack Obama is sworn in today as #44…
4. 1961] “D-I-V-O-R-C-E”: Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller. They were married in June, 1956…
5. 1965] “Happy Trails“: Fans mourn the death of Alan Freed who passes away from uremic poisoning at 43…1993] Audrey Hepburn dies from abdominal cancer at 63…2003] Caricaturist Al Hirschfeld dies in his sleep at 99…
6. 1981] Free at last: Iran releases 52 American hostages held for 444 days. This happens minutes after Ronald Reagan is sworn in…
7. 1985] Soopuh: The 49ers beat Miami 38-16 in Super Bowl XIX. President Ronald Reagan congratulates San Francisco coach Bill Walsh.  For the first time TV commercials sell for a million a minute. The 2009 price is $3 million per 30 seconds and they’re 90% sold out with two weeks to go…
8. 1986] Observed: The U.S. observes the first federal holiday in honor of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr…
9. 1987] Kidnapped: Anglican Church envoy Terry Waite disappears in Beirut while attempting to negotiate the release of western hostages. He will be released in 1991…
10. 2008] We are the champions: The New York Giants and New England Patriots win their conference championships setting up a Patriots-Giants Super Bowl…

Music Memories:

• 1958] Released on this date: “Get A Job” - Silhouettes…1964] “Meet The Beatles” LP…
• 1965] Recorded on this date: “Mr. Tambourine” (written by Bob Dylan) - The Byrds.  This clip contains outtakes of the recording session…1967] “Sweet Soul Music” - Arthur Conley…1969] “In The Ghetto” - Elvis Presley…
• 1977] Number One on this date: “I Wish” - Stevie Wonder…1987] “At This Moment” (featured on “Family Ties”) - Billy Vera & the Beaters…
• 1988] Going To Hall: The Beach Boys, Beatles, Drifters, Bob Dylan and The Supremes are inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Here’s the jam at the end of the show…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday“:Melissa Rivers (41), Rainn Wilson (43), Lorenzo Lamas (51), Bill Maher (53), Paul Stanley (57), Buzz Aldrin (79), Arte Johnson (80), Patricia Neal (83) and Slim Whitman (85)…

Timeline Countdown: Today is Inauguration Day, 12 days until the Super Bowl, 25 days until Valentine’s Day and pitchers & catchers reporting voluntarily and 27 days until President’s Day…

Posted in Today's Post | No Comments »