House Judiciary Committee Is Way Off Base…

Friday, July, 10, 2009 by Mel Phillips.

(Weekend Edition)

When Arbitron President/CEO Michael Skarzynski defended his company before Congress, he stated a solid case for his Portable People Meter (PPM).  “With inputs from our customers, Arbitron is implementing several improvements to our PPM service”, that said, Skarzynski also mentioned having an open dialogue with those opposed to the service including the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB) and the Spanish Radio Association to address their concerns and discuss improvements to the PPM measurment service.  There was more reassurance from Skarzynski that Arbitron was on the straight and narrow.  The only thing missing was offering the service for free.  But what I would love either Skarzynski or anyone else to state is that the government, in its scrutiny of Arbitron is encroaching on free trade…

Free trade is defined as ”a type of trade policy that allows traders to act and transact without interference from government.”  The argument made that the FCC has no jurisdiction over audience measurement services is a valid one.  If you think a trader is short-changing you or offering you an inferior product – prove it in a court of law.  If you can’t prove it — do your business with someone else.  If you believe that Arbitron has a monopoly in the measurement business and they are the standard needed to conduct your business, do your best to put them out of business by not using them and get others to follow, don’t sic the government on them…

In his summary, Skarzynski said that “Arbitron is committed to working with all stakeholders in the radio industry to help radio broadcasters — especially Black and Hispanic owned broadcasters — survive and prosper in the face of this perfect storm of economic and financial challenges.”  He added this: “Arbitron will work with all industry stakeholders to demonstrate the value of radio in today’s competitive media marketplace.”  If that’s that enough for you — find another measurement company to do business with… 

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1900] Nipper arrives: RCA Victor registers “His Master’s Voice” aka “Nipper“. The dog looking into the horn of the gramophone machine becomes the symbol of the label (7/10)…
2. 1915] Debuted on this date: 19-year old Babe Ruth makes his major league debut as a pitcher for the Red Sox and picks up his first win…(7/11). In 1918 Ruth moves to the outfield…1936] The Triborough Bridge linking Manhattan, the Bronx and Queens, opens to traffic (7/11)…1960] The first Etch-A-Sketch goes on sale. What were those black metallic specks anyway? (7/12)…1990] “Northern Exposure” starts a 5-year run (7/12)…
3. 1971] Curtains: Red Sox slugger Tony Conigliaro, the victim of a horrible beaning in August, 1967 announces his retirement at 25 (7/10). Tony C will try to come back in 1975 but he was never the same. Tony’s starstruck life will end way too soon when he suffers a fatal heart attack in 1990 at 45…
4. 1979] “Happy Trails“: Boston Pops conductor Arthur Fiedler, who led the orchestra for half a century, passes away from natural causes at 84 (7/10)…1979] Minnie Riperton (”Lovin’ You“) dies from breast cancer at 31 (7/12). Minnie’s daughter Maya (SNL) Rudolph was just 5 years old at the time…1989] Mel Blanc who provided the voices of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and countless other WB characters, dies from heart disease at 81 (7/10)…1989] Sir Laurence Olivier dies from cancer at 82 (7/11)…2007] Former first lady Lady Bird Johnson passes away from natural causes at 94 (7/11)…2008] Yankee broadcaster and former player, Bobby Murcer, 62, dies from complications related to brain cancer (7/12)…
5. 1984] Fritz picks a woman: Walter Mondale chooses U.S. Rep. Geraldine Ferraro as a running mate for his Democratic Presidential run. Ferraro from New York is the first woman to run for VP on a major ticket (7/12)…
6. 1985] Out with the new, in with the old: Coca Cola, bowing to pressure from irate customers after the introduction of New Coke, says it will resume selling old-formula Coke…
7. 1999] World Cup runneth over: The U.S. women’s soccer team wins the World Cup at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena (CA) (7/10)…
8. 2001] Blood money: Abner Louima, tortured in a New York City police station, agrees to an $8.7 million settlement (7/12)…
9. 2005] Sitting on the throne: Prince Albert II of Monaco accedes to the throne (7/12)…
10. 2006] The Dig kills: A section of ceiling in Boston’s Big Dig tunnel collapses, killing a car passenger (7/10)…

Music Memories:

• 1959] Number One on this date: “Lonely Boy” - Paul Anka (7/11)…1965] “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” - Rolling Stones (7/10)…1969] “Mama Told Me Not To Come” - Three Dog Night (7/11)…1979] “Bad Girls” - Donna Summer (7/11)…
• 1964] Released on this date: “A Hard Day’s Night” (LP) - Beatles (7/10)…

“Happy Birthday…Happy Birthday“: (7/10) Jessica Simpson (29), Arlo Guthrie (62), David Dinkins (82), Eunice Kennedy Shriver (88) & Jake LaMotta (88)…(7/11) Richie Sambora (50), Sela Ward (53), Joe McCoy (66), Giorgio Armani (75) and Tab Hunter (78)…(7/12) Kristi Yamaguchi (38), Jay Thomas (61), Richard Simmons (61), Ernie Anastos (66), Christy McVie (66) and Bill Cosby (72)…

Timeline Countdown: 4 days until the MLB All-Star Game and 13 days until NFL training camps open…

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