Collected and Edited by Rick Kaempfer
Highlights and links to the big stories in the news this week about the media. This column appears twice a week at MEDIA NOTEBOOK
FCC may rule on XM/Sirius merger by June 30(Radio Online) The FCC could reach a decision on proposed Sirius-XM Satellite Radio merger by the end of June, Chairman Kevin Martin said at a press conference on Friday. "I still think the Commission could act by the end of the second quarter," Martin told reporters -- even though the matter did not appear on the agency's agenda for its regular monthly meeting on June 12. In recent weeks, many lawmakers and several interest groups have asked the FCC to impose restrictions, if approved, including the spin-off of some of the two company's spectrum -- which is larger than the AM and FM bands combined. Groups also want the agency to require that HD Radio be included in any new receivers.
NBC's fall schedule includes "Thursday Night Live" specials
(Washington Post) Lisa de Moraes writes: "When the new schedule was unveiled in early April, NBC's programming chief, Ben Silverman, offered no details on that 'Office' spinoff. 'We're keeping a tight lid on that,' he said, which we think was another way of saying, 'We don't know what it is.' NBC also said it would air four 'Saturday Night Live' election specials in the Thursday 9:30 p.m. time slot; they'll be called 'Thursday Night Live.'"
MSNBC leaning left, getting flak from both sides(Washington Post) Howard Kurtz writes: "MSNBC, which bills itself as 'the place for politics,' is being pummeled by political practitioners. 'It's an organ of the Democratic National Committee,' says Steve Schmidt, a senior strategist for John McCain's campaign. 'It's a partisan advocacy organization that exists for the purpose of attacking John McCain.' Ed Gillespie, President Bush's counselor, says there is an 'increasing blurring' of the line between NBC News and MSNBC's 'blatantly partisan talk show hosts like Christopher Matthews and Keith Olbermann.'"
(Rick's note: This was one of the points in my book, $everance. People who had been ripping the liberal media but believed that Fox was just a natural counterpoint, were comparing apples and oranges: "Left-leaning while attempting to be objective" journalists versus blatantly partisan advocates. Now, with the way MSNBC has turned, you have an actual counterpoint. This is what Fox looks like to non-conservatives. If you don't take umbrage when your side does it--you lose the right to take umbrage when their side does it. Hate Michael Moore but love Ann Coulter, or vice versa? Fine...but please keep your fake outrage to yourself, because you're no better than the people that outraged you.)
Cable Networks put more content online
(Broadcasting & Cable) Anne Becker writes: "Increasing their output of content on the Web was a hot topic among programmers at the NCTA show. As advertisers continue to demand the greater accountability and demographic targeting that the Internet offers, networks have adapted differing strategies in dispatching content online—posting “extras” or full-length episodes from their old and current TV series, creating new shows or launching entirely new Websites."
CLICK HEREGoogle replies to Viacom's lawsuit
(Associated Press) A $1 billion copyright infringement lawsuit challenging YouTube's ability to keep copyrighted material off its popular video-sharing site threatens how hundreds of millions of people exchange all kinds of information on the Internet, YouTube owner Google Inc. said. Google's lawyers made the claim in papers filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan as the company responded to Viacom Inc.'s latest lawsuit alleging that the Internet has led to "an explosion of copyright infringement" by YouTube and others.
Whatever happened to Iraq?(American Journalism Review) Armando Acuna, public editor of the Sacramento Bee, turned a Sunday column into a public flogging for both his editors and the nation's news media. They had allowed the third-longest war in American history to slip off the radar screen, and he had the numbers to prove it. The public also got a scolding for its meager interest in a controversial conflict that is costing taxpayers about $12.5 billion a month, or nearly $5,000 a second, according to some calculations. In his March 30 commentary, Acuna noted: "There's enough shame..for everyone to share." He had watched stories about Iraq move from 1A to the inside pages of his newspaper, if they ran at all. He understood the editors' frustration over how to handle the mind-numbing cycles of violence and complex issues surrounding Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Tribune Quietly Relaunches Superstation
(Chicago Tribune) Phil Rosenthal writes: "The relaunch was quiet. The new brand isn't. Superstation WGN, the national cable and satellite version of Chicago's WGN-Ch. 9 that parent Tribune Co. has targeted for an overhaul, assumed its new identity in a soft launch during the Memorial Day federal holiday. As of Monday, it's WGN America. The change won't fully kick in for a few weeks. But the new logo -- a rendering of a woman's eyes, much like the one used by The Movie Channel through most of the 1990s -- and the slogan "TV You Can't Ignore" already have made their debut."
CLICK HERE
WLS Rewind returned for Memorial Day(WLSam.com) Last year it was spectacular...an entire day of former WLS Rock Jocks back in the saddle, taking the 50,000 watt blowtorch for a ride. This year's it was just as good, with especially impressive performances from Larry Lujack and John Records Landecker.
Read about some of the participants
Clark Weber writes book about WLS History
(Amazon.com) I heard this book mentioned all day during the WLS Rewind, and spoke to Clark Weber asking when it would officially be available. He said: "It's available for pre-order now! At Barnes & Noble, Borders, and Amazon.com." That's the link above. It will be in the stores by August 1st.
An interview with Paul Brian(Chicago Radio Spotlight) Last weekend I spoke with famed automobile guru and radio talk show host Paul Brian about his fascinating career in both radio, racing, and the Chicago Auto Show. This coming weekend, I'll have updates on previous interview subjects Greg Brown, Jennifer Keiper, Phil Manicki, and Cara Carriveau.
