No it's not a rebate for the lousy ending on "The Sopranos" last night although we all deserve one for that. Come July 1st the FCC has decreed that the cable industry will be required to separate the security function inside their digital set-top boxes (the hardware that ensures customers can only view channels they're paying for) from the navigation function, which is basically the channel changer...
The FCC is hoping to jump-start competition with their new rule. What does it mean to you? Existing subscribers can continue to rent their current box or you can buy your own, independent of your cable provider. If you buy, you'll save the renting fees which can run as high as $7.50 a box. That's what Time-Warner charges me and I have 2 boxes so it runs $15 a month. This only affects digital subscribers which is a sizable amount of viewers. Of the 65 million cable households, 33 million have digital cable. I don't have digital but since Manhattan is entirely wired for digital, technically everyone has it...
The amount saved won't make me rich but I would buy my own box just to lower my cable bill. I could pretend that it was a rebate for that lousy ending on "The Sopranos"...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1905] A preview of "Supertrain": The Pennsylvania Rail Road debuts "The Fastest train in the World" between New York and Chicago. You might wonder how long it took. A speedy 18 hours. It took longer than the Fred Silverman series, "Supertrain" did to go off the air...
- 1953] Holy Mackerel Andy: "Amos and Andy" ends its 2-year run on television (and its 24-year run on the radio) because of racial sensitivity. In my opinion it was one of the greatest comedy series ever. It's time to bring it back...
- 1963] Education Alabama style: Alabama Governor George Wallace tries to prevent black students from registering at the University of Alabama. He will lose his battle and rightfully so...
- 1977] Triple Crown Winner: Seattle Slew wins the third leg of the triple crown by taking the Belmont Stakes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9UqCwASKpc )...
- 1978] Premiered on this date: "Grease" the movie, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John...1982] "ET" opens and sets record-breaking box-office numbers. It's the big movie of the summer...
- 1979] "Happy Trails": Legendary tough-guy actor John Wayne dies from stomach cancer at 72...1985] Karen Ann Quinlan dies at 31 after a lengthy coma. Her case prompts a right-to-die court decision after her life-support system was removed...2001] Timothy McVeigh is executed for the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing...2003] Pioneering broadcast journalist David Brinkley dies at 82 from complications of a fall...
- 1982] The winner and still champ: Heavyweight champ Larry Holmes defends his title with a 13-round TKO of Long Island's Gerry Cooney...
- 1987] Maggie bags a triple: Margaret Thatcher becomes the 1st British Prime Minister in 160 years to win a 3rd consecutive term of office...
- 1990] With 6 you get egg roll: Nolan Ryan pitches his 6th no-hitter, beating Oakland. Ryan will pitch one more no hitter before retiring after the 1993 season...
- 2002] Wedding Bells: Paul McCartney and Heather Mills are married on this date. January of 2007 it was all over...
Music Memories:
- 1964] Recorded on this date: "Doo Wah Diddy Diddy" - Manfred Mann (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gu5ibTqCoLg )...
- 1969] Released on this date: "Space Oddity" (single) - David Bowie (released to coincide with our first lunar landing)...1976] "Play That Funky Music (White Boy)" - Wild Cherry (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrNTMOUtjfE ...
- 1977] #1 on this date: "I'm Your Boogie Man" -KC and Sunshine Band...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeliine]...
Commentary...
"Happy Trails" to Paul Christy (Christides), disc jockey/programmer with a rich 30-year history in Detroit radio, who passed away last week after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. In the 60s and 70s Paul was known for his work at several radio stations in Detroit and was part of the re-launch of Keener 13 on the old 1310 AM frequency. Paul was 69...Norm N. Nite writes: "I have voluntarily committed myself to just Saturdays and Sundays on Sirius". This after an announcement that Larry Morrow would be joining the satellite network at the end of June. Norm reminds me that when Elvis Presley made his first appearance in New York in 1972, he did 4 shows at Madison Square Garden over a 3-day period. The Saturday show was recorded for the album, "Elvis As Recorded At Madison Square Garden". Incidentally, the 4 shows that Elvis performed in New York, sold 80,000 tickets. Thanks for the info Norm...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Jose Reyes (24), Hugh ("House") Laurie (48), Joe Montana (51), Adrienne Barbeau (62), Joey Dee (67), Chad Everett (70), Gene Wilder (74), Charles Rangel (77) and Rise Stevens (94)...
Timeline Countdown: 6 days until Father's Day, 10 days until Summer and 23 days until July 4th...
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