Just when we thought FCC approval on the XM-Sirius merger was a slam-dunk, 11 states through their attorneys general are urging the agency to impose restrictions on the deal. The betting is still in favor of the FCC following the Justice Department's approval of the merger with their own but it won't be the rubber-stamp lock we all thought it would be. The attorneys representing Ohio, Missouri, Connecticut and Iowa have come forward and there are still 7 other states wanting provisos added to the deal. The states said the deal should be subject to restrictions designed to preserve competition and protect consumers, according to Reuters...
There are 3 big requirements the states are looking for:
- Interoperable radio receivers available to customers. XM-Sirius won't have that available for at least one year but a requirement to do so should be part of the deal...
- A la carte ordering of programming packages, something Mel Karmazin has already promised...
- Divesting some radio spectrum that would allow another competitor into the business. So far this issue has not surfaced...
There are about 17 million customers of either XM or Sirius with receivers that aren't compatible with one another. A new compatible radio will cost $200 when it's available in about a year. Two of six a la carte packages will require a new radio, according to XM-Sirius officials. Reason enough not to rubber-stamp the merger...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1909] Feelin' Groovy: The Queensborough Bridge a.k.a. '59th Street Bridge', linking traffic between Manhattan and Queens opens to traffic, becoming the first double-tiered bridge (3/30). To this day, along with the Brooklyn and Williamsburg Bridge, there is no toll in either direction. Something to feel groovy about...
- 1959] When you're hot you're hot: "Some Like It Hot" starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon premieres (3/29)...
- 1963] The Name Game: Sonny Werblin, no doubt inspired by nearby LaGuardia Airport, changes the name of the New York Titans to the Jets (3/28) just before Shea Stadium becomes a runway for LaGuardia and the new home of the Jets in 1964...1992] WNSR (105.1) changes call letters to WMXV (Mix) in New York (3/30)...
- 1969] 'Happy Trails': Dwight D. Eisenhower, our 34th president, dies of heart failure at 78 (3/28)...1987] Maria von Trapp, whose life inspired "The Sound of Music", dies in Morrisville (VT) from heart failure at 82 (3/28)...1986] Legendary Hollywood star James Cagney passes away at 86 from a heart attack (3/30). There is a memorial to Cagney with an American flag just two blocks from here where the self-taught actor/dancer lived in Yorkville...2002] Queen Mother Elizabeth of England dies from natural causes at 101 (3/30)...2005] Attorney Johnnie Cochran dies from an inoperable brain tumor at 67 (3/29)...
- 1971] Guilty as charged: Lt. William Calley Jr. is found guilty of premeditated murder of at least 22 Vietnamese civilians and is sentenced to life in prison (3/29). Calley wins a court case and is paroled. He now lives free in Columbus (GA)...1971] A jury in Los Angeles recommends the death penalty for Charles Manson and 3 female followers for the 1969 Tate-Lo Bianca murders (3/29). His sentence is commuted to life in prison...1974] Eight Ohio National Guardsmen are indicted on charges stemming from the shooting death of 4 Kent State students (3/29) in May of 1970. All are later acquitted and released...
- 1979] Life imitates Art: A nuclear meltdown starts at Three Mile Island (PA) (3/28) 12 days after "The China Syndrome" premieres...
- 1981] 'Honey I forgot to duck': President Ronald Reagan is shot by John Hinckley (3/30). Reagan will make a full recovery but press secretary James Brady is left with permanent brain damage from a gunshot wound to his head, which leads to the 'Brady Law'...
- 1984] Under cover of the night: Colts owner Robert Irsay moves the team from Baltimore to Indianapolis in the middle of the night, like a common thief (3/29)...
- 1989] Oscars all around: "Rainman", yeah, definitely Rainman and Dustin Hoffman win Oscars. So does Jody Foster at the 62st Academy Awards (3/29)...
- 2007] Gotcha: Former major league pitcher Ugueth Urbina is convicted of attempted murder in Venezuela in 2005 and sentenced to 14 years in prison (3/28)...
Music Memories:
- 1957] Number one on this date: "Party Doll" - Buddy Knox (3/29)...1968] "(Sittin' On) The Dock of The Bay" - Otis Redding (3/28)...1971] "Just My Imagination" - Temptations (3/28)...1976] "Disco Lady" - Johnnie Taylor (3/29). This was the first single certified 'platinum' by the RIAA for sales of more than 2 million copies. In 1989, the platinum standard was halved to 1 million due to declining record sales...
- 1958] Recorded on this date: "Summertime Blues" - Eddie Cochran (3/28)...1966] "Green Grass" - Gary Lewis & Playboys (3/28)...1967] "Brown-Eyed Girl" - Van Morrison (3/28)...
- 1973] On the cover of Rolling Stone: Twelve days after "The Cover of Rolling Stone" peaks at #6, Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show are on the cover of Rolling Stone (3/29)...
Commentary:
Sorry to hear of the passing of a radio name that was synonymous with the city of Chicago - Wally Phillips, morning personality at WGN Radio for two decades who passed away at 82 after battling Alzheimer's disease for the last five years. When anyone we know in this medium passes away it's a loss and that's the case here. Although I never met Wally, I, like scores of radio people followed his exploits in Chicago for years. R.I.P. Wally Phillips...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
(3/28) Vince Vaughn (38), Chris Myers (49), Reba McEntire (53), Dianne Wiest (60), John Records Landecker (61), Rick Barry (64), Ken Howard (64), Jerry Sloan (66) and Charlie McCoy (67)...
(3/29) Jennifer Capriati (32), Lucy Lawless (40), Elle Macpherson (44), Walt "Clyde" Frazier (63), Terry Jacks (64), Vangelis (65), Eric Idle (65), Astrud Gilberto (68) and John McLaughlin (81)...
(3/30) Norah Jones (29), Celine Dion (40), Tracy Chapman (44), MC Hammer (46), Paul Reiser (51), Eric Clapton (63), Warren Beatty (71), Rolf Harris (78), John Astin (78), Richard Dysart (79) and Peter Marshall (81)...
Timeline Countdown: 8 days until the Final Four, 10 days until the NCAA Championship game and 22 days until Passover...
