October 18, 2007

Collected and Edited by Rick Kaempfer






FCC boss Kevin Martin’s pushing toward that vote on new ownership rules – hard.
(Radio-Info.com) Tom Taylor writes: "I’ve told you for months now that FCC Chairman Martin’s determined to press for a vote on ownership rules this Fall. The calendar’s not on his side – 2008 election year politics are going to raise the decibel level to shouting levels, and Martin wants this to be one of his legacies. Especially since his predecessor Michael Powell tried and failed to get his own version of the rules through. The most pressing issue: easing up on broadcast-newspaper cross-ownership rules that are starting to pinch big players like Tribune and Rupert Murdoch. You can see the Chairman’s determination to force a vote in this week’s refusal to grant more time for reply comments in the octopus-like proceeding that folds in the 2002 biennial review (never completed) and the 2006 quadrennial review (likewise). One attorney tells me “I’ve never seen a routine extension request like this turned down, and I’ve been watching these things for years.” It seems the FCC’s heard enough."


Les Moonves to stay on at CBS through 2011
(Radio Online) CBS Corp. announced an extension Tuesday of a new contract with its President/CEO, Leslie Moonves. The new deal runs through September, 2011 and reduces his annual salary to $3.5 million, versus $5.9 million in his previous deal -- which included $2.9 million in deferred compensation. "I look forward to working with Les for many years to come," said Executive Chairman Sumner Redstone. "What he has accomplished since we unleashed the new CBS Corporation has exceeded all my expectations. There is no better CEO in America, and I have no doubt that his success will only continue as he leads CBS into the next decade."
(Rick's note to Les: Don't read the similar comments Redstone has made about other top executives, including his own daughter, and what has happened to them after those comments.)



Colbert announces candidacy for presidency
(AP via Chicago Tribune) Stephen Colbert has announced his candidacy for president on "The Colbert Report," tossing his satirical hat into the ring of an already crowded race. "I shall seek the office of the president of the United States," Colbert said Tuesday on his Comedy Central show as red, white and blue balloons fell around him. Colbert, 43, had recently satirized the coyness of would-be presidential candidates by refusing to disclose whether he would seek the country's highest office -- a refusal that often came without any prompting. Shortly before making the announcement, Colbert appeared on "The Daily Show" (the show that spawned Colbert's spin-off) and played cagey, claiming he was only ready to consider a White House bid. He entered the studio set pulled by a bicycle pedaled by Uncle Sam and quickly pulled out a bale of hay and a bottle of beer to show that he was "an Average Joe." Colbert said his final decision would be announced on a "more prestigious show," which turned out to be his own.


Producers drop key demand in talks with writers
(LA Times) Richard Verrier writes: "Extending an olive branch to restless TV and film writers, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers said Tuesday that it had withdrawn an unpopular proposal on residual payments that had threatened to derail contract talks. Though the action doesn't bring the two sides much closer to making a deal before the current contract expires Oct. 31, it helped propel progress Tuesday afternoon in talks that have been stymied since they began this summer."


Ann Coulter's website hacked
(D-Listed) The hack got hacked! A message from Ann Coulter appeared on her official website yesterday. Unfortunately, it wasn't real. The message from Ann read: "Dear Readers, I've been participating in a charade for nearly eleven years, now. Quite frankly, I'm sick of it. You have all been a part of a sick joke that I began considering shortly after first getting on the air. At first, it was quite interesting to see how people would react when I would use twisted logic and poorly masked bigotry...But eleven years is a long time to be living a fake life...And with that, my precious viewers, I bid you adieu. My career as a media figurehead is over."


Air America Says Attack on Rhodes Was Not a Hate Crime
(Radio Online) Air America talk host Randi Rhodes (3-6pm) claims she was assaulted while walking near her Manhattan home Sunday evening. Her attorney tells told FoxNews.com that she was struck and found herself face down on the pavement. In a statement posted on its web site today, AAR said Rhodes "experienced an unfortunate incident hindering her from hosting the show. The reports of a presumed hate crime are unfounded."



Coming this weekend: An interview with Ian Case Punnett
(Chicago Radio Spotlight) Ian Punnett is the host of Coast to Coast AM, the co-host of a Minneapolis morning show "The Ian and Margery Show," and a former talk show host on WGN Radio. This coming weekend I'll talk to Ian about all of those gigs and more.



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