Canadian Communications Pioneer Dies

I like to listen to the Toronto media through streaming Internet audio quite often. One name that stands out frequently is Ted Rogers of Rogers Communications. He is known throughout Ontario and Canada for having an empire of broadcasting and sports ownership. Remember the Skydome? In 2003, he bought the naming rights to make it the Rogers Center.

Ted passed away in his Toronto home today reportedly surrounded by his family. An official statement was made by the company to say

It is with great sadness that the Board of Directors of Rogers Communications Inc. announces the death of our colleague, leader and friend, Edward Samuel "Ted" Rogers, the founder of the company, a visionary communications industry pioneer and an icon in Canadian business.

I would like to agree with that. I feel a little bit of loss by the news, but having not known the man personally.

Sirius Welcomes Added XM Channels

Sirius and XM have now enacted their merging content plans and I cannot be any more excited about it. Since my Sirius radio was a gift, I soon longed for the day when I could also listen to some of the channels that were exclusive to XM.

The "Best of XM" package can be found on the enclosure link to the blog post. It means that I would be able to hear the NHL Network channel called "Home Ice" channel as well as the MLB package and more NCAA Sports channels dedicated to specific conference affiliations like the ACC and Big 10.

But it isn't all just sports, it also includes the allegedly wacky and controversial "Opie and Anthony" show.

For those people who have maintained a subscription to XM can also purchase a "Best of Sirius" which includes Howard Stern 100 as well as other celebrity sponsored channels as well as NFL football channel.

The Sirius/XM merger looks to benefit both companies as well as the subscribers now they have available all possible content, but equal exposure to new content from here on out!

Pirates Broadcaster Retires

Long time Pirate announcer Lanny Frattare has decided to call it quits after being witness to 15 years of an inept organization with no hope in sight. Frattare, who's familiar style to Pittsburgh sports fans, became the voice of the Pirates after long time broadcaster Bob Prince. Prince's legacy, to those who remember him, posed a large challenge to fill his spot, but Frattare walked up to the plate and consistently delivered the home run calls. His voice became the standard package to Pittsburgh fans while watching Pirates baseball.

I briefly met him in the Pirates broadcast press box in passing while he was getting ready before the game. I remember he made eye contact with me, gave me a polite greeted gesture, and continued on through the door. That moment signaled to me that he didn't allow the stature of his stardom to

The next fellow to fill his shoes will most likely be walking into the same situation as Frattare did all those years ago.

Sirius and XM Get To Merge

It took the Gov't a long time to figure out that satellite radio was not a monopoly; that it had other competition and the NAB knew it all along. While the merger was waiting to go through, it subsequently put Sirius and XM people on hold in their careers until things fell into place. I didn't like how it held up two profitable companies in limbo.

But just as the wait for approval was painstakingly slow, the vote came down to the wire as well.

The Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 to approve the buyout, with the tiebreaker coming Friday night from Republican commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate.

That is the most stand out sticking point to the whole storyline. Howard Stern, a subculture pop icon, railed against Pres. Bush for the ongoing war, but now he has to eat crow that the party lines have been drawn.

The approval was a major blow for the land-based radio industry, which lobbied hard against the buyout. It was also opposed by consumer groups, various members of Congress and state attorneys general, all of whom argued a satellite radio merger would hurt consumers and was not in the public interest.

I currently own a Sirius Starmate and Boombox and listen to it a lot in the late night hours. My dad just bought a car with XM in it. So, as a sports fan, I would really love to get to hear all the sports on one system soon.

I will keep up on how they will amalgamate the stations into one product.

Bon Voyage, you MF'er!

If Hillary Clinton made similar remarks about the tragic condition of Ted Kennedy and she still gets to keep her job and siphon off the limelight of her celebrity status, then Mark Madden, including his army of loyal listeners known affectionately as "M F'ers", would still be continuing the highest rated sports radio broadcast in Pittsburgh right now.

"I'm very disappointed to hear that Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts is near death because of a brain tumor. I always hoped Senator Kennedy would live long enough to be assassinated." - Mark Madden

That quote does indeed seem cruel and it eventually did him in as those words got him fired from ESPN 1250AM in his native Pittsburgh.

I never really liked Mark Madden professionally, but having met him personally he was nice to me and felt approachable. A part of Mark's shtick was that he was a very rude shock jock, but he had a respectability about him that he had pro athlete connections out the wazoo. The side to his personality that always deserved a big thumbs down from me is that he flat out stole his catch phrases from his pro wrestling buddies from his days in World Championship Wrestling. There really wasn't an original thought in that man's head. In that way, I am glad that Madden is now gone, summarily dishonorably discharged.

Montreal Station Preforms "Dangerous" Stunt

A Montreal Rock station CHOI (96.9 FM) engaged in some psychological warfare today as the character "Super Pig" and a fellow conspirator taped a Montreal Canadiens jersey to the iconic Rocky statue in Philadelphia, PA. You can watch the photos here.I would never try something this dangerous as knowing Philadelphia's reputation. I have been there plenty of times to know that Philly will not take this lying down.

When I was at Penn State, we continued the tradition called "guard the lion" - an all night party the night before the Penn State Football Homecoming game. The logic being that any rival school would not deface the Nittany Lion statue as it currently sits in the grotto just outside the Rec Hall gymnasium.

Not that I would condone such an act, but would we see a Philadelphia banner flying from Stade Olympique in the near future for retribution?

FCC Looking For Feedback

The FCC is considering retrofitting its rule book with a slew of vintage regulations that broadcasters say will mire them down with endless paperwork and tax their resources into a state of paralysis.

Among the rules the FCC proposes to reinstitute are ascertainment panels for neighborhood watch groups to give their input on such topics as the songs on a station’s playlist, hosts, advertisers and overall content of stations. The FCC also is considering re-crafting procedural guidelines for processing license renewal applications, similar to the process in place in the 1970s, and re-enacting the main studio rule to eliminate remote studios and stop voicetracking.

I love the idea that voicetracking is getting a look at during this examination process. With the advent of station formats that feature jock-less and wide ranges of play lists, this rule could affect the way station managers hire and demand the on-air talent be live while broadcasting.

Terrestrial radio must pull out all the stops now that it will be competing with a Sirius/XM company. I expect a renaissance of local talent to rise up against national broadcast formats.

Myron Cope Dies and Pittsburgh Mourns a Legend

The really old guard of radio broadcasting has tragically died. Myron Cope, the long time radio, TV, and print journalist in Pittsburgh succumbed to illnesses, but his legendary style will live on forever.

Fond memories were already begun to be recorded by everyone who knew or came in contact with Myron. His sports legacy will never be surpassed by anyone today. Myron's style changed broadcasting as he discovered how to entertain his audience as well as inform them.\Myron Cope affected sports fandom by first perfecting the balance between "broadcasting homer" and "broadcasting legend". He openly led the cheers with his pattented yellow "Terrible Towel". His personality was blended on a palette of quirky humor and ethnic pop culture. When Myron got out of control, he invented words and sounds to fill in his thoughts so he didn't create dead air.

Perhaps today, up in Heaven, Myron Cope is commentating on a big game with Howard Cosell.

"Free Radio" a Hit with Me

One of the things that I look for in watching a television program is weather or not I could relate to the situation or subject matter. "The Office" had such a cult following that some people either knew about the pop culture or maybe even lived in a small town like Scranton, PA. I gave it a chance, but I just didn't appreciate the nuances of the show.

Flipping around the digital cable, I found a show called "Free Radio". It is a show that was created from the comedy minds of Lance Krall and Rory Rosegarten. Lance plays a bumbling inept intern who is thrust into the spotlight of KBOM morning drive radio after the regular host Rip Rebel defects to satellite. He then goes on to sandbag guests because he is inexperienced and the true gem of the show is watching the real celebrities squirm. And through the miracle of modern technology, you can watch the opening segment of the show.
This is going to be a really great show that I will certainly will want to watch as the storyline evolves as Lance becomes a hit personality and how he interacts with his foil Anna Vocino. I think it is a real slice of life that some broadcasters have to put up with.

Check it out on the web or check with your local listings for VH-1.

Texas DJ Catching Some Heat in Studio

24-year-old Paul Webster Feinstein has come under fire in the last few days as he has been charged with Arson which destroyed KOOP's broadcast studio, leaving the Hippie FM station off the air for 19 days plus $300,000 damage.

The reason was that Paul was upset that his ideas for the station's playlist was rejected.

Now, I have worked in the industry for a while to read and hear about the backstage stories, but this is taking the "give it to the man" thing to the criminally insane! I once knew a guy who got drunk and urinated up and down the entire office and studio.

However, I can see where this would be the ultimate ironic story where a Hippie station, people who are used to protesting in destruction is now on the other end of the rebellion.