Free Republic

February has seen the passing of two great broadcasters: Tim McCarver, 81, a baseball broadcaster, and Billy Packer, 82, a basketball broadcaster. What fans most appreciated about the two was their “down to Earth,” simple explanations about events during a game, as well as their unique insights and perspectives. Packer was a standout player for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. The son of a coach, he scored 1,300 points at a time when freshmen couldn’t play varsity and led Wake to two ACC titles and their only Final Four in 1962. He went into coaching but quickly found his true...

ST. PETERSBURG — What otherwise might seem a mundane Tuesday night Rays game at Tropicana Field against the last-place Orioles will be historic before the first pitch is thrown. That’s because it will be the first major-league game called by an all-female broadcast team, per Major League Baseball and YouTube, which will show the game exclusively.

Syracuse TV anchor Michael Benny has broken his silence on the controversy surrounding a script he read on CNY Central for station owner Sinclair Broadcast Group. Benny and Allison Bybee appear in a video compilation showing TV anchors at Sinclair-owned stations across the country in a promo echoing President Donald Trump's constant attacks on "fake news" media. Critics say it reflects the company's right-wing agenda without disclosing a political bias.... For days, CNY Central declined to comment, but Benny finally spoke out in a lengthy Facebook post on Wednesday night. "Recently, my boss came to me with a script for...

Sporting News fans love to argue over their favorite football announcers. Reporters and editors from Sporting News and SportsBusiness Journal/SportsBusiness Daily do too, and have come together to produce their list of the Top 25 Football Broadcasters. Gary Danielson named top football broadcaster.CBS college football analyst Gary Danielson leads the list, followed by Cris Collinsworth and Al Michaels of NBC's "Sunday Night Football." All active television play-by-play broadcasters and analysts in pro and college football were considered for the list.

Mark Lloyd, newly appointed Chief Diversity Officer of the Federal Communications Commission, has called for making private broadcasting companies pay licensing fees equal to their total operating costs to allow public broadcasting outlets to spend the same on their operations as the private companies do.

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Honduras' coup-installed government silenced two key dissident broadcasters on Monday just hours after it suspended civil liberties to prevent an uprising by backers of ousted President Manuel Zelaya. Dozens of soldiers raided the offices of Radio Globo. Officials also shut down Channel 36 television station, leaving it broadcasting only a test pattern. Rene Zepeda, a spokesman for the interim government, said the two outlets had been taken off the air in accordance with a government emergency decree announced late Sunday that limits civil liberties and allows authorities to close news media that "attack peace and public order."...

Chalk up another vote against the Fairness Doctrine – this one from religious broadcasters. “If I happen to say declaratively that the Bible tells me that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and nobody comes to the Father but by Him,” said Christian talk show host Janet Parshall, “I am not interested in giving equal time to Buddha, Hinduism, or L. Ron Hubbard.”...

On Obama's agenda, according to his White House website, is the goal to "encourage diversity in media ownership." Obama elaborates on the site that his aim is to "encourage diversity in the ownership of broadcast media, promote the development of new media outlets for expression of diverse viewpoints, and clarify the public interest obligations of broadcasters who occupy the nation's spectrum." The plan apparently aligns with longstanding Democratic suggestions to resurrect the "Fairness Doctrine." The policy was abandoned in 1987 under President Reagan when there were 75 radio talk shows in the U.S. Reagan opposed the policy because it required...

A battle between tech companies like Google Inc and broadcasters over use of soon-to-be vacant airwaves will heat up soon as U.S. regulators release an anticipated report on the issue. The Federal Communications Commission's report will weigh in as early as Friday on the feasibility of opening up "white spaces" -- unused pockets of the spectrum to become available when broadcasters move completely to digital television next year -- for unlicensed use. Google, Microsoft Corp and others want the spaces for a new generation of wireless devices. So-called incumbents on the space, including broadcasters and wireless phone companies, oppose unlicensed...

Our friend Robert Spencer reports that the Dutch public broadcaster KRO has given up on its planned production to show that the Bible contains just as much potential for violence as the Koran. NIS News states that the reason that KRO put this project in turnaround is that the producers couldn’t make the case: In his short film Fitna, intended to be shown in March, Wilders wants to show gruesome events said to be inspired by the Koran. KRO, nota bene itself a Catholic broadcaster, wanted to show that such a film could also be made about the Bible.The film...

Border broadcasters fret over digital switchFree stations in Mexico may mean many viewers won't convert sets By SUZANNE GAMBOA Associated Press Dec. 21, 2007, 11:39PM WASHINGTON — Broadcasters along the U.S.-Mexico border fear they will be at a competitive disadvantage when the U.S. switches to digital television in 2009 because residents can still pick up Mexican stations on old TVs. On Feb. 18, 2009, tens of millions of televisions that are not equipped to receive digital signals will no longer be able to receive programming. People in the U.S. with old televisions will have to buy converter boxes or subscribe...

WASHINGTON - Tell us, Mr. President, how have things changed since the last broadcasters' dinner? "A year ago my approval rating was in the 30s, my nominee for the Supreme Court had just withdrawn, and my vice president had shot someone," President Bush said Wednesday night during the annual gathering. "Ah," he said, "those were the good ol' days." In keeping with the lighthearted traditions of the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association dinner, Bush poked fun at himself and a few others in remarks that drew laughter and applause at the Washington Hilton Hotel. Bush thanked the organization for providing...

The legendary George Putnam is 92 years young and a veteran of 72 years as a reporter, broadcaster and commentator... and is still going strong. George can be heard on simulcast coast-to-coast via Cable Radio Network (CRN) and KCCA, 1050 AM in San Bernardino, CA. and KCAA in Los Angeles. Always dedicated and hard working, George rose up from humble beginnings in St. Paul, Minnesota to build an illustrious career, which began on his 20th birthday in 1934 at WDGY, Minneapolis. Since then he has worked as a newsman, reporter and commentator for most of the major broadcasting organizations in...

Nikola Tesla: Unsung genius or raving loony? The history of technology is populated with a marvellous cast of characters. On the one hand you have the colourful, hard-working inventors like Thomas Edison who slaved away morning, noon and night to produce many of the wonders that we take for granted such as the incandescent light, the telephone, and the garlic peeler. On the other you have the moonbat crazies who show up at the patent office with a cardboard box stuffed with wires and a torch battery claiming that they've made contact with John Kerry's charisma. And then there is...

WASHINGTON (Hollywood Reporter) - Lawmakers' pique over the networks' incredible shrinking news hole is prompting legislation that will both shorten the time broadcasters have between license renewals and require full commission review of 5% of all licenses. The legislation was introduced by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on Tuesday after the release of a report by the Norman Lear Center at the University of Southern California found evening TV newscasts contained little coverage of local political campaigns last year. It also would require broadcasters to post on their Internet sites information detailing their commitment to local public-affairs programming, and it calls...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 - Shortly before becoming chairman of the Federal Communications Commission nearly four years ago, Michael K. Powell said it was time to eliminate the double standard that allowed the government to subject broadcasters, unlike their competitors in cable and satellite television, to indecency and other speech regulations. At the time, Mr. Powell received a Freedom of Speech Award for advancing what broadcasters and civil liberties groups viewed as a courageously principled position. Now, he is being harshly criticized for significantly expanding the indecency rules. He blames a quest for higher ratings for the "increasing coarseness" of programming...

Every decent American ought to be thoroughly outraged by what has transpired in response to the ads being run by those Swift Boat veterans contesting John Kerry’s accounts of his heroics during. Rather than merely refute their claims, dark forces are working to suppress their efforts to speak out on this subject. Unfortunately, with too few Americans understanding the threat posed by those who would forcibly subdue others with whom they disagree, the reaction to this infuriating episode has been minimal. A previous assault on the rights of citizens, perpetrated last summer on the Senate floor, set the stage for...

<p>May 2, 2004 -- CURT Smith, author of "Voices of the Game" and chronicler of all that binds baseball to broadcasting, had a frightening thought. "What if the next Vin Scully is out there and no one will hire him? What if he can't find work because his audition tape isn't loaded with screaming and shtick and hyperbole? Look at it this way: When's the last time 'SportsCenter' chose to replay a classy, dignified call of a team announcer's call?"</p>

WASHINGTON - Broadcasters meeting Wednesday to discuss indecency said they would consider an industry code of conduct, an idea the nation's chief telecommunications regulator suggested they should pursue. Federal Communications Commission (news - web sites) Chairman Michael Powell (news) said if the industry leaves it to the government to set strict standards for broadcast decency, they won't like the result. "You do not want to ask the government to write a `Red Book' of dos and don'ts," Powell told the gathering organized by the National Association of Broadcasters. "I understand the complaint about knowing where the line is, but heavier...

Clear Channel implements new zero-tolerance policy for deejays By Claudia Grisales AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Thursday, February 26, 2004 Radio broadcasters say they plan to clean up their acts, responding to the growing public outcry over indecent content, the threat of heavy fines from regulators and tough talk in Congress. Clear Channel Communications Inc., the nation's largest station owner, said Wednesday that it has implemented a new zero-tolerance policy that could mean suspensions or firings for DJs who cross the line with X-rated talk on the air. Clear Channel owns more than 1,200 stations nationwide, including six in Austin. Indianapolis-based Emmis Communications...