As the old year exits stage right and the new year makes its way to center stage, we thought we'd string together a compendium of quotes which appeared in RBR/TVBR during the past year. Today: November 2004

* "Thus, opposing candidates are not entitled to free time, but are entitled to an equal opportunity to advertise at the same value - - the lowest unit rate." - - Pappas Telecasting Chairman/CEO Harry J. Pappas explaining his lawyers interpretation of the company's gift of airtime to Republican county organizations in parts of California (11/1/04 RBR #213)

* "The Commission has ruled that when a candidate is furnished time at no cost, competing candidates are entitled to receive the same amount of free time in comparable time periods... Thus, under these circumstances, we find that the complainant is entitled to equal opportunities on the same free basis as her opponent." - - FCC response to the Pappas situation (11/2/04 RBR #214)

* "The Cunningham leadership remains in lockstep with that of Sinclair, making a mockery of the fundamental principle of broadcast law that each licensee ultimately is responsible for the independent operation of each licensed station." - - Nicholas P. Miller and James R. Hobson of Miller & Van Eaton PLLC, protesting Sinclair LMAs (11/3/04 RBR #215)

* "While it was Media General's choice to bet so heavily on this prediction, they did so at their own risk." - - Angela Campbell of the Institute of Public Representation opposing a Florence-Myrtle Beach newspaper/TV combo (11/3/04 RBR #215)

* "We thank our many advertisers, investors and viewers who stood with Sinclair during the past several weeks and who did not rush to pre-judge our news special, `A POW Story.'" - - Sinclair Broadcast Group President/CEO David Smith (11/5/04 TVBR #217)

* "The brief flash of partial nudity that closed the halftime show was neither explicit nor graphic, did not 'dwell on' or 'repeat at length' sexual organs or activities, and was not used to titillate or shock. The NAL made no attempt to explain how a split-second exposure could simultaneously be 'brief' and 'repeated at length.'" - - Robert Corn-Revere, Ronald G. London and Amber L. Husbands of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP on behalf of Viacom (11/9/04 RBR #219)

* "The inconsistent manner in which the FCC is choosing to apply these rules puts TV stations like ours in a most difficult position. Would the FCC conclude that the movie has sufficient social, artistic, literary, historical or other kinds of value that would protect us form breaking the law?" - - WOI-TV Des Moines President Raymond H. Cole on its decision to preempt a showing of "Saving Private Ryan" (11/11/04 RBR #221)

* "Context is everything. We agreed with the FCC on its ruling that the airing of 'Schindler's List' on television was not indecent and we feel that 'Saving Private Ryan' is in the same category. In both films, the content is not meant to shock, nor is it gratuitous." - - Parents Television Council President Brent Bozell (11/12/04 RBR #222)

* "We view ourselves as allies of News Corporation and the Murdoch family, and we have no hostile intentions." - - Liberty Media CEO Robert Bennett (11/12 TVBR #222)

* "However, airing excessively profane language during primetime hours is not necessary to convey that sacrifice." - - American Family Association's Randy Sharp, protesting the airing of "Saving Private Ryan" (11/15/04 RBR #223)

* "Our law was not designed to lower spending in elections because the reality is that it costs money to communicate political views. It was, however, designed to ensure that the money political groups spend in federal elections is limited to reasonable, small contributions from individuals to prevent corruption and the appearance of corruption." - - Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) vowing to go after 527 organizations (11/15/04 RBR #223)

* "The FCC should not allow DARS to become a 'safe harbor' for the audio broadcast of obscene and indecent programming." - - Mount Wilson FM Broadcasters arguing for level indecency playing field for broadcast and satellite audio services (11/15/04 RBR #223)

* "So in the end, that means that a grand total of three citizens bothered to take the time to sit down and actually write a letter of complaint to the FCC. Millions of people watched the show. Three wrote letters of complaint." - - Blogger Jeff Jarvis of BuzzMachine on Fox indecency fine (11/17/04 RBR #225)

* "Although we believe this incident would not garner FCC indecency action, you can still let your feelings be known to Terrell Owens, the Philadelphia Eagles organization, and ABC." - - OneMillionMoms on the ABC Monday Night Football/Desparate Housewives incident (11/18/04 RBR #226)

* "I'm going to start a site that allows all us sane, normal, red-blooded Americans to send thank-you notes to the networks - - and the FCC - - every time there's a hint of sex or colorful language on broadcast." - - Blogger Jeff Jarvis of BuzzMachine on the ABC Monday Night Football/Desparate Housewives incident (11/18/04 RBR #226)

* "I wonder if Walt Disney would be proud?" - - FCC Chairman Michael Powell on the ABC Monday Night Football/Desparate Housewives incident (11/18/04 RBR #226)

* This is a perfect opportunity for me because I want to lead a growth company that can reshape the landscape of the radio business. I took Infinity Broadcasting and Westwood One to leadership positions in the industry and am confident that Sirius will become a market leader in short order." - - Mel Karmazin, upon being named CEO of Sirius Satellite Radio (11/19 RBR #227)

* "A fear among broadcasters to air certain material can only have a chilling effect on the freedom of speech. In some ways, this is worse than censorship - - broadcasters have no idea when the FCC will be coming after them." - - ACLU Legislative Counsel Marvin Johnson (11/22/04 RBR #228)

* "To say that cable television is in the sewer would be an insult to sewage." - - Parents Television Council President Brent Bozell arguing for a la carte channel menus (11/23/04 RBR #229)

* "I have been lucky and blessed over these years to have what is, to me, the best job in the world and to have it at CBS News." - - Dan Rather, announcing plans to step down in March 2005 as anchor of the CBS Evening News (11/24 TVBR #230)

* "At no point did anyone, including Chairman Powell, positioned now like Attila at the head of the Huns, produce one single living creature - - man, woman, child, toddler, infant, newborn, late-term fetus, dog, cat, rooster, horse or parakeet - - who saw the briefly exposed nipple and was in any tangible way harmed by it. Like most of the halftime entertainment, it was tastelessly inappropriate, but the ensuing mass fuss is a farce that has made America an international laughingstock again." - - Washington Post TV critic Tom Shales (11/24/04 RBR #230)

* "Arbitron is going to go forward, but it would be better if Nielsen were a part of it." - - TVB President Chris Rohrs, on a unanimous resolution by the Nielsen Customer Alliance calling on the company to participate in the Houston PPM test (11/30 TVBR #232)