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: October 2004

* "Radio has not had quite the same year as TV has and it's an area of great concentration for us." - - Viacom Co-President/COO Les Moonves (10/1 RBR #192)

* "It is clear that the networks are either unwilling or unable to police themselves. Though the FCC has worked hard to toughen its enforcement efforts, too small fines have too little impact. We need to get the Congress to increase FCC fines now." - - Morality in Media (10/5/04 RBR #194)

* "Then we hope they will get DTV - - get the set, get the connection, get the content." - - FCC Chairman Michael Powell on new website designed to promote DTV to the public (10/5/04 RBR #194)

* "When you take into account that the definition of indecency is an amorphous, moving target and that the [FCC] has never fined an individual performer, announcer or broadcast journalist, this legislation represents a striking shift away from the FCC's long-standing policy that held that the broadcast licensee is responsible for programming decisions." - - AFTRA (10/6/04 RBR #195)

* "Radio is the caboose on the ad track to recovery." - - Bear Stearns analyst Victor Miller at the NAB Radio Show (10/7 RBR #196)

* "I'm gonna charge them" - - Citadel COO Judy Ellis, a day after Howard Stern spent much of his show touting his coming move to Sirius (10/8 RBR #197)

* "The citizen groups are seizing this opportunity to change the rules and set new standards by which we are judged at renewal time." - - NAB President Eddie Fritts (10/8 RBR #197)

* "What a week it's been...We have more good news to report to you. Howard Stern has been driven off of the public airwaves - - and it's thanks to your efforts and activism." PTC on Stern's move to Sirius Satellite Radio (10/8/04 RBR #197)

* "Satellite radio is one of the many technologies that the Commission is strongly promoting to expand the diversity of choices for the American public. It is not surprising that notable performers and journalists are turning to a medium that allows them to paint with a broader palette." - - FCC Chairman Michael Powell (10/11/04 RBR #198)

* "...illegal in-kind contribution to the Bush-Cheney campaign." - - DNC characterization of Sinclair's reported plans to air "Stolen Honor" documentary (10/12/04 RBR #199)

* "To allow a broadcasting company to air such a blatantly partisan attack in lieu of regular programming, and to classify that attack as 'news programming' as has been suggested would violate the spirit, and we think the text, of current law and regulation" - - senators in letter to Michael Powell on Sinclair (10/13/04 RBR #200)

* "This is an abuse of the public trust. And it is proof positive of media consolidation run amok when one owner can use the public airwaves to blanket the country with its political ideology - - whether liberal or conservative." FCC Commissioner Michael Copps on Sinclair (10/13/04 RBR #200)

* "We disagree with the FCC's decision and believe the content is not indecent." - - Fox Broadcasting on 1.2M "Married by America" fine (10/14/04 RBR #201)

* "Don't look to us to block the airing of a program. I don't know of any precedent in which the Commission could do that." - - FCC Chairman Michael Powell on Sinclair (10/15/04 RBR #202)

* "While radio stocks bump around near 52-week lows, we still see downside for the average radio stock from here, especially as we near 2006." - - S.G. Cowen analyst James Marsh (10/15 RBR #202)

* "I would say there is a change in attitude - - and it's broader than just PPM. I think they are, as a group and individually, very focused on what's going on and very focused on trying to get at the underlying issues in radio that may be part of what's causing this current slowdown in growth - - and are doing things like addressing spot load and getting better creative for radio, and trying to find out how to make radio the most accountable medium." - - Arbitron CEO Steve Morris (10/20 RBR #205)

* "As with all news programming produced by Sinclair's News Central, `A POW Story' is being produced with the highest journalistic standards and integrity. We have not ceded, and will not in the future cede, control of our news reporting to any outside organization or political group. We are endeavoring, as we do with all of our news coverage, to present both sides of the issues covered in an equal and impartial manner." - - Sinclair Broadcast Group Vice President of News Joe DeFeo (10/20 TVBR #205)

* "We are not partisan. We are investors. Sinclair's decision has caused harm to the value of our investment in Sinclair. We believe Sinclair must give equal time to an opposing point of view. Otherwise the company is placing its future and the value of our investment in jeopardy, by putting the renewal of its FCC licenses at risk, alienating local advertisers, and opening itself up to libel suits against the company." - - Glickenhaus & Co. exec and Sinclair investor Jim Glickenhaus (10/20/04 RBR #205)

* "Jesse Ventura didn't body slam his children. Arnold Schwarzenegger didn't kill his children in real life." - - fired Clear Channel shock jock Bubba The Lovesponge Clem, in his unsuccessful campaign to be elected Sheriff of Pinellas County, Florida (10/26 RBR #209)

* "Who could turn down a half billion dollars?" - - Viacom CEO Sumner Redstone, on Howard Stern's decision to leave the company for Sirius Satellite Radio (10/29 RBR #212)

* "We as a society certainly have much less to fear from obscene, indecent, or profane content than we do from an overzealous government willing to limit First Amendment protections and censor creative expression." - - NBC Universal Chairman/CEO Bob Wright (10/29/04 RBR #212)