It Didn't Happen in 2007

A lot of things happened last year, but a lot more things that might have happened did not. Here is our take on the most significant non-events of the year. You might call this the woulda-shoulda-coulda lists, except in some cases -- like the lack of any significant new indecency fines -- the non-event status is good thing. So without further ado, here are 19 things that did not take place:

* Clear Channel did NOT complete its divestitures of hundreds of radio stations and its entire TV division.

* Clear Channel did NOT go private. (Maybe in 2008.)

* Radio broadcasters did not manage to turn around the ever-lengthening trend of flat revenue results; meanwhile, television broadcasters for the most part were not able to avoid riding the downside of the revenue rollercoaster due to the effects of an off-election off-Olympic year despite unusually early presidential primary action.

* The FCC did not strike down the cross-ownership ban across the country, did not liberalize television duopoly rules and did not increase local radio ownership caps.

* FCC Chairman Kevin Martin could not seem to find a single interested party to give unqualified applause to his 12/18/07 media package, which included easing of cross-ownership restrictions in the top 20 Nielsen DMAs and kick-off projects on localism and minority/female/small business ownership.

* Ownership and other issues put into motion by the FCC 12/18/07 remain unresolved as Congress, the Courts and possibly the Bush Administration get set to weigh in.

* Arbitron did NOT launch PPM as ratings currency in New York, which would have been its 3rd market.

* It still have not been determined if MVPDs will have to pass along multicast DTV broadcast channels or not.

* The WGA strike wasn't resolved.

* New CRB royalty rates kicked in and so far haven't decimated the internet broadcast industry.

* New CRB royalty rates weren't overturned. (Coming in 2008?)

* HD Radio did not make broadcasters money. (Coming in 2008?)

* Sirius and XM did NOT win regulatory approval to merge. (Will that happen in 2008?)

* Nexstar and LIN put themselves up for sale, but did NOT succeed in going private.

* The Fairness Doctrine did not return, perhaps because legislation to bring it back was not initiated; meanwhile, legislation to block its return stalled.

* Not a single new significant indecency NAL was issued; meanwhile, the Supreme Court has not announced whether or not it will hear an FCC/DoJ appeal of the FCC's appellate loss to Fox on fleeting broadcast obscenities.

* Shareholders did not see any improvement in their investments again just devaluation.

* Again Broadcasters did not speak with one voice just lip service.

RBR note:
RBR requests your participation in what you Did Not See Happen in 2007, send your liners with photo to [email protected] and yes there will be list of what Did Happen in 2007.