Air Time

October 4, 1996
Perot charged that ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox were unwilling to sell him "reasonable" air time in violation of a federal law ensuring that candidates have equal opportunity to appear on TV and "reasonable access" to the airwaves. He cited, among other elements, the widespread coverage President Clinton and Republican Bob Dole received at their parties' nominating conventions in August, as well as the air time both will get in the upcoming presidential debates. But the FCC said the networks were exempted from the equal opportunities provision of the law because the Clinton and Dole appearances cited by Perot were "bona fide" news events.
March 8, 1996
"One of the things we're trying to get across is clothes don't promote Christianity." --Dave Phipps of Durham, N.C., attending a conference of Christian nudists, including two ministers, in Longwood, N.C. "Politicians want two things: free air time and no skeptical reporters. Murdoch has plenty of air time--he doesn't even program between 10 and 11 p.m.--and he doesn't have any news reporters." --An insider at a rival TV network, after Rupert Murdoch offered major presidential candidates an hour of free time on Fox next fall.
June 7, 1994
French rock radio stations are protesting an upcoming law that says 40 percent of air time must be devoted to French music. The law is intended to protect French culture, but the stations say it violates their freedom of expression. OUTSMARTING SOME MEAN SUNSHINE New research of Mercury, the closest planet to the sun, indicates that the planet may have patches of ice hiding in craters. Mercury's equator is hot enough to melt lead.
By Barry Temkin | July 8, 1998
They believe they can fly. From 12-year-old Janae DeBartolo to 64-year-old Lou Edelman, from dentist Keith Petranek to firefighter Rich Larsen to state high school champion Josh Cuttone, they believe that if they can't exactly touch the sky, they at least can get a little closer to it than the rest of us. Which is why they show up Thursdays at Maine South for one of the Chicago area's more unusual sports get-togethers. Its title, Air Time '98, suggests an NBA dunk contest, but in this case the hang time comes courtesy of a fiberglass pole.
By Christine Winter | January 11, 1985
AMERITECH Mobile Communications Inc. announced Thursday it has filed a 10 percent rate reduction schedule with the Illinois Commerce Commission for cellular phone service in the Chicago area. The new rates, if approved by the commission, will become effective Jan. 24. Ameritech, which has more than 17,000 customers, got its first taste of competition last week, when Metromedia officially introduced its Cellular One service in Chicago at rates significantly lower than Ameritech's.
By Ludwig Wolf Jr | November 13, 1996
During a recent trip to Atlanta, I used my cellular phone to place a two-minute local call. I was subsequently charged $1.78 for air time, a $3 daily charge and a $4.01 roamer fee. My two-minute local call cost me $8.79! What happened to 10 cents a minute? It is a sad commentary on our times that one carries a cellular phone as a measure of security when it is the cellular phone companies that are the thieves.
By Christopher M. Drew | January 22, 1992
WGN-TV has announced the withdrawal of free church time on Sunday mornings. WGN says it can now sell that time for $750,000 in annual revenue. I think it is doing the right thing. The churches should pay for the time if they want it. The demand for "Mass for shut-ins" was created by the Catholic church when it indoctrinated this audience in their youth. The church should be paying for this air time if it should be provided at all.
By John McCarthy | December 19, 1994
Again viewers of WTTW-Channel 11 are subjected to a pathetic "begathon." Between programs, employees and volunteers extol the virtues of public television and the excellence of the programming. Let's take a look at a few of these programs. There's "Barney & Friends," "Sesame Street" and "The Frugal Gourmet." There is no doubt that these shows are very good. Indeed, they are must-see programs in my home on a regular basis. That said, these shows are still nothing but high quality infomercials-vehicles to sell products.
By Margaret Van Duch. Special to the Tribune | February 14, 1999
T.J. Lycos, 10, puts on the headphones to check the audio less than 5 minutes before air time. Jason Walz, 10, and Crystal Ray, 12, make sure their cameras are focused in on the announcers, while Tony Saccomanno, 10, makes sure the video mixer is working properly so he can turn on the necessary camera when needed. Three minutes to air time and Elk Grove Village Rupley Elementary School teacher Ruth Blohm suggests anchormen Brian Bertone and Jennifer Haskett, both 10, practice their breathing exercises to help them relax.
March 16, 2003
Plainfield resident Mark Batinick and a couple of friends agreed: The anti-American bent of the anti-war activists was driving them crazy. So, to get their message across--that Saddam Hussein must be toppled--they pooled their money and bought $2,500 in air time. About 50 radio ads began playing Thursday on three radio stations. "Bad things happen when you're passive; Saddam must be removed from power," Batinick says in the ad. "Now, I don't like war, but freedom isn't cheap, and freedom isn't easy."