Went wandering out West and wound up, for a few days, with no cell service, no phone (except one to call out on in an emergency), no TV (except one in the bar; none in the cabins) and intermittent satellite internet (which we ignored, too).

Nice. 

Good weather off the grid ... had left the mountains in a slushy snow storm, returned home to six inches more falling!  Winter came late last year ... but sure is sticking around now.

Random Notes:

• Bummer ... Greg Liptak passed away last week.   Husband of Stevie. Father of Christine. Preceded in death by son Gregory. Funeral Mass, Wednesday, 10:30am, St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, 6673 W. Chatfield Ave. Memorials to American Cancer Society , 2255 S. Oneida St., Denver.  Greg was a founder of CTAM and the first president in 1976-77.  As a senior marketeer (the term he favored) at Times Mirror and an executive at Jones Intercable, he was a tireless champion of marketing and the organization.  After setting CTAM on a path to success he chaired the CableTelevision Advertising Bureau.  Of course, Greg teamed with Gail Sermersheim to co-chair the Classic Tamers dinner  for more than 30 years.  Greg will be missed.  Indeed he is.  And I'll miss the service because I'm in Texas on family matters this week.  Double bummer.  Condolences to Stevie and Christine ... and Gail and all the Old Tam'ers ...

• The Television Consumer Freedom Act of 2013 is interesting ... but why do so many conservatives in Congress want to micro-manage so much when so many don't even believe in government?  This legislation, introduced by Arizona Republican Senator John McCain, would "allow" a la carte but effectively force it by tying broadcast carriage rights and copyright compulsory license to it.  Bundling by a programmer is allowed only if the networks are offered individually to MVPDs ... something that technically sometimes exists today.  The Bill would also – in a Diller-leaning bit – allow the FCC to reclaim the spectrum of any broadcaster bolting to "cable."  Plus, it would bar sporting event blackouts from publicly financed stadium or team.  McCain first tried to force a move to a la carte in 2006.  This will likely share the earlier attempts fate.  As it should.  If a la carte ever comes to pay television, it will be driven by consumer demand ... and would, naturally, cost more and provide less.  At least tomorrow's Senate hearing on the state of TV should be interesting with the Senator's involvement.  A real no-no in the bill is the caveat that if programmers and MVPDs can't agree ... the FCC gets their negotiating positions.

• Handicapping Ergen's Sprint: Bet you a dollar he gets it; but if he doesn't, DirecTV gets Dish.  If Sprint plus Clearwire do fall into Charlie's hands, his plans – given adequate execution – make enormous long term sense.

• Kudos: to AETN for ratings growth; to AMC for ad growth; to Encore/Starz for sub growth (& the package for Cody!); to Dish/Echostar for DishNet; to ESPN for wanting to subsidize my next phone; to NBC News for naming Deborah Turness of the UK's ITV to run it; to YouTube for providing another reason not to watch it; and to Glenn Jones for being inducted into the Troops to Teachers Hall of Fame for Jones Int'l University.

• There's another new video start-up called Now This News from former Huffington Post CEO Eric Hipeau (who was involved in starting up Tech TV once upon a time when he worked with SoftBank's Masayoshi Son). ––– And, oh no!, Microsoft has an STB under development? ––– How many boxes can fit with a wide screen TV that has no depth?

• A New York Times editorial last week lamented the nomination of Tom Wheeler as the next Chairman of the Federal Confusion Commission because he was – horrors!  – once a lobbyist. 

• Got a Bloomberg terminal?  Is it watching you, too?

• Speaking of terminals, Denver Int'l Airport has installed more than 200 landline telephones with free global calling ... with ads staring at you.

• Ironic: The NBC affiliate in Anchorage is suing GCI, the darn near only cable op in Alaska, to prevent it from buying the CBS affiliate mostly because a cable op can't be trusted to honestly report the news ... hmmm ... would like to be a fly on the wall at the next NBC affiliate meeting ... maybe they'll hold it in Philadelphia?

• Nice move by Leo Hindery's company to make the Kroenke side pay a little more for Outdoor.  Glad it'll eventually be in Colorado, though.

• Ready for "The Cable Show" yet?  Don't forget the Cable Center Hall of Fame and the Pioneer Dinner!•

Cable Center Hall of Fame'r Amy Tykeson

Editor's Note: This is the fifth in a series of five Cable Center Hall of Fame inductee Q & As (and a tribute to the late Jim Mooney) ... plus one with the Bresnan Ethics in Business Awardee. – PSM

Honoree Amy Tykeson:

Question: Who, in cable, was your mentor?
Answer: I’d say consistently over my career in cable my Dad, Don Tykeson, has been the consummate mentor. I have been lucky to have many excellent advisors and supporters over the years, including John Goddard, Gail Sermersheim, Peter Frame and Stan Thomas, to name a few.

Q: With which figure in cable – yesterday, today or tomorrow – would you most like to have dinner?
A: John Malone, he’s strategic, intelligent and tough. Plus he has the Midas touch.

Q: With which historical figure would you most like to have dinner?
A: Cleopatra.

Q: Which personal trait do you think figured in your selection to this year's Hall of Fame?
A: Enthusiasm and perseverance.

Q: What is your greatest achievement?
A: My two accomplished children.

Q: What is your greatest regret?
A: Regrets?

Q: What is the trait you most deplore in others?
A: Negativity.

Q: What is the quality you most admire in a man?  ... in a woman?
A: Regardless of gender, I admire intelligence, courage and a sense of humor.

Q: Who is your favorite hero in fiction?
A: Atticus Finch.

Q: Who are your favorite heroes in (so-called) real life?
A: Eleanor Roosevelt, Katharine Graham and Ghandi.

Q: Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
A: “just sayin’” and “disruption”

Q: What is your most treasured possession?
A: My health.

Q: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
A: Just one thing? I’d like to be more organized.

Q: What is your motto?
A: Just one thing? I’d like to be more organized.

Q: What is your motto?
A: Probably two — Life is either a daring adventure or nothing (Helen Keller) and …
    Be the change you want to see in the world (Mahatma Ghandi)

Q: What's next for you in business?
A: Expanding what we offer, advancing our brand and delivering the best possible service to our customers with an amazing team.

Thanks, Amy!
We'll see you in DC in June ...
Click here for info and reservations or sponsorships.

NOTE: MediaBiz is the (sort of) weekly newsletter on the media business from a long time (43 years and counting) media commentator ... me.  No commodity news; just commentary and a little perspective. – psm (maxfax.mediabiz@gmail.com) •