From the dawn of modern broadcast TV in the fall of 1948 until the spring of 1971, prime time was from 7:30 until 11. Then, the FCC introduced the Prime Time Access Rule in 1970. The rule took a half-hour from the networks and gave it to the local affiliates to "develop new shows designed to discuss news and politics on a local level."

If the affliates needed an example of what the feds wanted for these shows, they could tune into PBS, which launched in October 1970.

The FCC had already stuck it to the networks in 1970 by banning a major advertising segment – cigarette companies.

So within a year the government restricted the networks' ability to make money and set up state-owned competition. All this was done in the name of the public good. The feds saw the networks as growing too powerful. Of course, a year before any of these moves were made, a new company incorporated in Pennsylvania called Comcast Corporation.That would render all these fears meaningless.

But thanks to federal regulators most of the population can now watch TMZ at 7:30 while our wealthiest citizens can enjoy programs that cater to their tastes.

Thanks to Brian Cronin and his site "Entertainment Urban Legens Revealed" for the education on the Prime Time Access Rule.

I usually say there are no real management lessons from the Super Bowl. But this time there was a definite lesson: there can be great rewards for boldness. Both Harbaugh brothers showed this. Jim, by sticking with his rookie QB. John with his special teams. Of course, that reflects the area of expertise for both, so you have to know what you're doing to succeed at bold moves.

This is one of those years when the game was better than the commercials, mostly because the commercials were weak. On the auto side, I felt Hyundai's "Team" was the best. AutoTrader reports Santa Fe searches were up by more than 1,000 percent after it aired. I also really like Audi's "Prom" spot. Both managed to condense a genre film from the '80s and '90s into about a minute. Well done.

I was less impressed than many by the VW commercial. It seemed to me like an ad for the Washington State economic development commission: "Relocate your business here and you'll have happy employees."

Here are PR guru Mike DeVilling thoughts. One of the most interesting aspects of the Super Bowl's growth into a marketing juggernaut is it started by free riding on a popular children's toy.

One last thought. My son asked why the Super Bowl isn't played on Saturday. He raises a good point. How high is the absenteeism rate today and how many folks who are present wasted a good half hour talking about everything from Beyonce to the black out (I know I did).

My neighbors are selling their house and the real estate agent held an open house over the weekend. All afternoon on Sunday the street was clogged with cars. Yesterday, my son told me the house has been sold. I haven't seen anything like that in years. John Tucker on Bloomberg Radio said there are six houses for sales on his street in New Jersey and open house traffic has been heavy.

Unemployment is coming down. Home sales are rising. I'm tempted to take the over on car sales this year.

Read a review of a new book called "Zumwalt" about the distinguished career of a Navy admiral. What was interesting about this book is it sounds more like a book about management than a book about leadership.

I also watched "Downton Abbey." In one scene, Matthew explains that Lord Grantham equates being businesslike with being mean. He also said his lordship probably considers it "middle class." The elites may not have their titles today, but their views are little changed.

A friend who owns a small shop was on his soapbox the other day about how online sales are killing local retailers. He is expanding because his neighbor, a used bookstore, closed up after netting only $9 one month. I said a $9 profit would be a good month for Amazon. The company lost $274 million in the third quarter despite sales of more than $13 billion. But Wall Street keeps funding Amazon, so it can take the hits. Traditional retailers don't have that advantage.