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"Most of what is being debated is to let newspapers own electronic
media. This may have tow benefits: it can save many newspapers that are failing and it can provide better news coverage to the radio and TV stations they might own." I thought newspapers could always own electronic mediums. But the point you make about newspapers needing to consolidate "because the business is shrinking badly, and many papers are losing money. Only by combining infrastructure can most survive... or by owning cash flowing electronic media outlets." This is a very valid reason for allowing companies to own more media outlets within a given market. "This may have tow benefits: it can save many newspapers that are failing and it can provide better news coverage to the radio and TV stations they might own." I hadn't considered this situation from this particular viewpoint - and it may very well be that the FCC is trying to save more local media than I had originally considered. David Eduardo wrote: wrote in message oups.com... Could someone refresh my memory on just how many media outlets a corporation can own in one market?? I seem to have lost track of the FCC rulings on that subject. It is complex. Basically, for radio it is 8 stations in markets with a certain number of facilities, with a sub cap on AM and FM. In smaller markets it goes to fewer stations. Markets are now determined by Arbitreon market definitons, with non-rated markets using coverage overlaps and some additonal criteria. There is an FCC short course at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/reviewrules.html It would seem that, at least with regards to radio, this kind of decision will have a huge impact. If radio is truly a personal medium, then it becomes very hard for a large corporation to continue to meet the needs of the immediate community. I would agree in some cases. However, each station has its own program director and staff, and each competes with every other station in the market. Since most good PDs know that local involvment is key in adult demos, this does not suffer, or the station goes down in ratings. I'm not sure how a ruling in favor of the large conglomerates would affect small town America, but certainly it would have an effect on those smaller stations that are based around major markets. Most of what is being debated is to let newspapers own electronic media. This may have tow benefits: it can save many newspapers that are failing and it can provide better news coverage to the radio and tv stations they might own. That would seem a shame to loose the personal input and local flavors of those smaller stations - in favor of a bigger signal. Local businesses opting to spend their advertising dollars with the larger signal stations - i.e., those that reach 50-100 miles - would be a waste for that business if they only pull their customers from 10 - 15 miles away. So, then maybe the point to bring up to little stations is that your sales staff needs to do a better job educating the local businesses. There is not going to be any change in radio ownership, if you believe the predictions. What might change is the newspaper aspect, and a lowering of trhe caps in smaller markets or a redifinition to non rated markets that makes them smaller and allows fewer stations. But it is the almighty dollar that wins in the end - so the FCC needs to find a way to help smaller stations stay afloat while not loosing the revenue that the larger corporations can generate. Small stations are small stations, no matter who owns them. They are either inferior facilities in bigger markets or stations in smaller makets. Any change will not affect technical operations and power. It will effect who can own what in each market area. A small station owned by a big company is still a small station. It is much the same for newspaper outlets. Around here, the local papers have all been bought up by Liberty or Daily Herald. There really aren't any local papers anymore in this area. Somehow, this problem is sounding much like the WAL-MART dilemma. So, question is, what do we, grass roots America, do about it? How do we present our case to the FCC without "expecting you to hire a $500 an hour lobbyist to get heard" ??? Newspapers are consolidating because the business is shrinking badly, and many papers are losing money. Only by combining infrastructure can most survive... or by owning cash flowing electroinc media outlets. |
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