FCC Chairman Kevin Martin wants to make it easier for radio and television broadcasters to own newspapers — but only if involves a top 20 market. His proposal would allow cross-ownership of one radio or TV station and a newspaper in one of those markets. The proposal would amend the 32-year-old ban on cross-ownership, imposed when “cable was a nascent service, satellite television did not exist and there was no Internet.” He offers it as a way to help struggling newspapers: “Permitting cross-ownership can preserve the viability of newspapers by allowing them to share their operational costs across multiple media platforms.”
That’s the only change offered: “All other proposed newspaper/broadcast transactions would continue to be presumed not in the public interest.”
The fine print: Under Martin’s proposal, a transaction involving a television station has to leave at least 8 independently owned and operating major media voices in the DMA and that the station not be among the top four stations in the DMA. The evaluation process would include whether a transactions shows a commitment to maintaining independent editorial voices.
Opposition: Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein, the two Democrats, oppose the plan. From their statement: “This is portrayed as a moderate proposal, but it is a wolf in sheep
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