[opendtv] Re: The Media Monopoly
- From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2005 16:09:33 -0400
Dan, I think you're not reading my entire reply.
If a nationwide network owns its own transmission
facilities, rather than rely on affiliates, this
(a) doesn't preclude small local stations from
competing, using the freed up analog spectrum and
FCC local ownership caps, and (b) doesn't
significantly reduce the points of view you get
over the air anyway.
You will be watching ER and NBC News whether NBC
has an O&O or an affiliate in your market. Most
of what the affiliates air is either network
programming or shows in syndication, right?
There are, on the other hand, more directly
applicable safeguards against monolithic points
of view. To introduce diversity to every market,
I'd look at the existing dual network and local
ownership caps established by the FCC.
Also relevant here is that with OTA networks,
many networks can coexist in any given location.
You don't need to "separate content from
carriage" to achieve diversity, as you might
have to do with cable. With many networks
coexisting, the diversity available to each
market is limited only by the amount of
spectrum dedicated to TV and radio, and basic
business realities.
Furthermore, the nationwide network with
enlightened self-interest will know to introduce
some local news and events in the different regions
where they operate. And the network that does this
to the level people really want is the one that
will get the most viewership.
This site:
http://ftp.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/reviewrules.html
explains the various ownsership rules. The local
and dual network ownership rules, I think, are
well written to promote diversity within *any*
given TV market. The rules promote diverse
nationwide nets and also diverse local, small
scale nets (assuming they can survive).
---FCC Local and Dual Network Ownership Rules---
Local TV Multiple Ownership Rule (1964)
The local TV ownership rule allows an entity to own
two television stations in the same DMA provided:
(1) at least one of the stations is not ranked among
the four highest-ranked stations in the DMA; and
(2) at least eight independently-owned commercial or
non-commercial broadcast television stations would
remain in the DMA after the proposed combination.
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. challenged the
Commission's local TV ownership rule in court. In
2002, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
remanded the rule to the FCC for further
consideration.
Dual Television Network Rule (1946)
The dual network rule originally prohibited any
entity from maintaining more than a single radio
network. A few years later, the rule was extended to
television networks. Today, the dual network rule
prohibits a merger between or among these four
television networks: ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC.
------------------------------------------------
I don't see where allowing a (nationwide) conglom
to own its own nationwide OTA transmission
facilities does anything to reduce the points of
view any individual citizen gets to sample. Those
who want to ensure that diverse points of view are
aired should look at the most effective mechanisms
to achieve their goal.
Bert
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