The FCC scored a big win on Thursday as the Supreme Court decided, in a unanimous decision, that the regulatory body was well within its rights to loosen restrictions regarding media ownership rules.
The result could have a far-reaching impact on one of the oldest businesses in the TV industry.
In 2017, the FCC, led by Trump-appointed chairman Ajit Pai, proposed changes that would strike down the “Eight Voices Rule,” a ban on in-market consolidation of stations if the result would lead to fewer than eight independently owned stations Additionally, the FCC voted to remove a 45-year-old rule that bars one company from owning a TV station and newspaper within the same market (although a few exceptions have been made), along with restrictions on local media advertising.
The FCC’s changes were overturned last year by the Philadelphia-based Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which essentially told the agency to try again,...
The result could have a far-reaching impact on one of the oldest businesses in the TV industry.
In 2017, the FCC, led by Trump-appointed chairman Ajit Pai, proposed changes that would strike down the “Eight Voices Rule,” a ban on in-market consolidation of stations if the result would lead to fewer than eight independently owned stations Additionally, the FCC voted to remove a 45-year-old rule that bars one company from owning a TV station and newspaper within the same market (although a few exceptions have been made), along with restrictions on local media advertising.
The FCC’s changes were overturned last year by the Philadelphia-based Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which essentially told the agency to try again,...
- 4/1/2021
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
As a group of 15 Democratic senators is calling for a federal investigation of the FCC’s review of Sinclair’s pending acquisition of Tribune Media, and former regulator Michael Copps is warning of Thursday’s pivotal FCC meeting, “We are on the eve of media madness.” Ties between the regulatory agency and President Donald Trump are at the center of the fight. A letter signed by the senators expressed “strong concerns that the FCC's ongoing review of the proposed merger of…...
- 11/15/2017
- Deadline TV
Washington -- A group of state attorneys general made a last-ditch effort this week to convince the FCC's wild-card to oppose Sirius Radio's proposed merger with Xm.
The AGs told FCC commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate in a phone call July 1 that the combination would deal a "stacked deck" to consumers despite voluntary conditions the companies have agreed to that they contend would ameliorate anti-competitive concerns.
Their focus on Tate comes as FCC chairman Kevin Martin told reporters late last month that he would support the merger and was hoping that his colleagues would go along with it. While it is unclear exactly where the votes line, the commission's two Democrats, Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein, have been skeptical about the deal. Republican commissioner Robert McDowell has been more accommodating.
While the state AGs have expressed their concerns before, the phone call from the top law-enforcement officers in a baker's dozen states -- including Tate's home state of Tennessee -- come as the panel is expected to make a decision on the deal.
In a letter to Tate made public late Monday detailing their conference call, the AGs noted that while many think the deal is a bad idea, the commission should approval the deal only of it includes a condition that would sets aside at least 20% of the frequencies the combined companies would use for a third party.
"A lease of spectrum and facilities could produce competitive benefits akin to an outright divestiture and, most importantly, could do so quickly in the absence of a full-fledged new entrant able to launch its own competing system," the AGs wrote.
The Justice Department approved the merger in March, saying a monopoly satellite radio provider would not harm consumers because there are other alternatives.
Several lawmakers, including Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wisc., chairman of the Judiciary Committee's antitrust panel, balked at the Justice Department's decision and urged the FCC to reject the merger.
The most vocal critic of the merger has been the National Association of Broadcasters, which said having just one satellite radio company would hamper competition.
The AGs told FCC commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate in a phone call July 1 that the combination would deal a "stacked deck" to consumers despite voluntary conditions the companies have agreed to that they contend would ameliorate anti-competitive concerns.
Their focus on Tate comes as FCC chairman Kevin Martin told reporters late last month that he would support the merger and was hoping that his colleagues would go along with it. While it is unclear exactly where the votes line, the commission's two Democrats, Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein, have been skeptical about the deal. Republican commissioner Robert McDowell has been more accommodating.
While the state AGs have expressed their concerns before, the phone call from the top law-enforcement officers in a baker's dozen states -- including Tate's home state of Tennessee -- come as the panel is expected to make a decision on the deal.
In a letter to Tate made public late Monday detailing their conference call, the AGs noted that while many think the deal is a bad idea, the commission should approval the deal only of it includes a condition that would sets aside at least 20% of the frequencies the combined companies would use for a third party.
"A lease of spectrum and facilities could produce competitive benefits akin to an outright divestiture and, most importantly, could do so quickly in the absence of a full-fledged new entrant able to launch its own competing system," the AGs wrote.
The Justice Department approved the merger in March, saying a monopoly satellite radio provider would not harm consumers because there are other alternatives.
Several lawmakers, including Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wisc., chairman of the Judiciary Committee's antitrust panel, balked at the Justice Department's decision and urged the FCC to reject the merger.
The most vocal critic of the merger has been the National Association of Broadcasters, which said having just one satellite radio company would hamper competition.
- 7/8/2008
- by By Brooks Boliek
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
RELATED:
Glickman not neutral on net neutrality
WASHINGTON -- The debate over network neutrality threatens to drive a wedge between Hollywood and its traditional Democratic allies.
Proponents of government action to preserve the open character of the Internet contend that the issue is nonpartisan, but it has been mostly Democrats who have pursued it.
Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., has made the issue a priority. The chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's telecommunications and Internet subcommittee has introduced the Internet Freedom Preservation Act, which would ensconce the network neutrality principles into law.
Meanwhile, FCC members Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein, both Democrats, have been more vocal about the need for commission action than the Republicans on the panel.
The same day that MPAA chief Dan Glickman decried government regulation of the Internet during his ShoWest speech in Las Vegas, the Democrat-led House Judiciary Committee took up the issue of network neutrality. While committee chairman Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., said he doesn't think new legislation is needed, he made it clear Tuesday that net neutrality calls out for vigorous antitrust enforcement.
Glickman not neutral on net neutrality
WASHINGTON -- The debate over network neutrality threatens to drive a wedge between Hollywood and its traditional Democratic allies.
Proponents of government action to preserve the open character of the Internet contend that the issue is nonpartisan, but it has been mostly Democrats who have pursued it.
Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., has made the issue a priority. The chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's telecommunications and Internet subcommittee has introduced the Internet Freedom Preservation Act, which would ensconce the network neutrality principles into law.
Meanwhile, FCC members Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein, both Democrats, have been more vocal about the need for commission action than the Republicans on the panel.
The same day that MPAA chief Dan Glickman decried government regulation of the Internet during his ShoWest speech in Las Vegas, the Democrat-led House Judiciary Committee took up the issue of network neutrality. While committee chairman Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., said he doesn't think new legislation is needed, he made it clear Tuesday that net neutrality calls out for vigorous antitrust enforcement.
- 3/12/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
WASHINGTON -- Federal regulators gave a green light Thursday to a private-equity deal that will take radio giant Clear Channel private and result in the sale of 42 stations.
While the FCC unanimously approved the $20 billion deal, the panel's two Democrats expressed concerns that the agency wasn't diligent enough in examining the pact.
Senior Democrat Michael Copps complained that the commission failed to examine the effect that private-equity purchases like the one being engineered by Bain Capital and Thomas H. Lee Partners, which also is one of the owners of The Hollywood Reporter's parent the Nielsen Co., have on the public.
"I have repeatedly called for the commission to examine the potential impact of private equity on our ability to ensure that broadcast licensees protect, serve and sustain the public interest," he said. "Unfortunately, that has not happened, and nothing in today's order indicates that the commission has had a change of heart.
"Instead, we once again close our eyes and pretend that nothing has changed -- as if these new entities are no different than our traditional broadcast licensees," Copps added.
While the FCC unanimously approved the $20 billion deal, the panel's two Democrats expressed concerns that the agency wasn't diligent enough in examining the pact.
Senior Democrat Michael Copps complained that the commission failed to examine the effect that private-equity purchases like the one being engineered by Bain Capital and Thomas H. Lee Partners, which also is one of the owners of The Hollywood Reporter's parent the Nielsen Co., have on the public.
"I have repeatedly called for the commission to examine the potential impact of private equity on our ability to ensure that broadcast licensees protect, serve and sustain the public interest," he said. "Unfortunately, that has not happened, and nothing in today's order indicates that the commission has had a change of heart.
"Instead, we once again close our eyes and pretend that nothing has changed -- as if these new entities are no different than our traditional broadcast licensees," Copps added.
- 1/25/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
WASHINGTON -- The FCC's senior Democrat is pushing the agency's Republican chairman to open a special proceeding to investigate issues surrounding News Corp.'s $5.6 billion purchase of the Wall Street Journal.
Citing the deal's impact on "localism, diversity and competition" in the New York market, commissioner Michael Copps told chairman Kevin Martin that the deal deserved special attention.
"I believe that the FCC's obligation to consider the public interest -- which the agency has traditionally defined as localism, diversity and competition -- requires us to consider the implications of a merger between these two media giants," Copps wrote in a letter Thursday. "Indeed, the FCC has never had occasion to receive comment or do research on the important public-interest issues raised by a national network owning one or more newspapers that are read across the nation or a company already operating under waivers of the newspaper cross-ownership ban acquiring a second newspaper published in that locality."
Copps has been one of the leading critics of the FCC's drive to allow media companies to get bigger.
Citing the deal's impact on "localism, diversity and competition" in the New York market, commissioner Michael Copps told chairman Kevin Martin that the deal deserved special attention.
"I believe that the FCC's obligation to consider the public interest -- which the agency has traditionally defined as localism, diversity and competition -- requires us to consider the implications of a merger between these two media giants," Copps wrote in a letter Thursday. "Indeed, the FCC has never had occasion to receive comment or do research on the important public-interest issues raised by a national network owning one or more newspapers that are read across the nation or a company already operating under waivers of the newspaper cross-ownership ban acquiring a second newspaper published in that locality."
Copps has been one of the leading critics of the FCC's drive to allow media companies to get bigger.
- 10/26/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
WASHINGTON -- FCC commissioner Michael Copps on Thursday expressed doubts about letting two of the biggest media deals pending get by the agency with a rubber stamp. He told reporters that Sirius Satellite Radio's purchase of rival XM and the leveraged buyout of Tribune need special scrutiny.
Copps, the panel's senior Democrat, said it would be "a steep climb" for him to cast a vote to approve either deal because he has serious concerns about consolidation in the U.S. media.
"Somebody's going to have to make a pretty powerful and potent demonstration that it serves the public interest," Copps said, referring to the XM-Sirius deal.
Sirius plans to buy out its only competitor, XM, in an all-stock deal worth about $4 billion. Consumer groups and the broadcast industry are fighting the deal.
With regard to Tribune, Copps said that he didn't think approvals for the waivers the company holds -- allowing it to own both a daily newspaper and a broadcast outlet in the same market -- should get automatic approval.
Copps, the panel's senior Democrat, said it would be "a steep climb" for him to cast a vote to approve either deal because he has serious concerns about consolidation in the U.S. media.
"Somebody's going to have to make a pretty powerful and potent demonstration that it serves the public interest," Copps said, referring to the XM-Sirius deal.
Sirius plans to buy out its only competitor, XM, in an all-stock deal worth about $4 billion. Consumer groups and the broadcast industry are fighting the deal.
With regard to Tribune, Copps said that he didn't think approvals for the waivers the company holds -- allowing it to own both a daily newspaper and a broadcast outlet in the same market -- should get automatic approval.
- 9/28/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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