Associated Press
Congress requires the Federal Communications Commission to review its media ownership rules every four years. The FCC's 2010 review will look at five rules:
- The newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership rule. It forbids common ownership of a broadcast television or radio station and a daily newspaper in the same market. However, the rule can be waived in the top 20 metropolitan markets, so long as the TV station is not ranked among the top four and there are at least eight independently owned and operated media outlets.
- The local television ownership limit, commonly called the duopoly rule. It permits an entity to own two TV stations in the same market. But that can happen only if at least one station is not among the top four in terms of audience share and there are at least eight independently owned and operated stations in the market.
- The local radio ownership rule. It permits an entity to own up to eight commercial radio stations in markets with at least 45 stations; up to seven such stations in markets with 30 to 44 stations; up to six stations in markets with 15 to 29; and up to five stations in markets with 14 or fewer.
- The radio/television cross-ownership rule. It lets one entity own up to two TV stations and up to six radio stations in a market with at least 20 independently owned and operated media outlets. Or a company can own up to two television stations and up to four radio stations in a market with at least 10 independently owned and operated media outlets.
- The dual network rule. This prohibits a merger of any of the top four broadcast networks - ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox.
- The newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership rule. It forbids common ownership of a broadcast television or radio station and a daily newspaper in the same market. However, the rule can be waived in the top 20 metropolitan markets, so long as the TV station is not ranked among the top four and there are at least eight independently owned and operated media outlets.
- The local television ownership limit, commonly called the duopoly rule. It permits an entity to own two TV stations in the same market. But that can happen only if at least one station is not among the top four in terms of audience share and there are at least eight independently owned and operated stations in the market.
- The local radio ownership rule. It permits an entity to own up to eight commercial radio stations in markets with at least 45 stations; up to seven such stations in markets with 30 to 44 stations; up to six stations in markets with 15 to 29; and up to five stations in markets with 14 or fewer.
- The radio/television cross-ownership rule. It lets one entity own up to two TV stations and up to six radio stations in a market with at least 20 independently owned and operated media outlets. Or a company can own up to two television stations and up to four radio stations in a market with at least 10 independently owned and operated media outlets.
- The dual network rule. This prohibits a merger of any of the top four broadcast networks - ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox.
No comments:
Post a Comment