Regulation

Nine industry women share what it was like to expose long-kept secrets and create a movement of solidarity by calling out the media mogul for harassment and assault: “Everything came rushing back” … “It was like PTSD” … “It was the first time I realized I wasn’t alone.”

Splitting the difference between AT&T’s request for a trial date in February and the government’s interest in beginning as late as May, the judge in the closely watched antitrust battle said the trial will begin March 19.

The FCC’s decision to abolish the main studio rule is to be effective 30 days after the publication of the decision in the Federal Register. That publication is tentatively scheduled for tomorrow. That would make the rule change effective on Jan. 7, 2018, although we understand that the FCC may consider it to be effective on Jan. 8, as the 7th is a Sunday.

A month after it sued to block AT&T’s purchase of Time Warner, President Trump’s Justice Department may have to start scrutinizing another big media deal: Disney is widely expected to acquire the majority of 21st Century Fox. In some respects, a potential Disney-Fox deal would pose more antitrust problems than a combination of AT&T and Time Warner, CNN’s parent company.

If ATSC 3.0 becomes the de facto standard for TV broadcasting in the coming decade, Sinclair’s One Media could make a small fortune from patent royalties from manufacturers of 3.0 receivers and transmission gear. That’s cause for concern for the FCC’s Jessica Rosenworcel. Sinclair, however, says its primary interest is in the 3.0 tech that it believes will let it enhance its broadcast capabilities and move into new businesses.

The FCC’s anticipated decision on net neutrality has (rightfully) garnered a lot of publicity and scrutiny. The FCC’s repeal of different regulations earlier this fall, however, could reshape a news source often left out of predictions of the industry’s future: local TV newsrooms.

Time magazine today named “The Silence Breakers” its persons of the year for 2017. Women who spoke out, initially against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein and then others, helped to spawn the #MeToo movement, with millions of people telling stories of sexual misconduct on social media.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Terry Crews alleges talent agents at William Morris Endeavor are “knowingly permitted and encouraged to engage in sexually predatory conduct” in a lawsuit filed Tuesday against […]

The FCC intends to go ahead with a vote on Dec. 14 to repeal the net neutrality rules despite calls from Democrats and advocacy groups to delay the proceeding. The FCC said in a statement Monday that “the vote will proceed as scheduled on Dec. 14.”

Sexual harassment allegations against President Donald Trump dating back to his days hosting the reality TV show The Apprentice will be raised in a New York courtroom this afternoon, where a judge will hear arguments on a motion to dismiss a suit brought by a former contestant who says Trump groped her a decade ago.

He’s spent 34 years as president and CEO of the nonprofit organization with three guiding principles: a strong First Amendment, a competitive communications industry and excellence in journalism. He will be succeeded by Media Institute Executive Director Richard T. Kaplar.

FCC Commissioner Mignon L. Clyburn has named April Jones policy analyst and special assistant. “April’s diverse background will be a tremendous asset in our continuing work to ensure the FCC’s […]

Twenty-seven senators are calling on the FCC to delay its vote on repealing its net neutrality rules next week, citing concerns over the possibility that the agency’s public comment file may be filled with fake comments.

Fox News and Bill O’Reilly have been hit with a lawsuit over press statements made in the wake of a New York Times story revealing the former television star had paid $13 million to five women to settle sexual harassment claims.

The FCC plan to scrap net neutrality rules governing how internet providers handle web traffic has unleashed a wave of intense opposition. As of Sunday afternoon, at least 750,000 people have called Congress since Pai announced his plan, according to battleforthenet.com. And activists are planning hundreds of demonstrations at Verizon stores and congressional offices across the country next week in protest of the planned vote.

The Tennessee Court of Appeals has reversed an order that would have required a WTVF Nashville reporter Phil Williams to turn over investigative documents to District Attorney General Glenn Funk.

The FCC chairman, by restoring the UHF discount earlier this year, has for all practical purposes substantially increased the national TV ownership cap. Approving Sinclair-Tribune early next year will reaffirm that fact. The commission’s rulemaking set to launch on Dec. 14 to examine changing or eliminating the ownership limit may turn out simply to be a codification.

NBC News, under intense scrutiny since it fired Today anchor Matt Lauer in the wake of revelations of incidents involving him and sexual harassment under its corporate aegis, said Fricay that it would conduct an internal review of its handling of the matter.

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr: “Americans cherish a free and open Internet — and rightly so. It has revolutionized nearly every aspect of our lives. So, it’s no surprise that the recent announcement that the FCC will vote Dec. 14 to restore Internet freedom has been met with strong (and colorful) reactions. But, unfortunately, far too many are intentionally fanning the false flames of fear.”

The TV talk show host and former Cincinnati mayor announced in his weekly podcast recorded Wednesday that he won’t join the race for the 2018 Democratic nomination for governor in Ohio.

Sinclair Broadcast Group is close to accepting a remedy proposed by the Department of Justice to allow its $6.6 billion buyout of Tribune Media to gain regulatory approval. The feds want Sinclair, whose 193 TV stations spread over 89 markets makes it the largest TV station owner in the country, to sell 13 Tribune stations, sources say.

It’s no secret that among the millions of comments filed with the FCC regarding its plan to roll back net neutrality are a great deal of fake ones, some even using stolen identities. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has been especially vocal about this problem, and since the FCC doesn’t seem to care, his office has set up a page to report fraudulent comments directly.

While the end of the year is just about upon us, that does not mean that broadcasters can ignore the regulatory world and celebrate the holidays all through December. In fact, December will be a busy regulatory month, as witnessed by the list of issues to be considered at the FCC meeting on Dec. 14. But, in addition to those issues, there are plenty of other deadlines to keep any broadcaster busy.

In the wake of CNN’s decision to boycott the White House Christmas party, other journalists express mixed feelings.