In a conference call by Free Press and six other groups, they criticize the commission for moving too quickly to OK TV-newspaper crossownership in the top 20 markets, saying such a move is likely to decrease minority and female ownership. “Too few controlling too much undermines the promise of democracy,” said Rev. Jesse Jackson, president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
Watchdogs Assail FCC Ownership Plans
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is reported to have rule changes on the fast-track that would allow broadcast-newspaper crossownership in the 20 largest markets and further radio consolidation as well — but public watchdog groups opposed to further media consolidation are girding for battle.
If the FCC passes the rule changes without any public hearings — and this could happen before the end of the year — Free Press President-CEO Craig Aaron vows that his group will sue the commission yet again. His view that the FCC is acting in haste without allowing for public input was echoed repeatedly in a telephone press conference today by Free Press and six other organizations.
“Who owns and shapes the media is one of the most important questions facing our nation today. And on this issue the FCC is failing to carry out its responsibilities,” said Wade Henderson, president-CEO, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. He and others on the call insisted that the Third Circuit Court of Appeals was clear that the FCC must evaluate the impact on minority and female ownership before making any rule changes — and that the commission has not done so.
“Too few controlling too much undermines the promise of democracy,” declared Rev. Jesse Jackson, president, Rainbow PUSH Coalition. “When too few people own too much media it is unhealthy.”
Alex Nogales, president-CEO, National Hispanic Media Coalition, called on the FCC to hold off on any action until the public is given an opportunity to comment. “People of color are going to be frozen out from having a voice,” he charged.
When TVNewsCheck noted that the top priority of Chairman Genachowski — and of the US Congress as well — is spectrum auctions to reallocate TV spectrum to wireless use, and that the auctions will likely further decrease minority ownership of TV stations, the call participants voiced concerns about that as well.
BRAND CONNECTIONS
“With the spectrum plans coming, that’s all the more reason for the FCC to slow this kind of pro-consolidation activity,” said Aaron from Free Press. “It’s practically almost unbelievable that they would be making moves for more consolidation while simultaneously decreasing the number of stations that are going to be available. Diversity on the broadcast dial is already so shockingly low that for the FCC to really squeeze the existing owners and potential new owners all at once really doesn’t make any sense.”
The groups noted that according to FCC statistics people of color own just 3.6% of all full-power TV stations and 8% of radio stations; and that women own less than 7% of all broadcast outlets.
Comments (1)
Gene Johnson says:
November 28, 2012 at 4:06 pm
I am all for increasing minority ownership in the media, but how can these groups say the FCC has not evaluated the impact of whatever rule it may adopt when we don’t know the rule the FCC is going to adopt and have not seen the R&O explaining the basis for the FCC’s action? Besides, as David Honig is reported to have recently noted, the rumored change in the broadcast-newspaper ownership rule is unlikely to have any impact on minority ownership one way or the other (these are not stations for which minority ownership is in play, and there are other, more fundamental reasons why minority ownership has lagged). The broadcast-newspaper rules was originally adopted as a prophylactic to guard against perceived potential dangers from such combined ownership that has just never materialized. Far more fundamental for potentially increasing minority ownership are the ownership levels of broadcast stations that is allowed, which has resulted in far more concentrated ownership of stations, and fewer stations potentially available for minority ownership.