More Big Corporate Media Control

[thoughtone]

I don’t know if any of you are aware of this. The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) has been holding public hearings in different cities around the country over the last few years to determine if the laws will be changed to allow corporations to own more media. One law, prior to 1986 prevented non Americans from owning major media, such as television stations and networks, telephone companies, newspapers, etc. The idea was that information is in the national interest. During Ronald Reagan’s reign, he allowed Rupert Murdock’s citizenship to be fast tracked (he is from Australia) so he could be allow to purchase the old Metromedia Network, which is now News Corporation (Fox). Now the corporations are at it again. The FCC commission is made up of five members, three republicans and two democrats. If you have a problem with the media, I guarantee, if the laws change again, Black folk, in particular will feel it for the negative. I suggest you call your congressman or women and let them know how you feel. The congress has the final say on this. They are even talking about changing the internet!

[flash]http://www.youtube.com/v/fgAj6rCs2I0&rel=1[/flash]​

more video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6764330214994382608

source: Advertising Age.com

FCC Chairman Proposes Relaxation of Cross-Media Rules

Martin Seeks to Allow Newspapers in Top 20 Markets to Own TV, Radio Stations
By Ira Teinowitz

Published: November 13, 2007

WASHINGTON (AdAge.com) -- Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin J. Martin this morning proposed an easing of current media ownership rules that should please newspaper publishers -- but the Newspaper Association of America feels the proposed change doesn't go far enough.

Mr. Martin would like the FCC to conclude its review of current media-ownership rules by easing some of the standards for determining when newspapers and broadcasters can have the same ownership in the same market. Though newspaper publishers had hoped to have the rule completely eliminated, the proposal's wording could make getting waivers to own newspapers and broadcast stations in a market far easier. Mr. Martin laid out his proposal in an opinion piece in The New York Times this morning.

Loss for small-market stations
The proposal could be a significant blow to owners of smaller-market stations who had hoped the FCC would let them buy additional stations in their market.

Consumer groups said that if the changes go through, they plan to challenge them in court.

"If this is what the commission adopts, we will be back in court," said Andy Schwartzman, director of the Media Access Project, the public interest law firm which overturned the last FCC attempt to rewrite ownership rules. "This will reduce diversity. It is a much more permissive scheme than is presently in effect. It will reduce diversity, in media markets, throughout the country."

Ben Scott, policy director of Free Press, said that while the proposed rule offers lofty rhetoric about saving American newspapers and ensuring diversity of voices, it also contains "a giant loophole that could open the backdoor to runaway media consolidation in nearly every market. Martin is ignoring overwhelming opposition from the public and Congress to yet another massive giveaway to Big Media."

Mr. Martin in an FCC press release called the recommendation "conservative in approach" and said that any other relaxation of radio and broadcast rules "should not be allowed."

One change suggested
Mr. Martin's only suggested change targets the 32-year-old rule that completely bans cross-ownership. He proposed it be amended to generally allow combinations in the top 20 media markets and allow combinations in other markets in certain instances.

In the top 20 markets, a newspaper owner could buy and own a TV station or radio station, but not any of the market's top four properties, as defined by ratings from 9 a.m. to midnight. Mr. Martin further proposed that approval rest on whether after the combination there remain eight independently owned and operated media voices locally.

In smaller markets, he proposed the FCC adopt a new standard for waivers that analysts said could allow newspaper owners to get waivers more easily. Instead of granting waivers based on financial hardship, as currently happens, the FCC could grant them if cross-ownership would increase the amount of local news disseminated and each media outlet exercises independent news judgment.

"The Chairman's proposed solution to the onerous, decades-old newspaper/broadcast cross ownership ban is extremely limited and does not go nearly far enough to deal with the issues that he himself raises in his statement and in the New York Times today, however well-intentioned," John F. Sturm, president-CEO of the Newspaper Association of America, said in a statement. "The fundamental issues he raises concerning the vitality of newspapers and assuring that local news remains available to the public in print and in broadcast are not confined to the top-20 markets.

"As we have said repeatedly for the last 10 years, the record at the FCC supports full and complete repeal of this outdated rule. As the Chairman noted, even the court in 2003 agreed that, 'reasoned analysis supports the Commission's determination that the blanket ban on newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership was no longer in the public interest."

The rule, if approved by FCC commissioners in December, would have the immediate effect of forcing Tribune Co. to sell off WGN radio in Chicago (where the publisher owns the Chicago Tribune) and either its Hartford TV stations or the Hartford Courant, but otherwise would let it keep TV stations and its dailies in Los Angeles and Miami that violate the cross-ownership rule. The company didn't return a request for comment. Tribune is being sold to investor Sam Zell and an employee stock-ownership group.

source: Stop Big Media.com

The FCC held its fifth official public hearing on media ownership issues in Chicago on Thursday, September 20.

Voices from the hearing:
(All files in MP3 format)

FCC Commissioner Johnathan Adelstein calls for an independent diversity in ownership taskforce.

FCC Commissioner Michael Copps opening remarks

Rainbow PUSH board chair Martin King's welcoming remarks

Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., Rainbow PUSH president

Dorothy Leavell, Publisher/Editor, The Chicago Crusader

Hip Hop legend KRS One

Silvia Rivera, General Manager, WRTE-FM, RadioArté

A sampling of public testimony


Video from the hearing:
Video coverage of the Chicago FCC Media Ownership Hearing is now available. This is a joint production of Chicago Access Network Television and Operation PUSH.

FCC Public Hearing on Media Ownership Part 1


FCC Public Hearing on Media Ownership Part 2


FCC Public Hearing on Media Ownership Part 3


FCC Public Hearing on Media Ownership Part 4


Stay Tuned for more audio and video highlights from this important event.

The hearing featured panel presentations from local community leaders and broadcasters along with ample opportunities for public comment. Read the complete agenda.

This hearing is one of the public's few chances to speak out against Big Media before FCC Chairman Kevin Martin moves to lift the last significant limits to runaway media consolidation.

Martin has promised to "hold public hearings in diverse locations around the country to fully involve the American people" in the FCC's review of media ownership rules.

At the first official hearing, held in Los Angeles, more than 1,000 members of the public attended and overwhelmingly expressed their opposition to any rule changes that would let Big Media companies swallow up more local outlets. Similar sentiments were expressed in Nashville, Harrisburg, Pa. and Tampa.

 

[blackbull1970]

Yeah, I been hearing about this on Bill moyers on PBS. The media is not reporting on this either.

Peace.

 

[Makkonnen]

it will get pushed through because most likely no media will tell this story (conflict of interest?)

all this bullshit *might* get undone after dems take over but it aint likely

Happy Thanksgiving

 

[thoughtone]

source: The Los Angeles Times.com

Defiant FCC chief refuses to delay vote

Kevin J. Martin tells senators that adopting new rules for media cross-ownership will help newspapers.
By Jim Puzzanghera, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 14, 2007
WASHINGTON -- Facing growing criticism of his agenda and tactics, a defiant Kevin J. Martin, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, refused senators' requests Thursday to delay a vote next week on his plan to loosen restrictions on owning a newspaper and broadcast station in the same city.

Martin endured three hours of aggressive questioning from the Senate Commerce Committee, with members accusing him of rushing to help big media companies at the public's expense.

If you move ahead and do it, you're a braver man than I am," said Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.). She accused Martin of having an "obsession" with changing media ownership rules that was distracting the FCC from the more important issue of guiding the nation's 2009 transition to digital television.

Amid complaints from within the commission and Capitol Hill about a lack of openness at the FCC, Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.) called for Congress next year to overhaul the agency's procedures and alter its deregulatory bent.

"I am becoming increasingly concerned that the FCC appears to be more concerned about making sure the policies they advocate serve the needs of the companies that they regulate and their bottom lines rather than the public interest," Rockefeller said. "We cannot allow this to happen."

Martin was grilled about pushing the FCC to vote Tuesday on his plan to ease a 32-year-old restriction on the ownership of a newspaper and broadcast station in the same market. Martin wants to lift the so-called cross-ownership ban in the top 20 U.S. markets and allow such combinations in smaller markets if the FCC determines that they would be in the public interest.

Critics say the FCC chairman is moving too fast and failing to take into account public opposition to the plan. Asked by Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) if he would delay the vote, Martin replied, "No."

Martin, a Republican, said the FCC had been reviewing its ownership rules for 18 months and that the commission needed to act to help the financially struggling newspaper industry.

He said he was open to making revisions to his proposal, such as tightening what critics have called loose standards for determining if a newspaper/broadcast combination would produce more local news.

But when Kerry urged him to seek consensus on cross-ownership before voting on a rule change, Martin responded, "I'm not convinced on media ownership there ever will be consensus."

Lawmakers and public interest groups had expected the FCC's periodic review of its media ownership rules to extend into next year. But Martin accelerated the process in October, rushing to hold the final two public hearings with minimal notice and proposing to vote on a plan Tuesday, just a week after public comments were due at the FCC.

The moves outraged the FCC's two Democrats, Michael J. Copps and Jonathan S. Adelstein, as well as many members of Congress, who accused Martin of short-circuiting the process.

Fearing the consequences of more media consolidation, they said the FCC first should complete a long-pending review of ways to ensure that broadcasters serve their local communities and take steps to increase ownership of radio and TV stations by women and minorities.

The Senate Commerce Committee unanimously approved legislation last week that would force at least a six-month delay in the cross-ownership vote and summoned Martin and the other commissioners to testify.

"The FCC is poised to make some bad decisions, and it seems to me at this point only congressional oversight can get us back on track," Copps said, acknowledging that Martin had the votes on the five-member commission to approve the rule change.

After the FCC recently granted waivers to Tribune Co. of the cross-ownership rule in Los Angeles and four other cities, allowing it to close its $8.2-billion deal to go private by year-end, Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) said there was no reason to rush a vote on such a controversial issue.

"Why give us an argument to attack you all?" Lott said. "I would plead with you to take a little more time."

jim.puzzanghera@latimes.com

 

[thoughtone]

FCC Expected To Allow Broadcasters To Own Newspapers

Get ready for Rupert Murdock to bombard Atlanta with right wing media. It’s not like there is a shortage of it there any way.

source: The Huffington Post.com

FCC to Vote on Media Ownership

WASHINGTON — Despite intense political pressure, the Federal Communications Commission is expected to approve a proposal Tuesday that will allow broadcasters in the nation's 20 largest media markets to also own a newspaper _ overturning a 32-year-old ban.

Republican Chairman Kevin Martin says his plan is a "relatively minor loosening" of the rule, but it has received a considerable amount of opposition.

On Monday, 25 senators, including four Republicans, sent him a letter threatening that if he goes ahead with the vote, they will move legislation to revoke the rule and nullify the commission's action.

But according to a letter that surfaced late Monday, it is clear the chairman has the full support of the White House. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez wrote Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Dec. 4 expressing the administration's opposition to legislation approved by the Senate Commerce Committee that would have delayed a vote.

The secretary wrote that the "the current ownership rules are significantly outdated in the modern media marketplace" and that the FCC has "crafted changes that appropriately take into account the myriad of news and information outlets that exist today."

Gutierrez wrote that the administration opposes the Senate bill "or any other attempt to delay or overturn these revised rules by legislative means."

The cross-ownership ban was approved by the FCC in 1975 to serve "the twin goals of diversity of viewpoints and economic competition." The FCC at the time noted that "it is unrealistic to expect true diversity from a commonly owned station-newspaper combination."

Opponents of the ban say in the past decade there has been an explosion of news outlets thanks to cable television and the Internet and that such restrictions are no longer necessary. Ban supporters say there may be new outlets, but there has been no corresponding increase in news gatherers and producers, especially at the local level.

The agency first tried to loosen the ban in 2003, but the move was rejected by a federal appeals court. Since then, the commissioners have been trying to craft a new set of rules that will survive judicial scrutiny.

Under Martin's proposal, one entity would be permitted to own a newspaper and one broadcast station in the same market. But it must be among the 20 largest in the nation and following the transaction, at least eight independently owned-and-operated media voices must remain. In addition, the television station may not be among the top four in the market.

Martin's proposal is opposed by Democratic commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein, who also voted against loosening media ownership rules in 2003. The commission's other two Republicans, Robert McDowell and Deborah Taylor Tate, have been more receptive to broadcast media deregulation.

The vote is scheduled for Tuesday's meeting, slated to begin at 10:30 a.m. When the vote will actually occur is tough to determine. Last month's meeting was delayed 12 hours while the commissioners and staff worked out the details of various proposals behind closed doors. The meeting is scheduled to be broadcast on C-SPAN3.

 

[Makkonnen]

Re: FCC Expected To Allow Broadcasters To Own Newspapers

nancy pelosi where are you?

harry reid?

Depublicans

 

[GreedySmurf]

Re: FCC Expected To Allow Broadcasters To Own Newspapers

The popular media was compromised long before this. They're just making it official by allowing total media control by a few power mongers that are friendly to big business and government.

Control of the masses is proceeding according to plan...

 

[thoughtone]

Re: FCC Expected To Allow Broadcasters To Own Newspapers

Those that favor no regulation of the media (except under certain hypocritical circumstances) claim that the market place will take care of itself. I remember back in the early 1990s when Bill Cosby and Oprah had lined up a number of investor to buy NBC? They had the financial means but were rebuffed. Cosby had talked about this in an interview and made it clear he thought it was racial. Was this the market place doing its job? A radio station in Atlanta had stopped carrying the Air America network two years ago. The conservative blogs claimed that it had no ratings. Despite no advertising, it had at least the same ratings as one of the conservative radio stations, but the conservative station continues to broadcast. Is this the market place doing its job?

 

[QueEx]

Re: FCC Expected To Allow Broadcasters To Own Newspapers

<font size="5"><center>
Obama to name congressman's daughter to FCC</font size></center>

Mignon Clyburn, the eldest of
South Carolina Democrat and
House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn


McClatchy
By James Rosen
April 30, 2009


WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama plans to nominate House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn's daughter to a seat on the Federal Communications Commission, a powerful agency that regulates issues ranging from TV profanity to broadband Internet access.

Mignon Clyburn, the eldest daughter of the South Carolina Democrat's three daughters, is a Charleston native who has served on the South Carolina Public Service Commission since 1998.

Obama's promotion of Jim Clyburn's daughter — which the Senate must confirm — would further strengthen the president's relationship with a key congressional ally who helped move his $787 billion economic-stimulus plan quickly through the House in February.

"She is very competent and accomplished, someone of whom I am very proud," the congressman said.

Aides to Clyburn said he had not spoken with Obama about the FCC post for his daughter.

Mignon Clyburn, who holds a University of South Carolina undergraduate degree in banking, declined to comment.

Jim Clyburn, the highest-ranking African-American in Congress, stayed neutral in South Carolina's key Democratic presidential primary in January 2008.

Clyburn, though, later backed Obama over then-Sen. Hillary Clinton , helping sway other "super-delegates" to the party's nominating convention. Clyburn has since developed a close relationship with Obama and several of his top aides.

A senior Obama administration official said Thursday that the president's relationship with Jim Clyburn was a factor in his choice of Mignon Clyburn as an FCC commissioner, but that her more than decade-long experience as a state utilities regulator was decisive.

Among other responsibilities, the S.C. Public Service Commission sets utility rates and grants operating permits to power plants.

Mignon Clyburn's pending FCC nomination continues a tradition of presidents giving executive posts to relatives of powerful South Carolina politicians.

President George W. Bush chose Strom Thurmond Jr., son of the late U.S. senator, as U.S. attorney for the state in 2001.

Bush also picked former S.C. House Speaker David Wilkins, the brother of federal appellate Judge William "Billy" Wilkins, to be U.S. ambassador to Canada in 2005.

The current U.S. attorney, Walter Wilkins, is the nephew of David Wilkins. He was named by Bush last year to the post.

If confirmed, Mignon Clyburn would get the new, third, Democratic seat on the FCC. The position pays $153,200 a year.

Congressional aides said Clyburn's formal nomination could be delayed by a dispute between powerful Republican senators.

Under federal telecommunications law, three FCC commissioners can belong to the president's political party, while the other two commissioners must be members of the opposition party.

Though Obama formally nominates all FCC commissioners, the law thus limits him to naming three fellow Democrats to the oversight agency.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, senior Republican on the Senate Commerce Committee, are pushing different candidates to fill one of two open GOP slots on the FCC.

By Senate tradition, Democratic and Republican nominees move forward in tandem, so Obama may wait to forward Mignon Clyburn's name to the Senate until the Republicans have settled on their preferred candidate.

Obama would name Mignon Clyburn to fill the remaining partial terms of two Republican appointees of President George W. Bush who left the FCC after Obama's election.

If Obama names Clyburn to succeed Kevin Martin, Clyburn would serve through June 30, 2011, when she'd become eligible for appointment to a full, five-year term.

Clyburn would serve until June 30, 2012 if Obama chooses her to fill the FCC slot left open by the departure of Deborah Tate.

Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint, both of South Carolina, declined Thursday to commit to voting for Mignon Clyburn's confirmation.

DeMint sits on the Senate Commerce Committee, which will hold confirmation hearings.

"We look forward to discussions with Ms. Clyburn," said Wesley Denton, a DeMint spokesman.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/254/story/67296.html

 

[thoughtone]

source: Los Angeles Times

Comcast to buy control of NBC Universal in $30-billion transaction

The deal underscores how the high profit-margin business of cable TV has become the financial backbone of media conglomerates.

In a momentous shift in the balance of power of the entertainment industry, cable television giant Comcast Corp. on Thursday made it official by announcing that it was buying control of NBC Universal from General Electric Co.

The proposed $30-billion transaction is the culmination of the longtime ambition by Comcast's chief executive, Brian Roberts, to transform his family-controlled Philadelphia company from a passel of distribution pipes into a leading producer of movies and TV shows and owner of prominent cable channels.


The deal underscores how the high profit-margin business of cable TV -- not a broadcast network or a Hollywood movie studio -- has become the financial backbone of media conglomerates.

"Cable channels are the best part of the media business today; they are really the crown jewels of any entertainment company," Comcast Chief Operating Officer Steve Burke told analysts in a conference call.

Unlike over-the-air broadcast networks, cable channels have two streams of revenue: subscriber fees and advertising. Roberts said that 82% of the operating income of the new entity would come from cable channels. Five of NBC Universal's cable networks -- USA, Syfy, Bravo, CNBC and MSNBC -- generate $200 million a year or more each in operating income.

"We are creating a new company with an absolutely first-class set of cable channels," Roberts said. "This is the logical evolution of our programming strategy."

If federal regulators approve, a new joint venture would be created by pooling businesses from both companies. Comcast would provide nearly $14 billion in assets, including $6.5 billion in cash, for 51% ownership of the new entity. Comcast said its cable channels -- including E, Versus, the Golf Channel and nine regional sports networks -- were worth $7.25 billion. Comcast's subscription cable TV systems would not be part of the new entity.

As part of the deal, GE would reduce its ownership in NBC Universal to 49% in exchange for $9.1 billion, which the new entity would assume as debt.

The Comcast deal marks the end of an era for NBC, which has been one of the brightest bulbs within GE for nearly a quarter-century. Under GE, NBC became a profit- and hit-making machine, inventing the slogan "must-see TV" and fielding such memorable programs as "Cheers," "Seinfeld," "Friends," "Frasier" and "Law & Order."

Thanks to GE's deep pockets, NBC was able to secure high-profile contracts to broadcast the Olympics and National Football League games and to acquire Universal Studios and the Universal Pictures film studio five years ago.

But GE is retrenching, and the peacock has fallen on hard times. The broadcast network will lose more than $500 million this year, and Universal Pictures has released a string of box-office bombs.


The cash GE receives from the deal would bolster its balance sheet after its financial businesses were rocked by the market meltdown and recession. Increasing its stockpile of cash, GE Chief Executive Jeff Immelt said, would further allow GE to invest in international and fast-growing businesses, including energy and technology.

"I still like the media business," Immelt said in an interview. "But through this partnership we are creating a better NBC Universal."

Comcast would have the option to buy out GE's minority interest within eight years. GE valued NBC Universal at $30 billion, a sharp decline from the $42-billion appraisal five years ago when GE combined its entertainment assets with those of France's Vivendi to create NBC Universal. Vivendi's decision this week to sell its 20% stake allowed GE to finalize a deal with Comcast.

The new Comcast-controlled NBC Universal would be one of the largest entertainment companies in the world, with assets spanning the NBC broadcast network; more than a dozen cable channels, including USA, Bravo, E and Style; nine regional sports channels; the Universal Pictures film studio; Universal Studios theme parks; Spanish-language Telemundo; more than two dozen TV stations; and a 30% stake in the online video website Hulu.

Comcast's Burke would oversee the new venture, which would rival Walt Disney Co., News Corp. and Viacom in size and power. NBC Universal's current chief executive, Jeff Zucker, would stay on to manage the company's day-to-day operations.

One question is whether Comcast would be willing to make the big investments in programming, where there are more misses than hits. On Thursday, Comcast executives said they would spend more, including for the NBC network, which has languished in fourth place for several seasons. In September NBC moved Jay Leno into prime time, in large part to save money on programming costs.

"One of the things that we are most committed to, both GE and Comcast, is trying to return [NBC] to the No. 1 position," Roberts told reporters in a conference call. "There is a desire to invest and grow and compete well."

The new NBC Universal would have an advantage over its content-owning rivals: a cable TV pipeline reaching nearly a quarter of U.S. homes. That not only would give it an edge when it launches new cable networks but also would provide a huge base of customers for pay-per-view programming, including movies from the Universal movie studio.

Comcast also is the nation's largest provider of Internet broadband service and third-largest telephone company -- valuable conduits for new media.


"This is the future of television," said Paul Levinson, a communications professor at Fordham University in New York. "The traditional broadcast networks served people well during the 20th century, but not any longer. People like getting shows whenever they want, and on whatever device they might have: a television, their computer or mobile phone."

Comcast, as owner of more programming, would be "ideally suited to do all of these things," Levinson said. "How much longer could NBC go it alone as more people want to watch their shows through the Internet or on their iPhones?"

Comcast's move to acquire control of NBC Universal runs counter to the current trend of media giants shrinking. Many investors have concluded that the hoped-for "synergies" between content producers and distributors rarely deliver on their promise.

This year, for example, Time Warner Inc. unloaded its cable TV division and next week it plans to spin off its AOL unit. Roberts said Comcast's takeover of NBC Universal should not be viewed in the same light.

"Obviously AOL was a big part of their history, but it's not really relevant to what we are doing here today," Roberts said. "We are now taking stewardship of these wonderful businesses and believe we can take them even further."

 

[thoughtone]

 

[Mrfreddygoodbud]

its a gotdam shame there is nothing on the major networks

for the people that the people own to ensure

they get the information they need as opposed to having

it swept under the rug, as we have here..


sheeple are only allowed to baa baa at the tv.


Ownership of a major network is not for the sheep at all..


Maybe its time we stop being sheep??

 

[Mrfreddygoodbud]

thats why most americans are on youtube..


and it says a lot about why the fag agenda is so

strong on the air waves....


two hundred fag execs and six faggot filled corps control the shit..

and


too many blow with the wind flunkies ready to sell their soul

for a glittery lifestyle with no substance..