FCC Makes Expected Vote — the Big Media Get Bigger

I just tuned in to CSPAN, too late to watch the FCC’s fateful meeting, but just after the Commissioners made their expected party-line vote, 3 to 2, to relax most of the media ownership rules in front of them. The national TV ownership cap was raised from 35% to 45%, and the cross-ownership rule, that prevents the ownership of a TV station and a newspaper in the same market, is eliminated for all markets with nine or more TV stations. Cross-ownership is banned for all markets with three or fewer stations. Also, the FCC voted to allow TV duopolies — the ownership of two TV stations in one market — provided that the two stations are not amongst the four top rated stations.

I’m still trying to find out what the specifics on the radio decision were, but apparently a few changes were made to make things a little more restrictive. I will post more info as soon as I know more.