If local ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC owners and the National Associations of Broadcasters (NAB) get their way, your local TV stations might soon be owned by fewer firms.
The FCC regulations that prohibit anyone from owning one of the top four TV networks in a particular territory are under question here. For instance, in the same market, a single business cannot be the owner of both an ABC and a FOX station. Local TV station owners and the NAB are now requesting that the FCC amend these rules to permit TV stations to own more than one of the big four TV stations.
In fact, Section 202(h) of the 1996 Telecommunications Act mandates that the Commission either do away with or significantly relax the top four criteria, not make it more stringent. The NAB presented the slides that are attached to our meeting. They show the competitive environment that radio and television broadcasters operate in, as well as the significant and ongoing difficulties that local stations confront in vying for listeners and advertising dollars in the current market. In a document submitted to the FCC, the National Association of Broadcasters stated.
TV station owners are already permitted to hold many stations within a market, but they are not permitted to own any of the Big Four. The FCC is now required by court order to make a ruling on this matter by December 27, 2023.
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The FCC has historically attempted to foster competition in every market. For instance, the FCC outlawed in 1975 the ownership of a radio or television station and a daily newspaper in the same local market. This was carried out to avoid a single proprietor dominating the news in a particular market. However, many now feel that these regulations are out of date and harm local journalism because of the internet and dozens of news and information sources available.
Many small local TV stations have recently been acquired by larger corporations. Now, if this regulation is altered, bigger TV stations offering ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC may see a surge in mergers and acquisitions as businesses strive to expand to compete for sports and advertising.
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