The FCC Rules at a
Glance |
(NOTE: Each link opens in a new
window)
June 2003 |
The
FCC's rulings are as follows:
-
The prohibition on
media cross-ownership was removed. The rule forbidding a company from
owning a newspaper as well as TV and radio stations in a single market
was eliminated. Now, cross-ownership can occur in most larger markets
having more than eight television stations.
-
A single
broadcaster can now own stations that collectively reach 45 percent of
the nation’s TV households. This cap is up from 35 percent in the
previous rule. Each company’s potential audience is raised to about 48.2
million from 37.5 million. However the actual ownership levels may be
higher. The new rules rely on an old formula that only counts half the
homes in a market against the total for UHF stations. This was a
holdover from the days before cable and satellite, when many viewers
found it difficult to receive weak UHF signals.
-
Broadcasters can
now own two TV stations in midsize markets, or those with at least five
stations before the merger. Also allowed will be ownership of three
stations in major markets such as
New York, Los
Angeles and Chicago. In either case, only one of the merged stations can
be among the four most highly rated in the market. The result could
increase in the numbered duopolies (currently 86) now in some markets.
The change permits duopolies in 70 to 100 more markets.
-
The Dual Network
Rule was retained. Adopted in 2001, it prevents a company from owning
more than one of the Big Four networks:
ABC, CBS, Fox and
NBC.
-
Radio market
boundary lines have been redrawn to prevent extraordinary concentrations
of ownership. Though existing ownership if grandfathered, the chain of
continued concentrated station ownership will be broken.
|