Televison Station Markets

[golden eagle]

RANT:

Duopolis are supposed to be regulated by the FCC.  In a regular market (one having at least four commercial TV stations) no one company is supposed to own more than one of the Big Four network affiliates.  In other words a company could own an station from "column A" (Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS) and then station or stations from "column B" (WB, MY, or an independent stations), but not two from "column A".  But, the FCC refuses to enforce this rule.  Sinclair, Gray, J-P lots of companies do this.

Laws should be enforced, or repealed.  Random and uneven enforcement is a gateway to tyrany.

/RANT

Same here. We have a group here that owns the Fox and My Network stations. They also once had UPN on another station, but when UPN merged with the WB, it became CW and the CW went to another station.

[Stephane Dumas]

RANT:

Duopolis are supposed to be regulated by the FCC.  In a regular market (one having at least four commercial TV stations) no one company is supposed to own more than one of the Big Four network affiliates.  In other words a company could own an station from "column A" (Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS) and then station or stations from "column B" (WB, MY, or an independent stations), but not two from "column A".  But, the FCC refuses to enforce this rule.  Sinclair, Gray, J-P lots of companies do this.

Laws should be enforced, or repealed.  Random and uneven enforcement is a gateway to tyrany.

/RANT

In Canada, the duopolies became rarer over the years when Bell (who acquired the network CTV) buyed most of the privates duopolies/twin sticks CTV/CBC over the years. Sold the CBC affiliates back to CBC....who recycled them in simple re-emitters. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Defunct_Canadian_TV_stations

Here the current CTV, CBC and Global tv stations list
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:CBC_TV_stations
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:CTV_Stations
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Global_TV

[Stephane Dumas]

I wondering, could we see in a more long-term if NBC market share continue to drop, a merge with another network? I couldn't resist to think of the Simpsons episode "Lisa Wedding" where they mentionned then Kent Brockman was an anchor for CNNBCBS.

[PAHighways]

NBC doesn't have to worry about money now that Comcast bought them.

[Stephane Dumas]

The Bell Canada group (who currently own CTV network) acquired Astral Media owner of multiple AM and FM radios in Canada as well as cable channels.
http://finance.sympatico.ca/home/bell_buys_astral_media_for_radio_tv_content/c59f5149
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2012/03/16/astral-bell.html

[Stephane Dumas]

Also, Rogers communications did some layoffs including a small network called "CityTV" created by Moses Znaimer known here for creating Much Music. We could wonder how long this network will hold?

[SidS1045]

RANT:

Duopolis are supposed to be regulated by the FCC.  In a regular market (one having at least four commercial TV stations) no one company is supposed to own more than one of the Big Four network affiliates.  In other words a company could own an station from "column A" (Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS) and then station or stations from "column B" (WB, MY, or an independent stations), but not two from "column A".  But, the FCC refuses to enforce this rule.  Sinclair, Gray, J-P lots of companies do this.

Laws should be enforced, or repealed.  Random and uneven enforcement is a gateway to tyrany.

/RANT

Not correct.  The applicable rule, 47 CFR §73.3555(b), states that one company can own two stations in a single DMA, provided that their Grade B contours don't overlap, one of the stations is not ranked as a "top-4" station in the market as determined by Nielsen or other rating service (9AM-midnight), and at least eight independently owned TV stations will remain post-merger.  Network affiliation no longer enters into it.

Further, a group owner of TV stations cannot exceed a national reach consisting of more than 39% of the TV audience.

[hbelkins]

Not correct.  The applicable rule, 47 CFR §73.3555(b), states that one company can own two stations in a single DMA, provided that their Grade B contours don't overlap, one of the stations is not ranked as a "top-4" station in the market as determined by Nielsen or other rating service (9AM-midnight), and at least eight independently owned TV stations will remain post-merger.  Network affiliation no longer enters into it.

Further, a group owner of TV stations cannot exceed a national reach consisting of more than 39% of the TV audience.

Insert standard rant about government interference in the free market here...

[formulanone]

^ I always thought of it as a variant of an anti-brainwashing law.

"There's always McDonald's and Wal-Mart." - Calvin's Dad