[opendtv] Re: TV Technology: Public Knowledge, ACA Rail Against Sinclair-Tribune
- From: Craig Birkmaier <brewmastercraig@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 01 Sep 2017 09:01:19 -0400
On Aug 31, 2017, at 3:04 PM, Manfredi, Albert E
<albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
The problem with this current FCC is that they are way too overtly
formula-thinking, slogan-spouting dogmatic. They want to retain the UHF
discount regulation and they want to abolish both the national caps and the
local caps. So in short, do your best to stack the deck in favor of special
interests only. It's not their charter!
The problem with Bert is that he buys these hype filled arguments, and has no
clue about what the FCC plans to do relative to the ownership caps. Once again,
the resolution of this issue lies at the feet of Congress, not the FCC.
It is unlikely that the FCC can do much to change the rules - other than media
cross-ownership - as the ownership caps is set by Congress. The larger issue
here is why we are concerned about any of this, as there are two far more
important realities in play here:
1. Broadcasters are no longer the gatekeepers of news and information - the
world has moved on, as it has done with the newspapers that may soon merge with
broadcasters.
2. The market power that this article calls into question is absurd. The real
power lies in the hands of four broadcast networks and the companies that own
them, not with affiliates. Any power that Sinclair/Tribune might have can
quickly be neutered by the networks by pulling affiliation agreements.
What we are seeing here is nothing more than the next chapter in protecting the
content oligopoly.
Stuff deleted - not that it is irrelevant, but it proves why this is a non
issue. Sinclair/Tribune might well be able to reach more than 40% of the
market; but it is clearly false that they could reach more than 70%, as the
broadcast networks already own stations that reach 40%.
I sincerely doubt that this FCC would change the rules to allow local market
monopolies.
Instead, this FCC has to go on the defensive. Completely unnecessary.
Correct. They need to shape the debate about market caps in a manner that will
force Congress to deal with modern realities.
Regards
Craig
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways:
- Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at
FreeLists.org
- By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word
unsubscribe in the subject line.
Other related posts:
