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Media Consolidation Does it Really Matter?
The people arguing against reducing restrictions on media ownership are missing the point. They/you argue that the result will be less diversity in programming, news reporting and shaping of public opinion. Well I am sorry to be the one to tell you this, you are too late! Think about this, in NY alone we have over a dozen “news” entities on TV; CNN, CNNFN, NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, FOX News, FOX 5, CBS, ABC, NBC, WB, CBN, etc. Now take notice that they all report:
The same lead headline The same “news” stories In the same order From the same sources For the same amount of time With the same slant/bias With the same timing on the commercial breaks
Where is the diversity?
Taking into account that there are thousands of news items to report on a given day what are the natural odds of this happening? Zero! Impossible! Not even once, forget every day of every year! There is no diversity now and the FCC is about to make it worse. Media consolidation will not result in less diversity, just different agendas. The right wing neocons will control TV as they do radio. We’ve been in trouble for a while and now it will only get worse. Poke around this site, Buzzflash.com or Whatreallyhappened.com and you will see what you have been missing thanks to the current lack of diversity; I only wonder how big this site will have to grow when more control is handed over to the neocons. We have got to stop sleeping through this madness that is the right wing agenda. How the hell is Laci Peterson dominating the news while the real stories go unreported?
Media consolidation will not reduce diversity because there is no diversity left to lose. - TVNL - May 30, 2003
TVNL Comment: If you want proof of the motive behind the FCC rule change look at the CNN home page. The FCC meeting story is listed under CNN MONEY, not POLITICS or LAW. Think about that!
 Let’s ask our anchors to come clean! Let’s ask them to blow the whistle on the restrictions put on the TV news media by the corporate owners and sponsors. Let’s appeal to their conscience! Click here!
Curious about who owns your local media, telephone and cable company? This searchable database contains basic information on every radio and television station in America as well as every cable television system and telephone company. You may search by company, by call sign or by area. Searchers will find basic information on some of the most important telecommunication companies, including a brief corporate profile and basic financial information.
- Takebackthemedia.com Explains the Problem
 TvNewsLies Tracks ClearChannel Communications- Media Ownership Chart - Very clear presentation
- Media Ownership Chart - Another view
- Who Controls the Media?- Table format
Why media ownership matters - Our media have become an echo chamber for those in power. Rather than challenge the fraudulent claims of the Bush administration, we've had a media acting as a conveyor belt for the government's lies. - As the Pentagon has learned, deploying the American media is more powerful than any bomb. - When it comes to issues of war and peace, the results of having a compliant media are as deadly to our democracy as they are to our soldiers. Why do the corporate media cheerlead for war? One answer lies in the corporations themselves — the ones that own the major news outlets. - At the time of the first Persian Gulf War, CBS was owned by Westinghouse and NBC by General Electric. Two of the major nuclear weapons manufacturers owned two of the major networks. Westinghouse and GE made most of the parts for many of the weapons in the Persian Gulf War. It was no surprise, then, that much of the coverage on those networks looked like a military hardware show. - Colin Powell’s Son Helps Quiet Dissent in the Media
- FCC Relaxing Regulations
- UK Resists Murdoch (Fox News) Seizure
- Center for Digital Democracy - Great site for information.
- I Want Media - Great site for information
- Media Access Project - Great site for information
- Media Monopolies Have Muzzled Dissent
- Treat Corporate Media Like the Enemy & No Free Pass for Black Radio
- Working to Tame the Giants
- Media Mogul Against FCC Relaxing Media Consolidation Policy
- Media Muscle Mutes Many Voices as Cap Scrap Looms
- A License for Power
- MEDIA FOR SALE - FCC ponders price tag for control of TV, newspapers
- New FCC regulations to rock media world - Critics fear dominance by a few giants
- FCC close to easing media caps - Giant firms want to own more outlets
- Senators Seek to Keep Cap on TV Audience
- FCC Democrats Seek Delay in Media Rules Vote
- Two FCC commissioners seek to postpone vote on media ownership rules
- FCC Chairman Rejects Call for Vote Delay
- Baloney with the fries
- One US, one market, one media mogul
The Great Media Gulp - ‘The F.C.C. proposal remains officially secret to avoid public comment but was forced into the open by the two commission Democrats.’ Murdoch disclaimer provokes mirth at US senate - Veteran media mogul and legendary deal-maker Rupert Murdoch prompted laughter from senators in Washington yesterday when he said that he did not plan to Veteran media mogul and legendary deal-maker Rupert Murdoch prompted laughter from senators in Washington yesterday when he said that he did not plan to take advantage of the upcoming relaxation in America media ownership laws. Media Giants Tune You Out - 'FCC Chairman Michael Powell accepted the most industry-sponsored travel and entertainment -- 44 trips, costing $84,921, a good portion of it on first-class air fares, according to the center.' Editorial: Big media, big trouble - ‘The men who run America's media conglomerates are preparing to begin a corporate feeding frenzy that will see hundreds, perhaps thousands, of local newspapers and broadcast outlets bought up by the big guys.’ Monopoly or Democracy? - Ted Turner: ” I oppose these rules. They will stifle debate, inhibit new ideas and shut out smaller businesses trying to compete. If these rules had been in place in 1970, it would have been virtually impossible for me to start Turner Broadcasting or, 10 years later, to launch CNN.” FCC chairman shuns shared airtime with Diller - With the FCC poised to ease media ownership rules, agency chairman Michael Powell canceled an ABC News interview this week opposite two deregulation foes, but the same network is granting him a solo appearance on Sunday to make his case for the sweeping changes. Monopoly is no game - Jayson Blair is not the biggest threat to journalistic integrity confronting the nation this spring. Michael Powell is. Stop the FCC's Covert Operation - Michael Powell & Co. seem determined to ignore overwhelming public opposition and endorse a secret proposal on media consolidation Regulate the F.C.C. - The Federal Communications Commission — in business to protect the public's interest in our nation's airwaves — has by a 3-to-2 vote opened the floodgates to a wave of media mergers that will further crush local diversity and concentrate the power to mold public opinion in the hands of ever-fewer giant corporations. Panel Votes to Overturn Some New F.C.C. Rules - The Senate Commerce Committee voted Thursday to restore ownership restrictions that limit how media companies can merge and grow, aiming to counter a Federal Communications Commission decision to relax the rules earlier this month. The war, brought to you by the White House - To see what media consolidation will do to British television, look no further than the US - where Glutton Bowl is typical fare - John Willis is the BBC director of factual and learning, and former vice president in charge of national programmes at WGBH in Boston. This is an edited extract from a speech given at the Royal Television Society this week Big Media's Silence - If allowed to stand, this surrender to media giantism would concentrate the power to decide what we read and see — in both entertainment and news — in the hands of an ever-shrinking establishment elite. US TV networks 'kissed ass' - Michael Wolff, the media commentator and New York Magazine columnist, has accused American television networks of "kissing ass" in their coverage of the Iraq war in return for a relaxation of media ownership rules in the US. - Wolff put forward what he described as the "semi-conspiracy theory" that major media companies in the US meekly followed the flag-waving agenda of the Bush administration in order to persuade the federal communications commission to change its regulations. FCC Issues New Media Ownership Rules - The rules -- allowing television networks to buy more local television stations and permit a company to own a newspaper, television station and several radio outlets in a market -- will go into effect 30 days after being published in the Federal Register, which can take up to three weeks. Senators Move to Block New Media Ownership Rules - Thirty-five senators have latched onto a little-used law in an attempt to overturn the Federal Communications Commission's new media ownership rules, which opponents say would allow a few corporate giants to gain too much control of the airwaves and other media. Localism's Last Stand - But public opinion is on the march. Some in-house pollster should awaken President Bush to a bipartisan sleeper issue that could blindside him next year. FCC suffers blow over US media rules - The US House of Representatives appropriations committee voted yesterday to overturn media ownership rules, delivering an unexpected blow to the Federal Communications Commission The FCC Under Fire - The commission's controversial loosening of media ownership rules meets steadily rising opposition - According to industry sources, the son of Secretary of State Colin Powell has told confidants he'd like to leave by fall, and three of his four top staff members are putting out job feelers. White House Threatens Veto on Media-Ownership Cap - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration said on Tuesday it would veto a large government-spending bill if it reimposed media-ownership caps that were recently relaxed by the Federal Communications Commission - TVNL comment: This is OUTRAGEOUS! House Votes to Block Expanded FCC Limits - House Votes to Block Expanded FCC Limits on TV Station Ownership - The House voted Wednesday to prevent federal regulators from letting individual broadcast companies own television stations serving nearly half the national TV market, ignoring the preferences of its own Republican leaders and a Bush administration veto threat. Bush to Fight Congress on Rolling Back TV Cap - The Bush administration on Thursday vowed to fight congressional efforts to roll back a new rule allowing television broadcasters to own stations that reach almost half the national audience. - TVNL comment: Bush/PNAC have to protect their PR firm that is the broadcast media. New Rules, Old Rhetoric - As the debate about media ownership has moved to Congress during the last two months, the tone of the rhetoric has grown increasingly shrill. One member of Congress said the Federal Communications Commission's June 2 decision to modernize media ownership rules would produce "an orgy of mergers and acquisitions," while another said the new rules could create a new generation of Citizen Kanes. Broadcasters Bank on a Combination of Interests - Parties Seeking FCC Approval of Hispanic Broadcasting Merger Are Big Donors to Bush Campaign - If approved, the merger of Univision Communications Inc. and the Hispanic Broadcasting Corp. would give one firm as much as 80 percent of the Hispanic television and radio audience in many of the nation's large markets. - TVNL Question: This question is to Mickael Powell: Can you please cite an example of how diversity is either improveing ot going to improve under you insane policy? We do not want a theory, we want an example! U.S. Court Blocks Plan to Ease Rule on Media Owners - A federal appeals court issued a surprise order today blocking the Federal Communications Commission from imposing new rules that would make it easier for the nation's largest media conglomerates to add new markets and areas of business. - The new rules have been opposed by a broad coalition of groups, ranging from Consumers Union and the National Organization for Women to the National Rifle Association and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Senate bucks Bush on media ownership - Votes to rescind FCC rule change on large companies; action faces uphill battle in House. - The Senate approved a resolution that would roll back the Federal Communications Commission regulations allowing television networks to own more local stations and permitting conglomerates to own a newspaper, television stations and radio outlets in a single market. - The measure faces a tougher battle in the U.S. House and a threat of a veto by President Bush if it reaches his desk. - TVNL Comment: Take note that this story is on the CNN Money page, not on the Legal or Politics page. What does that tell you? Study finds 'near blackout' of local public issues on TV - Broadcasters have relegated local public-affairs programming to the very bottom of the heap — behind cartoons, kitchenware specials, reruns, courtroom dramas, dating shows and late-night talk shows. - The modest showcases for community issues account for less than one-half of 1 percent of local TV programming nationwide, said the report, released Friday by the Alliance for Better Campaigns, a Washington-based public interest group. Musicians Lobby Against Ownership Rules - In the latest version of musical efforts to promote social consciousness and challenge the government, some rock, blues and country artists have embarked on a tour to fight changes in federal rules governing ownership of newspapers, television and radio stations. Congress Predicted to Ignore Veto Threat - Senator Predicts Congress Will Ignore Bush Veto Threat and Block Expanded TV Ownership - The effort to expand the television station ownership cap has pitted the four major broadcast television networks which would all be allowed to buy more stations against local station owners and an array of liberal and conservative groups who say diverse views would be stifled Congress bargainers block new FCC rules - House-Senate bargainers shrugged off a White House veto threat Wednesday and agreed to block a Bush administration plan to let any company own television stations watched by nearly half the nation's viewers. Congress, White House Said to Settle Media Fight - U.S. legislators gave in to White House pressure on Monday and agreed to allow increased control of the airwaves by television networks, removing an obstacle to a massive spending bill, aides said. - The compromise agreed to by Republican leaders would instead permanently set that cap at 39 percent, several House and Senate aides said. ``That was our last, best offer and the White House took it,'' said a senior Senate Republican aide. - A federal court in Philadelphia has also put all the proposed changes on hold pending a judicial review. - Viacom Inc., which runs the CBS and UPN television networks, and News Corp., operator of the Fox network, already own local stations that reach over 35 percent of the U.S. national television audience, but aides said both would fit under a 39 percent cap without having to divest assets. - TVNL Comment: This only makes TvNewsLies.org’s mission even more important!!! Democrats Decry 'Compromise' on FCC Rule - Prominent Senate Democrats were angered by the deal struck late Monday between the White House and Republican congressional leaders that would limit how many television stations networks may own and they said they would fight it in Congress next year. - Democrats who have steadfastly opposed relaxing the rules said the deal circumvented proper channels. - "The Republicans went into a closet, met with themselves, and announced a 'compromise,' Sen. Ernest F. Hollings (D-S.C.) said in a prepared statement. "The Democrats and the conferees were ignored, and the press ought to be ashamed of calling it a 'compromise.' We weren't a part of it whatsoever." News Blackout - The FCC was getting ready to loosen the rules limiting media concentration. A grassroots movement had sprung up to derail the plan. But you wouldn’t have learned much about the controversy from many news outlets owned by the big conglomerates that were eager to cash in. The Five Sisters - If one huge corporation controlled both the production and the dissemination of most of our news and entertainment, couldn't it rule the world? - But consider how a supine Congress and a feckless majority of the Federal Communications Commission have been failing to protect our access to a variety of news, views and entertainment. Senate Votes to Repeal Media Rules - The Senate voted on Tuesday to repeal rules adopted by the Federal Communications Commission that make it easier for the nation's largest media conglomerates to expand and enter new markets.
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Cartoon by K. Bendib, all rights reserved.
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