broadcasters

Obama Joins the Democracy Fire Sale

Timothy Karr — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:36:48 -0500

President Obama succumbed late Monday to the dark logic of the Super PACs, instructing top West Wing staffers to help raise money for the so-called "independent" groups that have been successful in picking winners and losers thus far in 2012.

Media Minutes: January 27, 2012

Candace Clement — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:15:18 -0500

The FCC is considering new rules that would give viewers more information about how broadcasters use the public airwaves. And a new Free Press report explores the dependency between those who control political power and those who control the airwaves — and recommends ways to change this dynamic.

Broadcasters Outmaneuver White Space Broadband Advocates; Lawyers Will Benefit the Most

Stevie Converse — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:58:17 -0500

Full article: Stop the Cap!
Phillip Dampier
While surface reporting on "white space" broadband and "super Wi-Fi" seem to suggest the United States is on the cusp of opening up much of the UHF television dial to wireless broadband, behind the scenes broadband advocates are fretting about being outmaneuvered by the powerful broadcast lobby

Iowa Kicks Off the Media's Mud Season

Stevie Converse — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:04:05 -0500

Full article: Huffington Post
Timothy Karr
It's estimated that American television viewers will see such political ads aired more than 200,000 times by the first week in November. What we're far less likely to see is any explanation of who really sponsors these ads, what interests they represent and whether the content of the attacks is true.

ACA Wants Retrans Deal Info in Public Files

Stevie Converse — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 08:46:11 -0500

Full article: TV NewsCheck
The American Cable Association wants the FCC to impose transparency requirements to prevent television station owners that coordinate their retransmission consent negotiations "from keeping their price-fixing schemes a secret from the public and regulators charged with enforcing station ownership limits, retransmission consent rules, and antitrust statutes."

Media Minutes: November 4, 2011

Candace Clement — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:42:29 -0400

A group of AT&T shareholders is asking the company to commit to Net Neutrality principles on its wireless broadband network. The FCC announced it will move toward digitizing public files and improving program-reporting requirements for broadcasters. And President Obama has nominated two new FCC commissioners.

FCC to Take Another Crack at Boosting Station Disclosures

Stevie Converse — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:49:53 -0400

Full article: Broadcasting & Cable
John Eggerton
The FCC next week is expected to scrap its 2007 Enhanced Disclosure decision to require broadcasters to file more detailed programming reports and put them online for easier public inspection, but that is only so the current commission can start over and figure out the best way to achieve that goal. The FCC has scheduled a vote on the order and inquiry at its Oct. 27 meeting.

FCC to Reconsider Public Interest Filing Requirement for TV Broadcasters

Stevie Converse — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:08:25 -0400

Full article: Broadcast Engineering
The FCC is scheduled to take up the matter of rules adopted by the commission in 2007 requiring television broadcasters to make detailed public interest filings at its next open meeting Oct. 27 at commission headquarters in Washington, D.C. The rules, which never have been implemented, are the subject of several petitions for reconsideration.

Media Minutes: September 16, 2011

Candace Clement — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:08:02 -0400

A new investigation found that U.S. TV news is turning away from video reporting and to arguing pundits and hypothetical conversations about what might be happening. And it’s been 50 years since Newt Minow gave his speech about TV’s “vast wasteland.” In this digital age, his words still reverberate for the industry, policymakers and public interest advocates.

Broadcasters Cash in with Political Ads

Stevie Converse — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 10:33:19 -0400

Full article: SavetheNews.org
Megan Tady
Thanks to <em>Citizens United</em> v. <em>FEC</em>, corporations can now spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns, and they're paying for TV political ads in record numbers. A new report by Moody's Investors Service predicts political advertising sales will continue to soar — even in the face of a double-dip recession. Are corporations using their record-breaking profits to rehire journalists and produce quality news and entertainment?