Hearst’s Barrett Offers Small-Market Duopoly Plan

By Andrew Gauthier 

TVNewsCheck

Hearst Television CEO David Barrett urged the FCC to do what it should have done six years ago: adopt new less restrictive local TV ownership rules that would allow common ownership of two or more stations in a market if their combined audience was less than 30 percent and if the combination otherwise passed routine antitrust review.

The simpler 30-percent rule would have several advantages over the current rules, which prohibit combinations of two top-four-rated stations in markets with eight or fewer station owners or “voices.”

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First, he said, the new rule would measure audience across broadcast, cable and satellite.

In addition, it would be equally applicable across all markets, large and small; create stability because small changes in audience share would not affect the ownership limit; and give the FCC a “bright line test” that it could apply “more quickly and efficiently.”

Barrett also suggested that it was a modest step. “The proposal would not lead to a wave of local media mergers … and unacceptable market concentration.” More…

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