h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The Federal Communications Commission is to vote June 2 on broad changes in media ownership regulations that critics fear will lead to more takeovers.

The FCC is considering eliminating many of the restrictions on a single company owning combinations of newspapers and TV and radio stations in the same city. Another proposal would raise a cap preventing one company from owning TV stations that reach more than 35 percent of U.S. households."The broadcast media has been absolutely atrocious on this issue," says Robert McChesney, author of "Rich Media, Poor Democracy: Communications Politics in Dubious Times." "The coverage has been virtually nonexistent." pbs.org (NOW program)http://www.pbs.org/now/
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The major networks want the cap eliminated. Smaller broadcasters and network affiliates worry that a higher cap will allow the networks to gobble up more stations and limit local control of programming.`I don't like caps, but in the media area the probabilities of concentration and limiting people's access is something that you need consider,'' Lott said. ``It is dangerous.''
FCC: http://www.fcc.gov
News Corp.: http://www.newscorp.com

You would think after Reagan people would know what deregulation is for. It's not for competition or to level out the playing field. It's so the rich and powerful aren't constrained. Buh!!!

Absolutely the only reason to own more is pure profit.
The same owners of magazines,print,radio,TV,Cable,sports teams....

The news was supposed to be a public service. It was suppose to prove some worth of existence ,not make worth.

At this point I hope that is their reason
It could be more sinister than that with less variety overall being a consequence!

Even Ted Turner said it was a BAD BAD thing! He said is profits would go up and he could own 45% of all media in an area, instead of his current 32%. I applaud T. Turner for consistently opposing it.

No surprise it passed. In our "democracy" 98% of the public that responed was against this and it passed.

The critics of eased rules include consumer advocates, civil rights and religious groups, small broadcasters, writers, musicians, academicians and the National Rifle Association. They say most people still get news mainly from television and newspapers, and combining the two is dangerous because those entities will not monitor each other and provide differing opinions.

ABC NBc CBS are not allowed to merge.

The votes were 3-2 on party lines.