Did you know that the public can challenge license renewals for radio and TV stations? Yep, you can. In what may be the beginning of a wave of challenges, media activist groups in New Jersey are challenging WWOR-TV's bid to renew their broadcasting license on the grounds that WWOR had "failed to provide a program service and adequately meet the needs of its northern New Jersey viewers.”
The groups are also challenging the waiver that the FCC has granted to WWOR-TV (WWOR-TV is owned Rupert Murdoch's News Corp), over News Corp's cross ownership of both TV and newspaper outlets in the same market (in this case, Northern New Jersey/New York City)--you see, Murdoch also owns the New York Post. Under most scenarios, that is called a monopoly.
What is highly unusual here is that the FCC has allowed a public forum to be held regarding the license renewal challenge. Does this indicate an actual change in FCC direction, or will this be a token showing of concern by the FCC? That remains to be seen.
The takeaway message of this post is that you (yes, you), can file a license renewal challenge too--or send a letter to the local media titans--letters sent to radio and TV stations must be kept on file, for possible FCC review.
Are you tired of the canned, non-public service oriented programming on local High Country airwaves? Options do exist.
Full article here.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment