The FCC’s plan to alter or eliminate media ownership limits has been getting increased media attention in the past week.
Since a FAIR action alert (5/20/03) drew attention to the lack of coverage on the broadcast networks, CBS Evening News (5/29/03) aired a report focusing on the threat to local TV news posed by the lifting of ownership limits, NBC Nightly News aired an in-depth report on the FCC (5/28/03), and ABC’s Nightline devoted an entire show (5/28/03) to a broad discussion of the possible effects of the relaxation of the rules.
The FCC is scheduled to vote on the matter next Monday (6/2/03).
The interview segment of Nightline’s broadcast had no guest backing the pro-deregulation argument favored by the Republican majority on the FCC. That wasn’t by design, though– FCC chair Michael Powell, in the words of anchor Ted Koppel, “had agreed to appear on our broadcast tonight, but he canceled at the last minute.” The segment featured media mogul Barry Diller and Democratic commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, both critics of the FCC’s plan.
According to a report in Variety (5/30/03), “just two hours before the interview, Powell’s spokesman, David Fiske, called to cancel because the package would also include interviews with Diller, as well as Democratic commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, according to several FCC sources.” It is unclear why Powell cancelled, though Variety reports that “opponents of Powell’s plan at the FCC seized on the cancellation as a sign that the pressure is getting to Powell.”
Variety cited another possible rationale for the FCC chair’s absence, reporting that “apparently, Powell did not believe he should face Diller because he is a major player in the industry the agency regulates.” This scrupulousness would be a departure for Powell, however, since, as a report from the Center for Public Integrity (5/29/03) documented, Powell has met behind closed doors with the heads of News Corporation, NBC, Viacom and Gannett in just the last few months.
For more about the FCC and media ownership, go to our archives.
*NOTE: This update has been corrected. In the original version, FAIR reported that “NBC Nightly News is now the only network newscast not to have reported on the FCC rulemaking, according to a search of the Nexis news database.” NBC Nightly News did air a report on its May 28 broadcast, though it is not available on the Nexis database. FAIR regrets the oversight.
