Local broadcasting endangered by new FCC leadership

There is no other industry in the world like broadcasting,” the CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Gordon Smith told his annual convention. “No other industry has, at its core, such an overarching focus on bringing communities together and serving the public good,” Smith opined. “No other media industry is as dedicated to supporting our local communities.”

That “overarching focus” on “serving the public good” is being stealthily watered down, with the industry’s support, by the Trump Federal Communications Commission. In little-noticed decisions, the agency has been removing regulatory requirements to protect broadcast localism, shield a diversity of local voices, and avoid the establishment of a dominant national broadcaster.

Sinclair Broadcast Group, owner of more TV stations than anyone else and a Trump election ally, quickly embraced the new reality. In May, Sinclair announced an agreement to purchase Tribune Broadcasting’s 42 television stations for $3.9 billion. The transaction will give Sinclair access to almost three-quarters of American households. Bloomberg observed the deal was “made possible after the U.S. Federal Communications Commission voted…to ease a limit on TV-station ownership.”

GRR Spartan wrote:In West MI you already see it with WWMT.
Almost every day you get a dose of Sinclair produced programming inserted in their local news like 45-60 second Terror Alerts and they pre-empt the 2nd haif of Meet the Press with Sinclair produced Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson.

Last week's promo for Full Measure was highlighting a Trump supporter in college who thought he was being mistreated by nearly the whole campus.

What its done for me is watching other local news by my choices will be reduced. The Tribune owns the GR Fox affiliate and if the sale to Sinclair goes through they will own the CBS and Fox affiliates for West MI.