Corey Boles of The Wall Street Journal writes Friday that Federal Communications Commissioner Michael Copps has expressed concern about the pending acquisition of Dow Jones & Co., the paent of The Journal, Barron’s and Marketwatch, by News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch.
Boles wrote, “He expressed concerns over the impact on diversity in both the New York City and national media markets. Mr. Copps noted, however, that there didn’t seem to be any appetite on the part of Republican Chairman Kevin Martin to take a look at the Dow Jones sale.
“There is some question over whether the FCC’s local media ownership rules would apply to The Wall Street Journal, which is headquartered in New York where News Corp. owns two television stations. Those rules state that a company can’t own a television station and newspaper in the same market. Mr. Murdoch currently has a waiver from the rules in connection to his ownership of the N.Y. Post.
“Mr. Copps believes they should apply to the Dow Jones sale.”
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