Categories: OLD Media Moves

FCC commissioner expresses concern about Dow Jones deal

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 TheÂ 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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Paul says:
October 1, 2007 at 2:04 pm
I Call BS On the FCC! Let the Free Market decide the fate of Satelite and stop pretenting your intrests are with the comsumer. You are not protecting anyone except Clear Channel THIS COMPANY IS A TRUE MONOPOLY! With ownership in RADIO, LIVE MUSIC VENUES AND ADVERTISING. THEY CONTROL 90% OF WHAT IS HEARD IN EVERY LARGE MUSIC MARKET, SELLING THE MUSIC THATS PLAYING AT CLEAR CHANNEL VENUES! UNDER A DIFFERNT COMPANY NAME LIVE NATION. THIS FORM OF RADIO PLAY IS A MONOPOLY. THEY ARE CONTROLIING 2 AND 3 RADIO STATIONS IN ALL LARGE US CITES AND SELLING THE MUSIC AND TOURS THAT ARE PLAYING IN THOSE CITIES. NOT TO MENTION ALL THE BILLBOARDS THEY OWN. THIS CONTROL OVER THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS OVERWHELMING. AND THE FCC HAS THE BALLS TO TRY AND SHUT DOWN A NO-BRAINER MERGER. F U FCC We See the truth and we love good music. Let us enjoy commerical free music and stop cashing checks from Clear Channel!