US TV
Capitol Broadcasting Company's president and CEO, Jim Goodmon, will speak at a Federal Communications Commission localism hearing being held in Charlotte, North Carolina on Wednesday.
The FCC instituted the localism 'initiative' after new rules adopted by the commission to relax media ownership rules drew widespread protest earlier this year. The relaxed rules have not come into effect as planned; a federal appeals court in Philadelphia issued an order temporarily blocking their implementation in September, while a Senate-approved permanent measure to repeal the new rules is on its way to the House of Representatives.
Goodmon was one of the voices speaking out against the new rules, and in particular, Michael Powell - the FCC chairman who spearheaded the effort to relax the ownership rules. Speaking in August, when Powell announced the localism initiative and before a stay was placed on the implementation of the relaxed rules, Goodmon said:
"There is certain arrogance in Chairman Powell's presentation. He continually reminds us that he is an anti-trust lawyer, and this is an economic issue. His 'expert' agency has the facts and has ruled properly -- end of story. He often remarks that those who disagree with him are "too emotional" and need to calm down. Calm down?
"The June 2 action and the UHF discount loopholes would permit a single media giant to own at least one television station in every market in every state except California. In 139 of those markets, the company could own two stations, and in four markets, the company could own three stations.
"That is 346 stations in 199 markets. And that does not include radio, newspapers and cable that the same media giant could own. Localism? Diversity? Competition?"
Powell said that the rules are "well-designed to prevent any media company from having excess power over competition or viewpoints," but that "during the proceeding and in the months that followed, we heard the voice of public concern about the media loud and clear." He explained that he considered localism to be "at the core of these concerns," and that the FCC planned to "tackle it head on."
Other local North Carolina broadcasting representatives planning to attend include WUNC-FM's General Manager Joan Siefert Rose and Michael Ward, General Manager of Raleigh-Durham NBC affiliate WNCN-TV. The hearing begins at 5:30pm ET and will go on through to 8:45pm ET. CBC-owned WRAL-TV/DT Raleigh will air live coverage of the hearing on the WRAL NewsChannel, available on DTT channel 5.2 or on Time Warner Cable digital channel 256. WRAL.com will also stream coverage online.
The FCC instituted the localism 'initiative' after new rules adopted by the commission to relax media ownership rules drew widespread protest earlier this year. The relaxed rules have not come into effect as planned; a federal appeals court in Philadelphia issued an order temporarily blocking their implementation in September, while a Senate-approved permanent measure to repeal the new rules is on its way to the House of Representatives.
Goodmon was one of the voices speaking out against the new rules, and in particular, Michael Powell - the FCC chairman who spearheaded the effort to relax the ownership rules. Speaking in August, when Powell announced the localism initiative and before a stay was placed on the implementation of the relaxed rules, Goodmon said:
"There is certain arrogance in Chairman Powell's presentation. He continually reminds us that he is an anti-trust lawyer, and this is an economic issue. His 'expert' agency has the facts and has ruled properly -- end of story. He often remarks that those who disagree with him are "too emotional" and need to calm down. Calm down?
"The June 2 action and the UHF discount loopholes would permit a single media giant to own at least one television station in every market in every state except California. In 139 of those markets, the company could own two stations, and in four markets, the company could own three stations.
"That is 346 stations in 199 markets. And that does not include radio, newspapers and cable that the same media giant could own. Localism? Diversity? Competition?"
Powell said that the rules are "well-designed to prevent any media company from having excess power over competition or viewpoints," but that "during the proceeding and in the months that followed, we heard the voice of public concern about the media loud and clear." He explained that he considered localism to be "at the core of these concerns," and that the FCC planned to "tackle it head on."
Other local North Carolina broadcasting representatives planning to attend include WUNC-FM's General Manager Joan Siefert Rose and Michael Ward, General Manager of Raleigh-Durham NBC affiliate WNCN-TV. The hearing begins at 5:30pm ET and will go on through to 8:45pm ET. CBC-owned WRAL-TV/DT Raleigh will air live coverage of the hearing on the WRAL NewsChannel, available on DTT channel 5.2 or on Time Warner Cable digital channel 256. WRAL.com will also stream coverage online.
More: US TV
Tube Talk
'Skins': Dakota Blue Richards on what's nextSkins's Dakota Blue Richards chats about her episode and what's still to come.
2012-13 Season
'How I Met Your Mother' for Fox comedyBecki Newton will star in Fox pilot The Goodwin Games.
US TV Interviews
'Unforgettable' Poppy Montgomery interviewPoppy Montgomery chats to Digital Spy about her role in Unforgettable.
US TV Ratings
Grammy Awards most-watched since 1984The 54th Grammy Awards is seen by over 40 million viewers for the CBS network.
