US TV
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to allow companies to own both daily newspapers and broadcast stations in the same city.
The rule against such ownership was brought in 32 years ago to protect media independence and has been stridently defended by consumer groups and politicians.
However, the three Republican FCC members, led by chairman Kevin Martin, outvoted their two Democrat colleagues on Tuesday to scrap it.
Martin, speaking before the vote, said it was no longer necessary because the market was "considerably different" from when it was introduced.
He added: "Allowing cross-ownership may help to forestall the erosion in local news coverage by enabling companies to share news-gathering costs across media platforms."
On Monday, 25 senators wrote to Martin saying they would block any decision to relax the rule while consumer lobby groups have warned it will damage competition and independence.
However, companies that could benefit, such as Los Angeles Times owner Tribune and Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, say the FCC has not gone far enough.
The relaxation applies only in America's 20 biggest cities and where there are at least eight independently owned types of media in operation.
The rule against such ownership was brought in 32 years ago to protect media independence and has been stridently defended by consumer groups and politicians.
However, the three Republican FCC members, led by chairman Kevin Martin, outvoted their two Democrat colleagues on Tuesday to scrap it.
Martin, speaking before the vote, said it was no longer necessary because the market was "considerably different" from when it was introduced.
He added: "Allowing cross-ownership may help to forestall the erosion in local news coverage by enabling companies to share news-gathering costs across media platforms."
On Monday, 25 senators wrote to Martin saying they would block any decision to relax the rule while consumer lobby groups have warned it will damage competition and independence.
However, companies that could benefit, such as Los Angeles Times owner Tribune and Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, say the FCC has not gone far enough.
The relaxation applies only in America's 20 biggest cities and where there are at least eight independently owned types of media in operation.
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