FCC Ordered “Monopolies Are Bad For Local TV” Study Destroyed

A study showing how having fewer owners of media outlets hurts local TV news was ordered destroyed by the FCC. It has since come to light and a California senator demands answers.

    “The analysis showed local ownership of television stations adds almost five and one-half minutes of total news to broadcasts and more than three minutes of “on-location” news. The conclusion is at odds with FCC arguments made when it voted in 2003 to increase the number of television stations a company could own in a single market.”

After receiving the report from an inside source, Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif wrote a letter this Wednesday to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin questioning why the report had not been made public. She asked if it was “shelved because the outcome was not to the liking of some of the commissioners and/or any outside powerful interests?”

(Thanks to Jpac!)

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