FCC declines to punish Sinclair for its ‘must-run’ segments and scripts
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Re: FCC declines to punish Sinclair for its ‘must-run’ segments and scripts
#2[deleted]
Re: FCC declines to punish Sinclair for its ‘must-run’ segments and scripts
#3I can see why the FCC might be hesitant to get involved with these segments and scripts. However, the Sinclair merger should unequivocally be rejected. This business pattern only becomes an issue once you get monopolies and oligopolies. We need competition and variety in our news sources. Oligopolies are extremely dangerous to our democracy.
Re: FCC declines to punish Sinclair for its ‘must-run’ segments and scripts
#4The FCC does have the authority to revoke licenses based on content, but it's rare for them to do so.
However, this entire situation is ultimately a consequence of revoking the FCC fairness doctrine. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FCC_fairness_doctrine)
For example, a news station did have their license revoked by taking a strong stance against civil rights, and violated the fairness doctrine. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WLBT#Opposition_to_civil_right...)
Re: FCC declines to punish Sinclair for its ‘must-run’ segments and scripts
#5I can see why the FCC might be hesitant to get involved with these segments and scripts. However, the Sinclair merger should unequivocally be rejected. This business pattern only becomes an issue once you get monopolies and oligopolies. We need competition and variety in our news sources. Oligopolies are extremely dangerous to our democracy.
Coupled with Citizens United verdict I agree. Also makes it easier for foreign money to influence our elections. Behind the scenes a foreign government can invest in American companies that buy advertising to change the outcome of an election.
Re: FCC declines to punish Sinclair for its ‘must-run’ segments and scripts
#6I can see why the FCC might be hesitant to get involved with these segments and scripts. However, the Sinclair merger should unequivocally be rejected. This business pattern only becomes an issue once you get monopolies and oligopolies. We need competition and variety in our news sources. Oligopolies are extremely dangerous to our democracy.
Coupled with Citizens United verdict I agree. Also makes it easier for foreign money to influence our elections. Behind the scenes a foreign government can invest in American companies that buy advertising to change the outcome of an election.
Imagine if a foreign company bought Sinclair.
Re: FCC declines to punish Sinclair for its ‘must-run’ segments and scripts
#7Earlier quoted context omitted.
Coupled with Citizens United verdict I agree. Also makes it easier for foreign money to influence our elections. Behind the scenes a foreign government can invest in American companies that buy advertising to change the outcome of an election.
Imagine if a foreign company bought Sinclair.
It would be blocked. Just last month for example the administration blocked Singapore-based Broadcom from a takeover bid of Qualcomm on national security grounds.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/12/technology/trump-broadcom...
Not a fan of any of these folks, but if Trump is willing to do a USPS audit pony show just because he's in a kerfuffle with Amazon's WaPo, an international takeover of a large media conglomerate is highly unlikely.
Re: FCC declines to punish Sinclair for its ‘must-run’ segments and scripts
#8Earlier quoted context omitted.
Coupled with Citizens United verdict I agree. Also makes it easier for foreign money to influence our elections. Behind the scenes a foreign government can invest in American companies that buy advertising to change the outcome of an election.
Imagine if a foreign company bought Sinclair.
What makes you think they're not already somehow manipulated by foreign interests? How would you know?
Re: FCC declines to punish Sinclair for its ‘must-run’ segments and scripts
#9Earlier quoted context omitted.
Imagine if a foreign company bought Sinclair.
It would be blocked. Just last month for example the administration blocked Singapore-based Broadcom from a takeover bid of Qualcomm on national security grounds. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/12/technology/trump-broadcom... Not a fan of any of these folks, but if Trump is willing to do a USPS audit pony show just because he's in a kerfuffle with Amazon's WaPo, an international takeover of a large media conglomerat…
Amazon does not own WaPo. This distinction is important.
Re: FCC declines to punish Sinclair for its ‘must-run’ segments and scripts
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
Imagine if a foreign company bought Sinclair.
It would be blocked. Just last month for example the administration blocked Singapore-based Broadcom from a takeover bid of Qualcomm on national security grounds. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/12/technology/trump-broadcom... Not a fan of any of these folks, but if Trump is willing to do a USPS audit pony show just because he's in a kerfuffle with Amazon's WaPo, an international takeover of a large media conglomerat…
While blocking large foreign buyouts is probably a win for the US I still wouldn't trust the admin to do so reliably. Just throw a few hundred bucks their way.