FCC 'Obligated' To Relax Broadcast Ownership Rules, NAB Says
The FCC shouldn't subject broadcasters to ownership limitations while allowing pay-TV mega-mergers like Suddenlink/Cablevision and Charter/TWC, NAB said in an ex parte filing posted online Monday in docket 14-50. “Particularly in light of the still increasing consolidation in the pay…
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TV industry, the Commission must fulfill its statutory mandate in the pending quadrennial reviews and repeal or modify the asymmetric broadcast ownership restrictions,” NAB said. Economic analysis of the video programming and advertising markets show “the unprecedented level of competition facing TV stations for both viewers and advertisers and the consequent declines in broadcasters’ competitive position,” NAB said. The ownership rules “severely constrain” broadcasters from competing with ever-larger pay-TV companies, NAB said. The FCC is “obligated” to “repeal or significantly relax its local ownership restrictions,” said the filing.