Ion Wants Permanent Grandfathering if UHF Discount Eliminated
The UHF discount is “the regulatory foundation” Ion Media was built on, the broadcaster's representatives told aides to Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, and to Chairman Tom Wheeler, in a meeting Wednesday, said a Friday ex parte filing…
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in docket 13-236. “As a result of the economies of scale offered by the Discount, ION has managed to remain unaffiliated with any media conglomerate and has used its station group platform to develop an independent television network." If the FCC eliminates the UHF discount, it should allow “permanent grandfathering” for networks like Ion that are dependent on the discount, the broadcaster said. Without permanent grandfathering, such groups are likely to be broken up in the event of sale, which would eliminate the public service benefits of a large independent network, Ion said. A draft media ownership order deals with the UHF discount (see 1607070060).