The draft FCC media ownership order won’t make easier common...

The draft FCC media ownership order won’t make easier common ownership of a top TV station and major daily newspaper in the same market, Media Bureau Chief Bill Lake said. Reports otherwise “are wrong,” he said by email Monday. “In fact, the order would strengthen the current rule by creating an express presumption against a waiver of the cross-ownership ban to allow such a combination.” The draft would allow waivers for stations not rated top-four and dailies in the same top-20 market (CD Nov 15 p1). The order would “preserve” the “TV duopoly rule, which forbids ownership of more than one of the top four TV stations in any market,” Lake noted. Public interest groups have criticized the forthcoming rules as allowing more consolidation.