Someday somebody is going to put out a movie about the media ownership process, and if they choose to start it in 2002, it’ll be called “From Powell to Eternity.” Today’s act: cross-ownership waivers. The FCC has extended those now in effect yet again, for another 60 days, running through 6/9/09.
A number of companies are requesting permanent waivers for existing newspaper/broadcast combos. They ask that the delay be in effect “until 90 days after the issuance of a final court order on pending judicial challenges to the Commission’s modified newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership rule.”
The companies seeking relief on this count include Cox Enterprises Inc., Calvary Inc., Bonneville International CorpScranton Times LP and Morris Communications.
RBR/TVBR observation: By the time we get a final ruling on combining paper-based and broadcast-based media, we’ll be receiving our news and entertainment internally from an easily swallowed pill – we’ll call it a Times Capsule. But in the meantime, let’s just grant a blanket waiver pending the unlikely event that we arrive at a final resolution of the cross-ownership situation.
