FCC Commissioner Wants to Test the 'Public Value' of Every Broadcast Station American journalism is in "grave peril," FCC Commissioner Michael Copps says, and to bolster "traditional media," he said the Federal Communications Commission should conduct a "public value test" of every commercial broadcast station at relicensing time.
In a speech at the Columbia University School of Journalism in New York on Thursday, Copps also said station relicensing should happen every four years instead of the current eight.
"If a station passes the Public Value Test, it of course keeps the license it has earned to use the people�s airwaves," Copps said. "If not, it goes on probation for a year, renewable for an additional year if it demonstrates measurable progress. If the station fails again, give the license to someone who will use it to serve the public interest."
Ever since Barack Obama became president, prominent conservatives have warned about liberal efforts to squelch conservative and Christian talk-radio.
Although Copps has said the FCC will not reinstate the Fairness Doctrine, his prescription for "testing" commercial broadcast stations will alarm defenders of free speech and free enterprise.
Note the presence of Fox News Channel at #2 in prime time and #4 for overall viewing.
Note the complete absence of NBC as well as CBS and ABC.
From the Huffington Post:
Evening News Ratings: ABC, CBS See Worst Quarters Ever While NBC Thrives The "CBS Evening News" and ABC's "World News" have just closed their worst quarter on record.
The New York Times' Bill Carter takes a look at the first quarter ratings numbers for the network evening news broadcasts, and reports that both Katie Couric's and Diane Sawyer's broadcasts have "sunk to the lowest numbers the [programs have had] in a first quarter since the People Meter was introduced by Nielsen in 1987."
On the other end of the spectrum is NBC, where "Nightly News with Brian Williams" averaged 9.92 million total viewers for its best first quarter average in five years. ABC's "World News with Diane Sawyer" came in second with 8.27 million total viewers, while "CBS Evening News with Katie Couric" placed third with 6.45 million total viewers.
Note the complete absence of any mention of FOX News. Sure, NBC might be trumping ABC and CBS but they are in a deep hole compared to FOX.
Maybe if we don't acknowledge it, it will just go away...
Posted by DaveH at December 10, 2010 3:15 PM