Take Three: The Latest Broadcast Station Ownership Report

0

Totaling 74 pages, the “Third Report on Ownership of Commercial Broadcast Stations” — based on FCC Form 323 Ownership Data as of Oct. 1, 2015 — has been released by the Commission’s Media Bureau.


A comprehensive report, the Bureau compiled all of the Form 323 data it could gather.

The result is a report that provides an overview of the major findings from the 2015 broadcast ownership data presented by gender, ethnicity, and race; a comparison of 2015 and 2013 data in key categories for full power commercial television, Class A television, low-power television (LPTV), commercial AM radio, and commercial FM radio stations; and more detailed information provided both in the attached tables in the appendix and in accompanying spreadsheets released in conjunction with this report.

FCC Form 323 is designed to obtain comprehensive data on racial and ethnic minority and female broadcast ownership—statistically valid broadcast ownership data that can be compiled and aggregated and used as a source for further analysis.

What did the FCC find?

  • Women collectively or individually held a majority of the voting interests in 1,024 broadcast stations, consisting of 314 commercial AM radio stations (8.9 percent) of 3,509 stations; and 446 commercial FM radio stations (8.1 percent) of 5,492 stations; 37 Class A television stations (9.3 percent) of 396 stations; 125 low power television stations (11.0 percent) of 1,137 stations; and 102 full power commercial television stations (7.4 percent) of 1,385 stations.
  • Hispanic/Latino persons collectively or individually held a majority of the voting interests in 671 broadcast stations, consisting of 176 commercial AM radio stations (5.0 percent) of 3,509 stations; 228 commercial FM radio stations (4.2 percent) of 5,492 stations; 62 full power commercial television stations (4.5 percent) of 1,385 stations; 53 Class A television stations (13.4 percent) of 396 stations; and 152 low power television stations (13.4 percent) of 1,137 stations.
  • On Broadcast Ownership and Race:
    Asians owned 152 broadcast stations.
    Black/African Americans owned 180 broadcast stations.
    Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islanders owned 20 broadcast stations.
    American Indian/Alaska Natives owned 40 broadcast stations.
    Persons of two or more races owned 10 broadcast stations.

The Media Bureau did not offer commentary on the findings, which show that males and whites dominate among broadcast media owners.

To view the full report, click here.