MMTC outlines policy goals
Restoration of the minority tax certificate is the number one priority of the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council as it pursues its goal, which...
SDARS yes, vodka no?
The FTC has shot down part of an M&A agreement under which Pernod Ricard's is proposing to spend $9 billion to acquire Swedish spirits...
Airwaves safe for Seadogs
And for Boston Red Sox, too. Saga Communications outlet WBAE-AM in Portland ME found its license under attack on grounds that it deviated from...
NABPAC focuses on Congress
Veteran broadcaster/broker Larry Patrick is heading up the NAB’s efforts to influence the 2008 elections, and is looking for hard cash donations from broadcasters to that end
NYT goes to bat for federal shield
For several years now, Republicans and Democrats in Congress have been attempting to get a federal reporters’ shield law on the books. Former radio...
MMTC wants beat cop for dictates
It is now against FCC regulation to incorporate No Urban Dictates (NUDs) and/or No Spanish Dictates (NSDs) into a media buying campaign. Watchdog Minority...
Everybody wants to get in on the act
On Capitol Hill, the two Commerce committees handle most of the caseload when it comes to issues of interest to broadcasters, but every now...
FTC dishes it out to telemarketers
Two companies which were trying to help satellite MVPD Dish Network gain subscribers have run afoul of the Do Not Call Registry, and both...
Just what are the limits of the FCC’s power?
The lively ad hoc community has been keeping a close eye on the media, particularly since the former FCC Commissioner Michael Powell tried to ram through a package of deregulatory
Phoenix fines have legs, er…wings
Phoenix Broadcasting Group stations KAMJ-FM Gosnell AR and KQDD-FM Osceola AR have each been hit with $9K fines (for a total of $18K) for...
Product placement getting mainstream attention
It’s always interesting when broadcasting “inside baseball” gets an airing outside the trades, and that has now happened with product placement
FCC upholds TV editorial discretion
This one has been kicking around long enough that we didn’t even realize it was still kicking around, but the FCC has once again...
Big radio gets nailed again
Clear Channel was just hit by the FCC for an improper phone call airing; now its CBS’s turn, for a contest violation. It was...
Withers hopes to extend life Spann of IL EB AM
Marion-Carbondale IL isn’t big enough for 810 WDDD-AM and 1690 WVON-AM. That’s because one is the original AM station from which the other was...
Full-strength FEC ready to go to work
A deal between Senate Majority Leader Harry Read (D-NV) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has finally resulted in a full six-member contingent at...