The proposed sale of NBC WTVJ-TV Miami from NBC to Post-Newsweek, and into a rare big-four duopoly with P-N’s ABC WPLG-TV, is generating so much protest that the FCC has put the proceeding on a permit-but-disclose basis to accommodate more commentary. Among the opponents of the $205M deal are three members of the US House of Representatives, Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Ron Klein (D-FL), and Kendrick B. Meek (D-FL). The FCC permit-but-disclose arrangement allows ex parte presentations on the matter to be made part of the record without having to serve every single party who has engaged in the matter.
RBR/TVBR observation: The large number of station in this expansive market and the success of Hispanic stations thanks to its bilingual culture make this deal possible. The dealmaker wannabes have noted that the NBC station is only #6 in the market. Obviously to the watchdog community, it just looks wrong whether it limbos in under the cap rules or not, so it’s not going to get done without a major battle.
