WP: As FCC Digs Into Ownership, Big Media No Longer Cares

As FCC Digs Into Ownership, Big Media No Longer Cares
By Frank Ahrens
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, June 29, 2006; Page D01


Tribune owns 26 television stations, including KLTA in Los Angeles. It fought in 2003 to buy more television stations, but it probably won't buy more now if the Federal Communications Commission relaxes media ownership rules. (By J. Emilio Flores -- Getty Images)

When the government's attempt to relax media ownership rules was defeated in court two years ago, some hailed it as a victory against putting too much power in the hands of too few media lords.

Now, the government is taking up the issue again, but the media landscape is radically different.

Since 2003, the media giants have greatly expanded their presence on the Internet, buying successful Web sites or redoubling their own efforts. The continued rollout of high-speed Internet, the improvement in online content and an explosion of handheld devices have combined to give Big Media much greater reach and potentially greater influence than it would have had, were companies allowed to buy a few more television stations each.

Last week, the Federal Communications Commission voted to re-tackle the sticky issue of media ownership. This time, the agency plans to loosen some rules, allowing big media companies to expand. For instance, a newspaper will -- for the first time since 1975 -- probably be allowed to buy the most popular television station in the same city.

But the times, technology and media marketplace have changed so much since the FCC began its ownership review last time, in 2002, that some of the same media giants that lobbied for changes before -- such as Tribune Co. -- may take little advantage of changes this time....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/28/AR2006062802194.html