FCC Approves Crossownership, Duopoly

FCC APPROVES CROSSOWNERSHIP, DUOPOLY
The Federal Communications Commission granted license renewals to three Media General stations for which it also recently granted waivers of its newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership rule. In doing so, the commission denied challenges to those licenses filed by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Free Press and Common Cause South Carolina. Getting the license renewals were WBTW Florence (SC); WRBL Columbus (GA); and WMBB-TV Panama City (FL), where Media General also owns the Morning News, the Opelika-Auburn News and the Jackson County Floridian, respectively. The FCC said the license challenge was mooted by its Dec. 18 decision to loosen the newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership rules. At the same time as that decision, it granted permanent waivers to Media General in each of those markets. The Commission also approved the sale of three TV stations from Lincoln Financial Group to Raycom Media, including giving the latter a six-month waiver to operator a duopoly in the Richmond-Petersburg (VA) market.
* FCC Grants Media General License Renewals
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6544699.html?rssid=193
* FCC Approves Raycom Media Station Purchase
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6544695.html?rssid=193