Media General Gets Duopoly Waiver

MEDIA GENERAL GETS DUOPOLY WAIVER
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The FCC has granted a waiver of its duopoly rules to allow Media General to buy WVTM TV Birmingham, Ala., from NBC. It already owns WIAT(TV) there and both stations are ranked among the top four in the market. Media General is technically not allowed to own them both under current FCC ownership rules. The FCC does not allow duopolies among two of the top four stations. Media General has promised to sell WIAT within six months--the length of the waiver--and points out the FCC has issued similar waivers. That is, in part, because the FCC's rules have been up in the air since a court remanded them in 2003. Since then, broadcasters, including Media General and Tribune prominently, have had to seek waivers awaiting the outcome of a just-launched rule review to establish just how many stations the government will allow them to own, and where. The application for waiver was unopposed.
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** For more see:
Media General Closes Four-Station Sale
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6347271.html?display=Breaking...