FCC Commissioner Michael Copps addressed a RainbowPUSH Coalition(aka Jesse Jackson) event, calling for greater diversity of media ownership and stronger public interest requirements for broadcasters. He wants to use the quadrennial review and separate proceedings to move toward both goals.
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hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/a···79A1.pdfHe also once again cited his disapproval of the “postcard” license renewal process, saying, “There is no reason on God’s green earth why the Commission shouldn’t go back to having some guidelines to make sure stations are consulting with their audiences on what kinds of programming people would like to see and that news and information aren’t the first thing to go on the chopping block when ownership changes hands. I’ve been begging the broadcasters’ representatives in Washington to join this discussion for years. They refused.”
RBR-TVBR observation: Sometimes it seems like Copps believes stations are in the business of driving audiences away. Of course, the opposite is true, and one of the most difficult business achievements in the entertainment world is getting people to tune in to your station.
We can guarantee one thing: Stations won’t find out what their audience wants by convening a panel of well-meaning civic-minded local residents. If the panel attracts the type of earnest individual who is concerned about just where the town aldermen plan to site the fire hydrants in the new townhouse development and thinks that the local broadcast stations should be on top of the story, all the panel will do is drive the audience to the nearest medium that actually provides entertainment. If you don’t believe us, just check out the microscopic ratings of your local cable access channel.
