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1 month ago | 
tvnewscheck.com | Harry A. Jessell
The Foundation of Individual Rights and Expression blasted the FCC for its news distortion investigation of CBS News, calling it an “unconstitutional abuse of regulatory authority” and “illegitimate show trial.”The broadside from the free-speech advocacy group was co-authored by Robert Corn-Revere, FIRE chief counsel and former FCC general counsel.
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Dec 23, 2024 | 
tvnewscheck.com | Harry A. Jessell
Outgoing FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel could “undercut” incoming FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s apparent intention to use broadcasting’s public interest obligation to police anti-Trump bias by the broadcast networks, according to a forecasting memo from analyst Blair Levin at New Street Research. How? Still pending at the commission is a petition from of group of anti-Trump activists calling on the FCC to deny Fox’s license renewal for its WTXF Philadelphia.
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Dec 16, 2024 | 
tvnewscheck.com | Harry A. Jessell
Since being tapped to be the next FCC chairman by President-elect Trump, Commissioner Brendan Carr has been doing some fast and loose talking about freedom of speech in his media appearances. Don’t let him fool you. He presents himself as the champion of free speech dedicated to promoting “diversity of viewpoints” and “smashing … censorship.” But he is nothing of the sort. If you listen closely, you’ll discover what he really is: Trump’s wannabe censor in chief.
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Nov 3, 2024 | 
tvnewscheck.com | Harry A. Jessell
Last night, I had a dream. I woke up early on election day to discover all the local news stations here in Pittsburgh — WPXI, WTAE and KDKA — were leading their newscasts with editorials blasting away at Donald Trump and urging them to go blue. Surprisingly, the broadcasters weren’t talking about immigration or climate change or inflation or Trump’s low character. They were championing freedom of the press and warning that Trump was a threat to that freedom. I was amazed.
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Oct 24, 2024 | 
tvnewscheck.com | Harry A. Jessell
On at least three occasions going back to 2017, Donald Trump has called on the FCC to go after the TV licenses of the broadcast networks because he was felt they were being unfair to him. Two came in just the last two months. After his lackluster performance in the Sept. 10 debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump demanded the agency act because the ABC’s moderators fact-checked him.
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Aug 27, 2024 | 
tvnewscheck.com | Harry A. Jessell
Given the moribund TV station trading market and FCC resistance to any further significant industry consolidation, it comes as no surprise that this year’s TVNewsCheck Top 30 TV station group looks like last year’s, except for a few minor changes.
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Jul 10, 2024 | 
tvnewscheck.com | Harry A. Jessell
Business Regulation TVNewsCheck PlusJessell at LargeJul 11, 2024Prospective new owners say the network is a “crown jewel,” but it doesn’t seem to figure into the merged company’s long-term “tech hybrid” strategy targeting streaming. How much of the $2 billion in budget cuts will the network have to bear? This story is available to TVNewsCheck Plus subscribers only. Become a TVN Plus subscriber or log in here. Remember MeBusiness Regulation TVNewsCheck PlusJessell at Large
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May 27, 2024 | 
tvnewscheck.com | Harry A. Jessell |Mark Miller
It’s ironic that FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel goes after broadcasters for their workarounds of ownership rules when she routinely circumvents her fellow commissioners in important, potentially precedent-setting ownership cases though staff actions. She was the real party-in-interest when the Media Bureau staff derailed the $8.6 billion Tegna-Standard General merger a year ago by designating it for a hearing that would have lasted far longer than Standard General’s financing arrangements.
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May 27, 2024 | 
editorandpublisher.com | Harry A. Jessell
Posted Tuesday, May 28, 2024 9:49 am It’s ironic that FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel goes after broadcasters for their workarounds of ownership rules when she routinely circumvents her fellow commissioners in important, potentially precedent-setting ownership cases though staff actions. She was the real party-in-interest when the Media Bureau staff derailed the $8.6 billion Tegna-Standard General merger a year ago by designating it for a hearing that would have lasted far longer than Standard...
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Apr 11, 2024 | 
tvnewscheck.com | Harry A. Jessell |Mark Miller
Former Democratic FCC Commissioner Ervin Duggan and conservative commentator William Kristol this week expressed surprise and incomprehension that Pennsylvania’s two Democratic senators — Bob Casey and John Fetterman — rose to the defense of Rupert Murdoch and son Lachlan in their battle to hang on to the FCC license for their Philadelphia Fox O&O. “With respect … the senators got it wrong,” Duggan and Kristol say in a letter to the FCC.
