Tauzin
NEW ORLEANS -- The Federal Communications Commission's campaign to loosen key media ownership rules has been the talk of the NATPE convention, with many grumbling that consolidation has already led to a steep downturn in the syndication biz.
On Tuesday morning, NATPE prexy Bruce Johansen commended several new coalitions for fighting further relaxation of the ownership rules -- which would hand even more power to the big guns.
A decade ago, the major studios couldn't have an interest in programming aired on their networks. Now they can, meaning they often favor their own programming.
What NBC, CBS and NBC can't do, for example, is reach more than 35% of the national aud via ownership, which means they can't buy up more TV stations. The FCC regs also block any one broadcaster from owning multiple outlets in one market.
"This will be one of the great issues over the next few months," Johansen said.
But minutes later, Rep. W.J. "Billy" Tauzin (R-La.) made it clear many in Washington want the FCC to go ahead and deregulate. He said the market should decide such matters as to how many stations a Viacom or a News Corp. can own.
Tauzin, who received NATPE's Chairman Award, said the FCC has no business regulating content. Tauzin is a formidable figure who has direct control over the TV industry as chair of the key House Commerce Committee.
He said media ownership rules often fall in the content category, meaning he's not opposed to the FCC's campaign to ease the regs. He said antitrust issues are better handled by the U.S. Justice Dept., not the FCC.
"It galls me that there is an agency that controls how we speak," said Tauzin during a one-on-one interview with NBC news host Chris Matthews.
Those who want the FCC to keep the ownership rules on the books say it may be too late and that the fight to retain the rules should have commenced several years ago.
The FCC is expected to vote on the ownership rules by fall.
On another closely watched issue, Tauzin said he will reintroduce a bill requiring Hollywood and Silicon Valley to come up with workable way to stop digital piracy. Pol said he plans to hold congressional hearings on the bill sometime in March or April.
Contact Pamela McClintock at
pamela.mcclintock@variety.com