Media Watchdog Files Legal Challenges with FCC - Stations Gave $1M in Free Airtime to Scott Walker

[Scuba]

http://www.bluecheddar.net/?p=26220

MILWAUKEE, WI – A national media watchdog announced today it has filed petitions with the Federal Communications Commission – on behalf of citizens of the greater Milwaukee area – to deny radio licenses to Clear Channel’s WISN-AM and Journal Communications’ WTMJ-AM. These legal challenges – unlike citizen petitions – can deny the stations’ right to hold licenses to broadcast to the greater community of Milwaukee, including Rep. Paul Ryan’s district.

...

MAC said it conducted a comprehensive study in May/June of 2012 – during the Scott Walker recall campaign – which clearly showed the two stations each gave supporters of Gov. Walker and the GOP about 80 minutes of free airtime daily on their local talk radio shows, while refusing any access to supporters of Mayor Tom Barrett and Democrats whatsoever.

In total, the two stations subsidized the Walker campaign with an estimated $1 million dollars in airtime. The study documents that WISN and WTMJ hosts and guests not only exclusively promoted GOP candidates, but actively recruited volunteers for GOP campaigns over the publicly-owned airwaves, while refusing to provide any free airtime for the other side.

...

“Broadcast stations have a unique duty to serve the entire public, especially during campaigns,” explains MAC director Sue Wilson. “When a radio station uses its giant microphones to cheerlead for candidates of only one political party, no matter which political party it may be, it violates the First Amendment rights and public trust of the entire community.

Finally. We really need the fairness doctrine back. These stations are owned by Clear Channel and carry the voices of Rush Limbaugh wannabe's.

[dmr]

1. Kick

[mojowork_n]

2. How do those bozo's afford it? What tree grows all that free money?

Recent CC news reports:

June, 2012

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/06/13/struggling-clear-channel-doubles-becks-pay-with/151456

"... Clear Channel, the conservative-friendly media behemoth with a soft spot for right-wing radio, just doubled Beck's deal to a reported $100 million, while the struggling company remains buried under an eleven-figure mountain of debt..."

Feb. 29, 2012

http://www.thedeal.com/content/private-equity/clear-channel-moves-to-address-debt-load.php

The largest U.S. radio group has also been seeking opportunities to reduce its debt load, which expanded greatly with its 2008 sale to Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP.

Clear Channel has close to $20 billion in long-term debt. The San Antonio company faces particularly large payments in 2014 and 2016, with maturities of $2.87 billion and $12.25 billion, respectively.

After the attack on Sandra Fluke blew up in their fat faces, advertisers were leaving right-wing hate radio in droves.

It just makes you wonder. Maybe Rmoney was right. Corporations are people. People who like to spend money on "free speech." Somewhere, on some accountant's ledger, all these debts are magically transformed in to tax write-offs. That help offset profit gains that might otherwise have to be off-shored.

[midnight]

3. K&R for fairness doctrine being reinstated!

[DCKit]

4. We should thank them for the egregious, excessive example they've set. nt