In a 77-22 bipartisan vote, the upper body of Congress passed the "Protect College Sports Act." It preserves the scope of the "Sports Broadcasting Act" by allowing collective media rights negotiations for games on over-the-air television without extending that exemption to paid subscription streaming services.
When Connoisseur Media agreed to merge with Alpha Media, it was understood that several Alpha properties deemed non-essential to the company led by Jeff Warshaw would be sold. Add a Class A facility serving a portion of Western Maryland and neighboring Waynesboro, Pa., to that divestment list.
She's said it is "unlawful" in past statements, and Anna M. Gómez did so again in a formal dissenting statement condemning her Republican colleagues from making "a profound departure" from both statutory boundaries and longstanding broadcast policy.
As Republican FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty sees it, her August 6 decision to vote to repeal the 39% national TV audience reach limit for broadcast television station licensees "recognizes that the media marketplace has changed dramatically, while many of our rules have not."
In a lengthy statement, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said it is time "to restore balance to the broadcast airwaves" and bring back "a healthy counterbalance to the growing leverage of national programmers." He also took great lengths to demonstrate how the FCC has the authority to modify the cap.
The FCC on August 6 voted to repeal its 39% national TV ownership reach cap, replacing it with a granular, case-by-case review. The Report and Order detailing the decision was not released until Thursday, and was quietly posted on the Commission website along with statements from Chairman Carr, Olivia Trusty and Anna Gómez.