Manipulation of the Media just gets easier and easier

US regulators voted to ease long-standing restrictions on media ownership overnight despite strong opposition from some lawmakers who threatened to block the plan on grounds that it may harm competition.

Commissioners at the Federal Communications Commission voted to allow one company to own both a newspaper and a television station in the top US markets, giving media groups the potential to broaden their grip in certain cities.

"Today's order strikes a balance between preserving the values that make up the foundation of our media regulations while ensuring those regulations keep apace with the marketplace of today," said FCC chairman Kevin Martin.

The prior rules blocking such ownership had been in effect for decades, but regulators have granted waivers in a number of cases, including to News Corporation, which now owns the Wall Street Journal and New York Post as well as US broadcast and cable holdings.

News Corp is the parent company of the publisher of NEWS.com.au.

The new measures were also approved after Democratic Senator Senator Byron Dorgan and 24 other lawmakers sent a letter to the FCC calling for a delay in the vote, saying that if the rules were passed, "they will move legislation to revoke the rule and nullify the vote."

that ought to help the ministry of truth do their job...

well if that doesn't scare you... consider this

Clear Channel Communications

Clear Channel Communications owns Outdoor Advertising, Katz Media Group, Premiere Radio Network, New Music Network, and SFX Sports Group.
Clear Channel owns and operates 39 television stations in the United States with more than one television station in Eugene, OR, Harrisburg, PA, Jacksonville, FL, Little Rock, AR, Memphis, TN, Mobile, AL, Monterey, CA, San Antonio, TX, Tulsa, OK, Wichita, KS.

Clear Channel leads in radio broadcast station ownership with 1,207 stations reaching 201 out of 287 markets in the United States.

Cox Communications

Cox Communications is best known for its cable, internet services, and telephony services. Cox also owns Val-Pak, 74 radio stations, 9 Television stations, and 43 newspapers in the United States.
Cumulus Media Inc.
At present, Cumulus Media Inc. is only invested in radio stations, reaching nearly 70 of 287 possible markets on 250 stations in the United States.

Disney

Disney is an example of media expansion. Founded first as movie production and theme park company, Disney now publishes books, magazines, and financial and medical services information. Disney owns ABC network with 10 television stations and 66 radio stations in the United States.
Partnering with Hearst Corporation and General Electric (GE,) Disney invests in 12 cable stations, 13 broadcast channels outside the USA, and Disney is part owner of German, French, Spanish, Scandinavian, and Japanese television stations.

Disney owns film companies; Buena Vista, Touchstone, Walt Disney, Hollywood Pictures, Caravan Pictures, Miramax Films.

Disney is a financial partner with Sid R. Bass in crude petroleum and natural gas production.

Along with its own internet portal, Disney owns ABC.com, Oscar.com, Mr. Showbiz, all Disney related sites, Family.com, ESPN.com, NBA.com, NASCAR.com, and toysmart.com.

Interactive games and music for Disney come through Buena Vista Music Group, Hollywood Records, Lyric Street Records, Mammoth Records, and Walt Disney Records.

Disney also owns Anaheim Sports Inc. and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim; 15 resorts and theme parks, and is a partial investor with TiVo.

Emmis Communications Group

Emmis Communications Group currently owns and operates 23 radio stations in the United States and owns monthly magazines including the Atlanta, and Texas Monthly publications.
Entercom Communications
Entercom Communications currently own and operate 91 radio stations in the United States.

Gannett

Gannett owns USA Today, USA Weekend, USA Today Sports Weekly, and the USA Today Information Network.
Gannett owns 100 daily newspapers in the USA; the Army Times, Navy Times, Navy Times Marine Corps, Air Force Times, Federal Times, Defense Times, and Military Market.

Gannett also owns:

16 newspapers in the United Kingdom
16 television stations in the USA
Partial interests in the Cincinnati Reds, Classified Ventures Com LLC, (with competitors Knight Ridder, the New York Times Company, Times Mirror, Washington Post Co., and Tribune Co.)
Quarter share in BrassRing Inc. (Human Resources services and software)
Gannett partners with General Electric (GE) on Space.com and with Kight Ridder and Tribune Media on CareerBuilder.com

GE -- General Electric

General Electric holds 80 pecent share of NBC Universal with 14 televsion centers (9 of which are in the top 10 market share) and 14 Spanish language television stations, (8 of which are in the top 10 market share)
In Broadcast:
GE owns CNBC, MSNBC, Bravo, Mun2TV, Sci-Fi channel, Trio, and USA network.
In Film:
Universal Pictures
In Retail:
Universal Studios -- parks and resorts
In Partnership:
Paxson Communications (1/3 interest)
In Commerce:
GE builds aircraft engines, finances commercial investments, manufactures consumer products and industrial systems, as well as sells insurance, medical systems, plastics, power supplies, and transportation monitoring systems.

News Corp.

News Corp. owns FOX Broadcasting Company, 34 television stations (8 cover the USA's most populous cities) 29 alternative broadcast channels, mostly under the name of "FOX Sports."
In Film:
20th Century FOX Stuidos, FOX Searchlight Pictures, FOX Television Studios
In Print:
One newspaper in the USA, 5 newspapers in the United Kingdom, 20 newspapers in Australia, all of HarperCollins Publishing companies (23 in all) HarperCollins Children's Book Group (6 in all)
In Sports:
Los Angeles Dodgers, National Rugby League, (partial owners) of New York Rangers and New York Knicks, Los Angeles Kings and Los Angeles Lakers
In Music and Media:
News America New Media, Broadsystem, Festival Records, Mushroom Records, NDS, News Interactive, News Outdoor, Nursery World, Staples Center


Time Warner Inc.

Time Warner Inc. owns all Time Life Book companies (27 in all)
On Cable:
HBO, CNN (8 CNN networks), Court TV, Time Warner Cable services, Road Runner interactive services, New York 1, Kablevision (Hungary)
On Film and Television:
Warner Bros. (studios, film production and distrbution,) WB Television Network, Hanna Barbera Cartoons, Telepictures Production, Witt - Thomas Productions, Castle Rock Entertainment, Warner Home Video, Warner Bros pay TV, Warner Bros Theaters, TBS Superstation, Turner Network Television, Turner South, Cartoon Network (3 channels), Turner Classic Movies, TNT, New Line Cinema, Fine Line Features, Turner Original Productions
In Print:
Time Magazine (8 publications,) Fortune, Life, Sports Illustrated (3 magazines,) People (4 publications,) Entertainment Weekly (2 publications,) and 58 additional monthly or weekly publications.
In Music:
Time Warner Music, Atlantic Records, Rhino, Elektra, and 49 other music production companies.
In Partnership:
Joint ventures with Sony on Columbia House marketing, Music Sound Exchange, Viva, Channel V, Heartland Music,
Online:
CompuServe Interactive, AOL and subsidiaries, The Knot Inc, MapQuest.com, Spinner.com, Winamp, DrKoop.com, Legend.
In Sports:
Atlanta Braves
In Retail:
MovieFone, iAmaze, (partial) Amazon.com, Quack.com

Viacom

Viacom owns:
CBS -- and 16 television stations (6 of which in top 10 marketshare)
UPN 18 television stations,
5 additional television stations
On Cable: MTV, Nickelodeon, BET, Nick at Night, TV Land, VH1, Spike TV, Comedy Central, CMT, Showtime, The M

excellent info there.....very cool
we gotta expose these scum as much as we can ....we can`t be afraid for ourselves any more .....Keep Speaking out..
Do not let Debunkers and neo-con SHILLS (is that the right word?) get us down...

reply to post by Maya432


it's hard to speak out when "they" own all the forums! That's why independent media is so important.. imo... internet media likes this, independent alternative magazines and newspapers should also be supported...

pretty soon there will be only two kinds of soft drinks... coke or pepsi... each much like the other and both will rot your teeth!

What is the big deal with media anyways. Companies own smaller companies to survive in the capitalistic society. Common sense people. Hidden interest and unfair reporting is what starts these posts and boards. Get a grip. Not everything is complex and out to screw you but you should always protect your information intake sources. Open mind, open eyes, and a closed mouth!

I'd suggest that the continued building of media empires allows the "powers to be" to push their agendas, messages and products, something independents have a much harder time doing... recall R Hearst's use of his newspapers to outlaw hemp production by running scathing editorials and news items, all the while he's cornering the market in wood pulp.. eventually he has laws passed making the cultivation of hemp illegal by pressuring law makers and morality groups... the image of pot smoking "mexican bandito" is a direct result of his "mission"... at the time hemp was america's #1 export... and much was produced with it from food to fuel... imagine how many people lost their jobs or businesses... this is only one example... does it not worry you that GE is in charge of much of the world's TV watching? does me....