Friday, September 14, 2007

FCC waives rules for Decatur duopoly

The FCC has waived a duopoly rule in the Springfield-Decatur-Champaign market, allowing Gocom Media, owner of Fox affiliate WRSP-TV in Springfield, to buy CW affiliate WBUI-TV from Acme Communications in nearby Decatur.

One of the reasons for the waiver is because WBUI is a failing station in danger of going dark and a money loser, and the FCC generally makes those exemptions in this case. The FCC prevents duopolies in markets where allowing a owner to own two stations would not leave the market with eight independently owned stations in a market.

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