FCC Complaint Filed Against Tribune Hartford Cluster

[DToTheJ]

While Tribune-owned WTXX prepares to change call letters, a rival suggests the station's ownership should change.

Neil Ellis from the Manchester Journal Inquirer has filed a complaint with the FCC regarding Tribune's double waiver in owning the Hartford Courant newspaper, and both WTIC-TV and the soon-to-be-WCCT-TV. Ellis suggests that Tribune is in violation of cross-ownership rules, and that Hartford should not qualify for such an ownership arrangement.

Full story:
http://www.rbr.com/tv-cable/25259.html

 

[kms575]

I'd like to complain about that stupid branding that Ch 20 has! :

 

[KML0224]

It's part of the reason I don't read The Hartford Courant anymore. How has Tribune gotten away with it this long to begin with? As for WTXX/WCCT, I think the call letter request is utterly ridiculous. Channel 20 was so good 20 years ago when they were the home for then-WWF, the Mets and TX Critter. (Ha ha!) :

As for other Connecticut newspapers, The Herald of New Britain almost went out of business within the last two years. Maybe that could be due to the Hartford paper's dominance, but who really knows? :-[

 

[MarcB]

As for other Connecticut newspapers, The Herald of New Britain almost went out of business within the last two years. Maybe that could be due to the Hartford paper's dominance, but who really knows? :-[

You're forgetting one thing. Last year Central Connecticut Communications who bought The New Britain Herald (yes they brought back the old school name) and The Bristol Press along with the Manchester Journal-Inquirer sued the Hartford Courant because they stole articles from the papers without giving the other paper's credit.

As for The Tribune - What about their home market of Chicago? They have WGN Channel 9, WGN AM 720, The Chicago Tribune newspaper, that baseball team, and WGN America cable network.

 

[MarcB]

I don't really care about Tribune running FOX 61, WCCT Channel 20, and The Hartford. Without Channel 20 being run by first Channel 30 (when they were owned by Viacom) and now Channel 61 they either would still be running The Home Shopping Network 15 hours/day or they would've gone dark.

 

[KML0224]

Tribune doesn't own the Cubs anymore.

 

[KeithE4]

Tribune doesn't own the Cubs anymore.

They still own 5% - enough to keep them on WGN radio & TV. And the FCC gave them a waiver for the Chicago properties. Not sure about any of the others.