The FCC's latest review of its ownership rules contains a couple of "tentative" findings pertaining to Big Four affiliations that could go a long way in shaping the industry and even determining how much broadcasters have to pay in reverse comp. The first would bar broadcasters from acquiring a second Big Four affiliate in a market via an affiliation swap as Tribune did in Indianapolis. The other would allow dual Big Four affiliations through the use of multicasting channels.
The review contains a couple of other "tentative" findings pertaining to the local ownership rules and Big Four affiliations that could go a long way in shaping the industry and even determining how much broadcasters have to pay in reverse comp.
The first would bar broadcasters from acquiring a second Big Four affiliate in a market via an affiliation swap.
For instance, if a broadcaster owns a Big Four affiliate and an independent (or Little Two [CW or MNT] affiliate) in a market, the FCC is proposing that it cannot steal away the Big Four affiliation of another station in the market, put it on the independent and operate two Big Four affiliates. The FCC tentatively decided that such a switch would be an evasion of its rules.
http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/79031/are-dual-affiliations-a-good-idea-maybe-not/page/1