How will the SCOTUS ruling on broadcast and newspaper ownership affect Cox?

[jabba17]

Will this mean that Cox will be putting its WSBB, WSRV, and WNGC potential move-ins on the back burner for a while? Or will Cox now redirect its attention to re-upping/expanding its cross-ownership waiver? Or does the SCOTUS ruling mean no more waivers for Cox and Cox will have to divest something, like the AJC?

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/...ship-rules-broadcast-and-newspaper-groups-fcc

 

[TheBigA]

Or does the SCOTUS ruling mean no more waivers for Cox and Cox will have to divest something, like the AJC?

There was no specific statement outlawing waivers, so my understanding is that they remain at the discretion of the Commission.

Technically speaking, they didn't actually issue a ruling. They declined to review the case, and issued no comment at all. So that should mean the present rules stand.

 

[jabba17]

Or does the SCOTUS ruling mean no more waivers for Cox and Cox will have to divest something, like the AJC?

There was no specific statement outlawing waivers, so my understanding is that they remain at the discretion of the Commission.

Technically speaking, they didn't actually issue a ruling. They declined to review the case, and issued no comment at all. So that should mean the present rules stand.

Thanks. I don't know the exact terms of Cox's waiver, except that it exists and that it has some bearing on Cox's plans to move in WSBB (and, presumably, WSRV), but I was wondering if there was some kind of language in it that was dependent on the final outcome of this case (i.e., Cox only had a waiver while the matter was in the courts).

Interestingly, there seems to be some increasing divergence between ajc.com and the physical and electronic versions of the actual AJC newspaper (see https://www.ajcdelivers.com/elogin ). Many stories and features in the physical and electronic versions of the paper never make it to ajc.com, and the update cycle is quite different. Could Cox be preparing to spin off the paper itself while retaining an online-only ATL news presence via ajc.com (and other Cox Media sites)?

 

[secondchoice]

Who would buy the AJC without the AJC website? I know at one time (late 1970's and early 1980's) the Newspapers had a sales team, then Channel 2's sales person, and finally the Radio sales rep would call on customers. News gathering it appears TV and radio "share" stories. We can not get the AJC delievered to our home any more so I am not sure about the difference between print and on line, but the was a difference between Newspaper and TV / Radio stories years ago. IIRC several years ago, the AJC let about a third of their reporters good when they downsized the paper's news content and tried to be the Atlanta version of USA Today.

 

[TheBigA]

I was wondering if there was some kind of language in it that was dependent on the final outcome of this case (i.e., Cox only had a waiver while the matter was in the courts).

Not that I can see. Whatever their waiver says still holds.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

We can not get the AJC delievered to our home any more so I am not sure about the difference between print and on line, but the was a difference between Newspaper and TV / Radio stories years ago. IIRC several years ago, the AJC let about a third of their reporters good when they downsized the paper's news content and tried to be the Atlanta version of USA Today.

All forms of media seem to be having to adjust to changing economic conditions.

I apparently live at the edge of the home delivery area. My home delivery service has "gone to hell in a handbasket" as far as timeliness and dependability. When the courier arrive mid-morning with today's failed delivery, I engaged in some conversation about having a troubled carrier on my route apparently. I got an earful of information about the changes in the mechanics of home delivery.... how the carriers are paid.... how the "related" to the paper... and where they now have to travel to to get their papers. The AJC has not only downsized the reporting staff... they have downsized the delivery mechanism. The paper that used to dependably be laying in my driveway at 5 to 5:30 A.M. now shows up anywhere from 7:30 to 10:30 A.M. .... if I call and raise some dust about being missed again.... and again.... and again.