P
purplepassion
Guest
News Release
January 3, 2008
Manhattan Broadcasting radio stations seek relief from anticompetitive and unfair practices by Morris Communications and Arbitron, Inc.
A Manhattan, Kansas based broadcasting company has filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission, requesting immediate relief from anticompetitive and unfair practices. Manhattan Broadcasting Co., Inc. filed the complaint December 21, 2007, contending that Morris Communications Company, LLC and Arbitron, Inc. have conspired to create a new, gerrymandered, Arbitron "Metro" market joining the two separate Micropolitan statistical areas of Salina and Manhattan as established by the Federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB), despite the two being separated by nearly 70 miles. According to the complaint, this new metro was created at the behest of Morris Communications for the sum of $250,000 to be paid to Arbitron over 5 years to artificially enhance Morris Communications market share in attempt to "cream skim national and regional advertising dollars" to the detriment of all other radio stations and the people they serve within the proposed metro. The complaint also contends Morris and Arbitron deliberately and arbitrarily ignored established listening patterns in creating the new market and instituted the change without the consent of, or even notification to, any of the other affected radio stations in the area. Due to the competitive advantage Morris Communications could receive from this contrived market, as well as the possible negative implications on the FCC's goals of competition and diversity of ownership, Manhattan Broadcasting has asked the FCC to take immediate action in suspending the creation of this new Arbitron Metro market as well as preventing the release of any results from the survey which is expected to be completed by the end of this month.
Manhattan Broadcasting Co., Inc. owns and operates KMAN-AM, KMKF-FM, KXBZ-FM all licensed to Manhattan, KS and KACZ-FM licensed to Riley, KS. Morris Communications Company, LLC owns eight individual stations licensed to Abilene, Salina, west Fort Riley, and Topeka.
January 3, 2008
Manhattan Broadcasting radio stations seek relief from anticompetitive and unfair practices by Morris Communications and Arbitron, Inc.
A Manhattan, Kansas based broadcasting company has filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission, requesting immediate relief from anticompetitive and unfair practices. Manhattan Broadcasting Co., Inc. filed the complaint December 21, 2007, contending that Morris Communications Company, LLC and Arbitron, Inc. have conspired to create a new, gerrymandered, Arbitron "Metro" market joining the two separate Micropolitan statistical areas of Salina and Manhattan as established by the Federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB), despite the two being separated by nearly 70 miles. According to the complaint, this new metro was created at the behest of Morris Communications for the sum of $250,000 to be paid to Arbitron over 5 years to artificially enhance Morris Communications market share in attempt to "cream skim national and regional advertising dollars" to the detriment of all other radio stations and the people they serve within the proposed metro. The complaint also contends Morris and Arbitron deliberately and arbitrarily ignored established listening patterns in creating the new market and instituted the change without the consent of, or even notification to, any of the other affected radio stations in the area. Due to the competitive advantage Morris Communications could receive from this contrived market, as well as the possible negative implications on the FCC's goals of competition and diversity of ownership, Manhattan Broadcasting has asked the FCC to take immediate action in suspending the creation of this new Arbitron Metro market as well as preventing the release of any results from the survey which is expected to be completed by the end of this month.
Manhattan Broadcasting Co., Inc. owns and operates KMAN-AM, KMKF-FM, KXBZ-FM all licensed to Manhattan, KS and KACZ-FM licensed to Riley, KS. Morris Communications Company, LLC owns eight individual stations licensed to Abilene, Salina, west Fort Riley, and Topeka.