FCC Cracking Down on Joint Service Agreements

This from the tip box...one can't help but wonder what Nexstar/Mission Broadcasting thinks about this.


The Federal Communications Commission voted Monday to bar companies from controlling two or more TV stations in the same local market by using a single advertising sales staff.
 
The commission voted 3-2 to support Chairman Tom Wheeler's proposal to crack down on joint ad sales agreements between TV stations, which have proliferated in part because of a wave of consolidation in the broadcast industry. There are 128 joint-sales agreements in place around the country, according to Patrick Communications, a telecom brokerage firm in Maryland.

As a result of the vote, any station handling more than 15% of ad sales for another station will be considered the owner of both going forward, similar to how the FCC's rules treat radio stations. Stations will have two years to unwind the agreements or secure a waiver from the FCC.