Minority Broadcasters Seek Bailout
by Brian JenningsWell if we can spend millions to protect the salt marsh mouse in San Francisco Bay, we can surely shell out billions to bail out minority broadcasters. It’s good for the economy and after all Congress is on record as saying it needs to save our nation’s newspapers, too. So, the table is set for government financial intervention of the media.
Minority broadcasters are asking tax-cheat Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner for financial assistance. Sounds like the financial and auto industries, and it is. These broadcasters, including the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters, the Inner City Broadcasting Coalition, the Spanish Broadcasting System, and others say they can bounce back because “unlike the auto business, broadcasting has been healthy for many years.” Has it now?
Ad revenues for broadcasters started declining severely in late 2007 and throughout 2008 were down up to 40% in some cases. The ad decline not only impacted broadcasters, it impacted newspaper groups and many such as the Seattle Post Intelligencer and others have gone out of business. Stock prices of some radio groups have fallen to absolutely nothing. So, minority broadcasters have a rosy picture ahead?
Most industry financial forecasters say local ad revenue for 2009 will be down 22% and most ad revenue is derived locally. This will continue into 2010 and these forecasters say (maybe) it will begin to turn in the last half of 2010. But, we also heard that forecast for 2009 and it was false.
As the nation digs itself further into debt and unemployment continues to increase, media is being hit as hard as any sector. But, there is an important point to be made. Perhaps suspect business models should be allowed to fail. If there is bailout money for minority broadcasters, what about bailout money for the nation’s non-minority broadcasters who face what many believe is their only path – bankruptcy. The answer to that is a forgone conclusion. Minorities will get a bailout because after all they are minorities and deserve special treatment. But, other broadcasters – especially the consolidated media will not get a dime. No media should be bailed out.
The bottom line is the table is set for more government intrusion into media. When government bails out media, it will want a hand in how that media is operated. It’s exactly what the government wants. Red flags should be waving en masse. Any media that considers itself an objective voice should refuse government bailout money and fall on the sword even if it means going out of business. Where government plays a role in the nation’s financial structure of media, danger to our core freedoms exists. We already have National Public Radio and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and even with taxpayer money these organizations are hurting.
We need to keep the fox out of the chicken coop and let the free marketplace selectively reward or destroy businesses as the free market economy was meant to work. But, I forget, there is no “free” marketplace in the Obama Administration’s game-plan. Expect the lineup at the public trough to grow longer.
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32 Comments
The key here is not so much "minority" broadcasters, but F.O.A. broadcasters. Most bailout money is directed towards rewarding supporters and cementing that relationship. As you point out, the chilling part is that once government's foot is in the door . . . . chilling!
The key here is not so much "minority" broadcasters, but F.O.O. broadcasters. Most bailout money is directed towards rewarding supporters and cementing that relationship. As you point out, the chilling part is that once government's foot is in the door . . . . chilling!
Can you say, Backdoor Fairness Doctrine?
test
Oh, not to worry. It's just The Chosen Messiah who wants to control the media. He'd never do anything corrupt or inappropriate with that power. He is completely trust-worthy.
- Obi Wan
[...] Minority Broadcasters Seek Bailout This entry is filed under America – Blogs, Big Hollywood. You can follow any responses to this [...]
So…they're willing to become Washington mouthpieces. Wow.
Non-white doesn't = "mentally challenged"
They're perfectly able to compete like everyone else
AS A BLACK, I BELIEVE IN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED AND TO FAIL. IF A BUSINESS, MAJORITY OR MINORITY FAILS, IT SHOULD FAIL.
They already are willing Washington mouthpieces, which is why people aren't listening to them.
I think we will see the government intrude into our lives in so many new and, frankly, once unthinkable ways over the next 3.5 years, that it should make certain orifices pucker in fear and trepidation. The Obamites are just getting started.
Might as well accept a favor from Don Corleone.
Come on, kids! Trophies for everybody!
"These aren't the droids you're looking for."
"These aren't the droids you're looking for."
You mean the way it's not intruding in our lives by making sure people can't marry who they choose to marry?
Well they may not be the auto business, but they sure as hell depend on it for ad revenue. This minority ownership rule first began back in the eighties with the 80/90 doctrine. The FCC dropped in a bunch of new frquencies and auctioned them off. The key was having a minority at the helm, who usually sold and made a tidy profit for nothing. There were also many robust black owned groups, who sold their stations to Clear Channel or Citadel for obscene profits. Innercity being one. Now, they want to force it again? Again, maybe there are too many stations, and some should fail to save the others. But that's capitalism – that won't work?
Well they may not be the auto business, but they sure as hell depend on it for ad revenue. This minority ownership rule first began back in the eighties with the 80/90 doctrine. The FCC dropped in a bunch of new frequencies and auctioned them off. The key was having a minority at the helm, who usually sold and made a tidy profit for nothing. There were also many robust black owned groups, who sold their stations to Clear Channel or Citadel for obscene profits. Innercity being one. Now, they want to force it again? Again, maybe there are too many stations, and some should fail to save the others. But that's capitalism – that won't work?
You could get a job as censor on Obama's team…
The government will own majority stakes in the media companies like the auto companies and the banks.
A win – win situation for Hussein Obama,
Healthcare=Governent
Banks=Governent
Insurance=Governent
Auto Manufactuer=Governent
What is left ?
Racist !
/
Pathetic…
Maybe everyone should be forced to watch Blazing Saddles at least once a week.
Maybe they think that, since they are already Washington mouthpieces, they should be getting PAID for it.
Hmmm…
The US government must continue to pay as 150 years ago blacks were slaves in the world, and 40 years ago the most of the world had Jim Crow like laws.
Ignore that the Chinese were also enslaved, yet they…well…they're doing better than just fine.
Do not forget the other oppressed-by-bad-men-groups – women and gays.
On The Other Hand
True story. A small business owner – and friend of mine – contacted a government agency (SBA) for financial assistant a few months ago. The government employee asked, "Is the business owned by a woman, black or gay?" He said, "No." They replied, "Then we cannot help you."
[...] all brings me to a blog published on Big Hollywood by a man named Brian Jennings. Jennings goes on and on about how the country is going into debt [...]
The mainstream media is on board with the liberals. What else do they need?
What ever happened to creating a product that people wanted to buy? Subsidizing minority broadcasters (or any broadcasters) is the equivalent of letting everyone win at baseball. Where's the fun in that?
Why do we taxpayers have to fund National Endowment For the Arts? Why do we have to fund PBS? We most certainly should not have to fund news outlets who are suffering because no one wants to buy their product. I am so damned sick of our government.
Are they really? Decades of Affirmative Action, quotas, and incessant government meddling have seriously damaged minorities by giving them the same (or better) results for less effort/talent than whites. On the whole, people are lazy. If they don't have incentive to better themselves, they won't, and minority groups have had no incentive to rise above sub-par, while whites have to perform at a superior level in AA environments to make progress. Adversity breeds strength, and too many minorities have had Big Bro making sure they don't run into anyadversity.
It's roughly analogous to a man who breaks his leg, but continues using a crutch years after the leg was fully healed. We need to rip that crutch away. It will be a painful process to regain the strength to operate without the crutch, but it's necessary to avoid being permanently self-crippled.
End government entitlements.
http://www.urbancure.org/default.asp
You are confused. You've equated maintaining a reasonable definition with a radical left-wing agenda to gain a semblance of respectability and to justify behavior by redefining reality. Come back if you can figure out the difference.
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