Is it a good Idea for foreign networks to buy Local TV stations in the USA?

[recto101]

Well we let Australian and UK based News Corp to buy the Fox O&O's here in USA. Is Azteca, and Univision US based or Latin American based? Well because i noticed that in some TV markets that Spanish language shows have higher ratings and better show quality than some
US TV shows. Why not let CCTV China, ABS-CBN Philippines and GMA TV Philippines buy some local stations in the USA particulary in San Francisco. If ABS-CBN and CCTV China can run a successful Cable network why not let CCTV and ABS-CBN debate if they should buy KRON4. However this move is too risky and will get nowhere because of Political oppostion at the FCC and will be too contraversial for the rest of the USA.

[radioprince]

If CCTV China decide to buy KRON 4 or any local TV stations in the USA, let's look forward to Communist Party start to gain some control over the airwaves in the US.

I have seen KTSF, KMTP, and KCNS carry some programming from CCTV China.... especially on KMTP's Channel 32.2 World Channel Television.

[w9wi]

Well we let Australian and UK based News Corp to buy the Fox O&O's here in USA. Is Azteca, and Univision US based or Latin American based? Well because i noticed that in some TV markets that Spanish language shows have higher ratings and better show quality than some
US TV shows. Why not let CCTV China, ABS-CBN Philippines and GMA TV Philippines buy some local stations in the USA particulary in San Francisco. If ABS-CBN and CCTV China can run a successful Cable network why not let CCTV and ABS-CBN debate if they should buy KRON4. However this move is too risky and will get nowhere because of Political oppostion at the FCC and will be too contraversial for the rest of the USA.

Foreign interests cannot own a controlling interest in U.S. broadcast stations.  Rupert Murdoch had to take out U.S. citizenship to take control of the Fox O&Os, and there was still controversy as to who really controlled Fox.  (Murdoch, a U.S. citizen, or a collection of Australians?)

Now, there is nothing to prevent foreign interests from controlling *networks* which provide programs to U.S. stations.  It's just that they can't control any OTA affiliates.

[e-dawg]

If CCTV China decide to buy KRON 4 or any local TV stations in the USA, let's look forward to Communist Party start to gain some control over the airwaves in the US.

I have seen KTSF, KMTP, and KCNS carry some programming from CCTV China.... especially on KMTP's Channel 32.2 World Channel Television.

Yeah, but they also carried Taiwan and Hong Kong TV news and program.  Are you saying that all Chinese program are communist?  You should know that Hong Kong and Taiwan have freedom of the press.

[Lkeller]

If CCTV China decide to buy KRON 4 or any local TV stations in the USA, let's look forward to Communist Party start to gain some control over the airwaves in the US.

I have seen KTSF, KMTP, and KCNS carry some programming from CCTV China.... especially on KMTP's Channel 32.2 World Channel Television.

I'm not sure "The New KRON 4 - your Bay Area Commie Station" wouldn't be an improvement. 

[landtuna]

You should know that Hong Kong and Taiwan have freedom of the press.

I'm not sure that statement is totally accurate.  Hong Kong is now governed by the PRC and although it is much more capitalistic than the mainland I doubt true freedom of the airways extends to unwelcome commentary on the PRC.

Likewise Taiwan.  Technically a "free" nation but in reality a very tight knit nationalistic government.  I doubt much is broadcast without government approval/censorship.  Taiwan was a military dictatorship when I was stationed there years ago and I doubt it has loosened up much since.

[recto101]

If CCTV China decide to buy KRON 4 or any local TV stations in the USA, let's look forward to Communist Party start to gain some control over the airwaves in the US.

I have seen KTSF, KMTP, and KCNS carry some programming from CCTV China.... especially on KMTP's Channel 32.2 World Channel Television.

I'm not sure "The New KRON 4 - your Bay Area Commie Station" wouldn't be an improvement. 

I think ABS-CBN and AlJazeera should consider buying KRON 4 or KKPX 65 the reasion is that if more people are watching foreign TV shows in the Bay Area over US Shows then why not have foreign networks decide on buying local TV stations in the USA. If Los Angeles, Houston and Miami have records indicating that more people watch Hispanic TV shows that US Tv Shows then why not do it. Just don't do it in Lou Dobbs Backyard. 

[recto101]

You should know that Hong Kong and Taiwan have freedom of the press.

I'm not sure that statement is totally accurate.  Hong Kong is now governed by the PRC and although it is much more capitalistic than the mainland I doubt true freedom of the airways extends to unwelcome commentary on the PRC.

Likewise Taiwan.  Technically a "free" nation but in reality a very tight knit nationalistic government.  I doubt much is broadcast without government approval/censorship.  Taiwan was a military dictatorship when I was stationed there years ago and I doubt it has loosened up much since.

TVBS in Taiwan should be a better candidate to buy US local TV stations rather than CCTV and NHK in Japan.

[stationi]

I know of at least one case right now of foreign ownership of a station in the United States.  The station, WGEN, is owned 25% by Colombian broadcaster Caracol TV.  Another station, KAZA, is owned by Pappas Telecasting but I believe TV Azteca of Mexico lent Pappas Telecasting the money to purchase the station and as a result exerts control over the station's programming (i.e. air our programming or we demand our money back.)

[w9wi]

I know of at least one case right now of foreign ownership of a station in the United States.  The station, WGEN, is owned 25% by Colombian broadcaster Caracol TV.  Another station, KAZA, is owned by Pappas Telecasting but I believe TV Azteca of Mexico lent Pappas Telecasting the money to purchase the station and as a result exerts control over the station's programming (i.e. air our programming or we demand our money back.)

If the Caracol control is indirect then 25% is legal.  I'm sure there are many more cases of partial foreign ownership, where the percentage of foreign control is well below the 25% limit.  (I might imagine most stations have at least a small proportion of foreign ownership)

The KAZA case pushes my understanding of the law. (I'm an engineer, not a lawyer)   What I think the situation is...  is that any contract between any non-controlling partner (U.S. or foreign) cannot prevent the licensee from refusing any programming they find unsuitable, and cannot prevent the licensee from preempting any programming when they feel something else is more in the public interest. 

Quoting from 47USC310(b): http://www.fcc.gov/Reports/1934new.pdf

SEC. 310. [47 U.S.C. 310] LIMITATION ON HOLDING AND TRANSFER
OF LICENSES.
       (a) The station license required under this Act shall not be granted to or
held by any foreign government or the representative thereof.
       (b) No broadcast or common carrier or aeronautical en route or
aeronautical fixed radio station license shall be granted to or held by--
                (1) any alien or the representative of any alien;
                (2) any corporation organized under the laws of any foreign
       government;
                (3) any corporation of which more than one-fifth of the capital
       stock is owned of record or voted by aliens or their representatives or by a
       foreign government or representative thereof or by any corporation
       organized under the laws of a foreign country;
                (4) any corporation directly or indirectly controlled by any other
       corporation of which more than one-fourth of the capital stock is owned of
       record or voted by aliens, their representatives, or by a foreign government
       or representative thereof, or by any corporation organized under the laws
       of a foreign country, if the Commission finds that the public interest will be
       served by the refusal or revocation of such license.