Where have I been? I knew that Clear Channel was taking over the Twin Cities
- and the world - advertising outlets. I did NOT know that Red McCombs is he
owner of Clear Channel.
Now, you've got my attention (did you ever lose it?). Nothing - nothing -
ever broadcast on those outlets can ever again be believed viz. stadium
financing. My gawd, you'd think these guys would have had it in the bag by
now with such concentration of control. You opponents should applaud
yourselves for overcoming such media power.
What better example of just how serious this multi-outlet ownership really
is. And these are the issues that never come up during a presidential
campaign.
For all you people supporting de-regulation of everything - how do you like
the lack of competition deregulation was supposed to guarantee? How do you
like the fact that only one airline services this market - and not well at
all. How do you like the massive monopoly that is now Xcel Energy operating
increasingly without regulation - the only public accountability when a
monopoly exists.
Monopolies destroy capitalism. Healthy capitalism relies for its health on
healthy competition, but the quest for market share drives corporations
toward consolidation and monopoly structures which the anti-trust laws were
written to prevent. The US has enforced the Sherman Anti-trust Act and other
anti-monopolistic laws and regulations about .5% of the time in the last 50
years.
The FCC has let loose all the reins the Communications Act of 1934 held in
keeping broadcasters serving the interest, convenience and necessity of the
public. Once companies could own no more than seven radio stations (seven
each of Am FM outlets) and five television outlets - period. That system
meant that multiple-station markets would not be controlled by one or two
owners. And newspapers were not allowed to own broadcast outlets in the same
market. All of it is out the window. The public has absolutely no control
over its own airwaves anymore, and it shows in the crap that's aired all the
time all over this town. Public service is no longer required, so out it
goes. We're completely at the mercy of Disney and Red McCombs and we should
be very afraid.
Andy Driscoll
Saint Paul
--
The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who, in times of
moral crisis, remain neutral --Dante
From: richard carney [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 15:11:49 -0600
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [Mpls] city pages school story
David Brauer wrote:
I think you're mistaken; Vikings owner Red McCombs owns
Clear Channel. Still a conflict, but the KFAN announcers - self-mocking
types; I used to be one - point out this conflict regularly.
If anything, this conflict would lead the station to be anti-Twins stadium
because the loss of the Twins greatly benefits the Vikings in many ways, not
the least of which is in pursuit of a stadium.
FYI: Vikings owner Red McCombs is co-founder of and owns 2.5% of Clear
Channel, and Clear Channel owns:
KDWB-FM
KEEY-FM
KFAN-AM
KFXN-AM
KQQL-FM
KTCZ-FM
WLOL-FM
among about 1200 stations nationwide. They also own Adshel Eller Media which
is responsible for a mess of billboards around town. Get ready for the stadium
push onslaught!
Got Milk?
richard carney
st. paul
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