Hearst-Argyle Makes Time for Politics

HEARST-ARGYLE MAKES TIME FOR POLITICS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Hearst-Argyle owned TV stations that offer local news (there's 26 of them) will offer in the 30 days before both general elections and primaries 10 minutes per day of election news and candidate-centered airtime. And at least five will be original content. Yes, 5 minutes a day of original election coverage for 60 days/year -- this is the kinda stuff we should give medals for -- or, at least, very valuable spectrum licenses. Some in Congress, which will ultimately determine whether broadcasters get multicast digital must-carry, want political airtime to be one of broadcasters' explicit public-interest obligations in the digital age. Broadcasters have balked at mandatory minimums but have increasingly offered airtime.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6319103?display=Breaking+News

For more on broadcasters' public interest obligations, see --
* Citizen’s Guide to the Public Interest Obligations of Digital Television Broadcasters
http://www.benton.org/pioguide/index.html