FCC Waives Rules For Decatur Duopoly

FCC WAIVES RULES FOR DECATUR DUOPOLY
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The FCC has waived its duopoly rules to allow Gocom Media to buy failing station and CW affiliate WBUI-TV Decatur (IL) from ACME Television. The FCC prevents duopolies in markets where allowing one owner to own two stations would not leave at least 8 independently owned TV's in the market, as would be the case in Decatur, where Gocom already owns WRSP, the Fox affiliate. But it makes exceptions for financial hardship. ACME's CFO Thomas Allen told the FCC that the station had lost money for three years running and saw no change in that short of joint operation with another station. Before it can qualify for a failed station waiver, the seller must show that it tried to sell the station to a buyer who would not need the waiver. Allen said Acme did so with no "meaningful interest."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6478493.html?rssid=193

* FCC decision: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-3916A1.doc