Armstrong Williams

Over the past few decades, the notion of a world without the newspaper industry has gone from grimly conceivable to a foregone conclusion. Once the cornerstone of localism and community, over the past two decades, the local newspaper has become nearly extinct. History is set to repeat itself in the broadcast television space. From 2014 to 2019, the total percentage of local advertising dollars spent on broadcast television fell from 14.3% to 11.2%. By 2023, BIA Kelsey forecasts, that percentage will drop to 9.7%.

[Commentary] As the largest US minority broadcast owner, I believe JSAs (joint services agreements) and SSAs (sales service agreements) are critically important to providing a pathway for minorities to enter into broadcast ownership. Minority broadcasters are having a tough time surviving and meeting their financial obligations under the current FCC rules and guidelines. The Obama administration and his FCC removed rules of policy that were in place since 1991, and the current policies would have killed minority broadcasting if Congress did not step into the fray and grandfather all JSA/LMA rules for 10 years.

Of the more than 2,000 TV stations in the country, only 12 are owned by minorities and I happen to own 7 out of the 12, which is an indication that we must do more to open the doors of opportunity for others. Building the right relationships and using them to help others has been key for me and my survival and undoubtedly will be key to those advocating for more diversity in broadcast ownership.

[Armstrong Williams is manager and sole owner of Howard Stirk Holdings I & II Broadcast Television Stations and executive editor of American CurrentSee, an online magazine. ]