The Federal Communications Commission in the US has amended its merger rules so that one of the four major television networks can now acquire the smaller, ’emerging’ networks, UPN and WB.
The four majors – ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC – could each now take control of one or both of the emerging networks. The FCC has decided that, given the increasing competition from cable and satellite broadcasters, the old rules preventing such mergers no longer apply.
The FCC is also under pressure from the major broadcasters to remove the competition restrictions which prevent any one network from having access to more than 35% of the US population (see International News)
