Coalition for Noncommercial Media (CNM) filed motion for prelimin...
Coalition for Noncommercial Media (CNM) filed motion for preliminary injunction with FCC seeking to block Western N.Y. Public Bcstg. Assn.(WNYPBA) from allowing its noncommercial TV station WNEQ-TV Buffalo to be operated commercially following its decision to sell station to…
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LIN TV for $26.2 million (CD Nov 9 p5). Motion came on heels of petition by CNM to deny WNYPBA’s application with FCC for voluntary assignment of license of WNEQ- TV to LIN TV. Saying it was not unusual for FCC to “consume 7 years investigating allegations” in petition to deny, CNM said that unless status quo were maintained during that time, denial of application would be “a hollow remedy.” In addition to WNEQ-TV (Ch. 23), WNYPBA has been operating WNED-TV (Ch. 17) noncommercially to carry mainstream PBS schedule, CNM said, and FCC’s April 2000 modification of table of TV allotments de- reserving Ch. 23 and making Ch. 17 reserved was not final order as CNM had sought review in U.S. Appeals Court, D.C. FCC decision based on allotments policy didn’t address whether “it would serve the public interest for Buffalo, or any other community, to surrender a noncommercial TV station to commercial operation,” it said. WNEQ-TV’s LMA is unlike others because it actually would combine commercial and noncommercial service on same channel, CNM said. That would confuse audience by “deploying the prestige and integrity of public broadcaster to promote the offerings of a commercial enterprise,” it said.