The National Association of Broadcasters says registered voters support the elimination of the national broadcast ownership cap for television — and the association says “there are clear political consequences for lawmakers” who don’t agree.
NAB commissioned a study by research firm Fabrizio Ward. It posted the findings here.
The national cap limits entities from owning or controlling broadcast television stations that, in aggregate, reach more than 39% of television audience households in the country.
“Voters say the cap is unfair and they want government to give local stations a fair chance to compete for advertising and audience against Big Tech platforms, which face no such restrictions,” NAB said in a press release.
The survey found that “58% of voters say the 39% ownership restriction is unfair, including 33% who say it is very unfair, while just 20% say it is unfair.”
NAB said the survey shows that voters “want local broadcasters to compete nationally for advertising by a 42-point margin.”
It said voters say they are more likely (36%) rather than less likely (13%) to vote for a member of Congress who “supports allowing local station owners to compete nationally for advertising.” And they are less likely (36%) rather than more likely (12%) to vote for “a member of Congress who opposes reform.”
It said 52% want government policies to “make it easier for local TV stations to compete for advertisers against Big Tech while just 9% think government should make it harder.”
And the survey found that local TV remains a trusted source of news.
Fabrizio Ward surveyed 1,000 registered voters in late January using cell, landline and SMS to web channels.
NAB President/CEO Curtis LeGeyt said voters think “the government should not impose arbitrary limits on trusted local broadcasters while Big Tech platforms face no such restrictions.”
Bob Ward of Fabrizio Ward told NAB, “Voters see this as a fairness issue, and they respond to where elected officials stand.”
The results seem to contradict a recent poll commissioned by the National Hispanic Media Coalition and Defend the Press Campaign which found that large majorities of likely voters in the upcoming mid-term elections opposed “large national broadcasters buying up or merging with local TV stations.” Read about there here.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is seen as sympathetic to the idea of easing broadcast ownership limits. President Trump last fall expressed opposition to changing the national cap.
