The Daily Show - New York Times

In an Op-Ed last Sunday by Kevin Martin, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, he proposes lifting some restrictions on media ownership which would benefit newspaper owners:

"This relatively minor loosening of the ban on cross-ownership of newspapers and TV stations in markets where there are many voices and sufficient competition to allow for new entrants would help strike a balance between ensuring the quality of local news while guarding against too much concentration."

No mention of the Internet at all, which is refreshing, but it's surprising to read a pro-media consolidation opinion in the usually lefty New York Times. Many newspapers own digital property and do very well on it, so stepping back to broadcast is counterintuitive. The thesis is that for newspapers to save themselves they need to be allowed to purchase local television stations. It's not hard to see the reverse happening, and CBS simply buying the largest newspaper in every market in which they have a local affiliate. I'm not sure that would be good for newspapers or their readers.