Tucson Falls Victim to Covert Consolidation

Raycom Media has taken control of three TV stations in Tucson in a covert consolidation deal. The new virtual triopoly will result in dozens of layoffs, as local anchor Lou Raguse noted on the air yesterday.

When Raycom takes over operations of Belo-owned KMSB and KTTU, Raycom’s station KOLD will produce all of the news for the three stations. "KOLD will, by contract, provide certain services to support the operations of KMSB and KTTU, including producing local news in high definition, in-depth weather, traffic and sports, and website administration,” said a Belo spokesperson in an email to Broadcasting & Cable.

Richard Prince of the Maynard Institute, which promotes diversity in journalism, noted in an article Wednesday that one-third of the news staff at KMSB-TV, the station impacted by layoffs, is black or Latino.

This figure is significant when placed in context: While people of color make up 35 percent of the U.S. population, that diversity is not reflected in the media. Only about 20 percent of TV journalists are people of color, including staff at Spanish-language stations.

Raycom Media is the company behind at least two other virtual triopolies — one in Richmond, Va., and one in Honolulu, where residents filed a formal complaint at the Federal Communications Commission two years ago. (The FCC has yet to respond to this complaint.)  

Raycom is not the only company using these deals to get around the FCC’s ownership rules. Free Press research found that more than 50 percent of Americans live in areas affected by this harmful practice. It’s important to remember that the airwaves media corporations use belong to the public, and the FCC needs better rules to protect our interests. That means closing the loopholes that have allowed covert consolidation to become so pervasive — and have destroyed competition, jobs and access to local news.

The FCC is currently reviewing its media ownership rules, and should use this opportunity to stop covert consolidation.

Free Press is a national, nonpartisan organization working to reform the media. Free Press does not support or oppose any candidate for public office. Through education, organizing and advocacy, we promote diverse and independent media ownership, strong public media and universal access to communications.