AlanBarber.Org
Friday, May 30, 2003
Peaceniks find something new to complain about...
Read an opinion article over at The Register. Of course being over at The Register was my first mistake but I won't digress.The jist of the article is that on monday the FCC is lifting regulations that currrently prevent companies from owning too many newspaper, tv and radio stations in an area. As a result of this action... Clear Channel Worldwide and other multinational conglomerates will quickly swoop in and buy every media outlet availible. Then we're all doomed becuase these media companies are all out to stuff propaganda down our throats and turn us into mindless drones to repeat the company line, listen to watered down junk music, and listen to hours and hours of ads.
Or some junk like that... I'm not really sure what the point was becuase I was laughing too much at the liberal crybaby attitude of the writter. There are important issues involved in the de-regulation but I'd rather comment on this article than the other issues. It's more fun anyways
For those that aren't in the know here's a bit about Clear Channel Worldwide. They own around 1200 radio stations and 50 tv stations in the US. With investments in another 250 overseas. Plus they own many of the major show venues in the US.
The fact of the matter is Clear Channel basically operates in about about 90% of the market. You can say this is good or bad, personally I don't care!
CCW happens to be a conservative company and in fact broadcasts Rush Limbaugh's daily talk radio show. They've also funded and promoted pro-war rallies. Here in lies the real issue of the complaints and the truth gets out. The people doing the complaing are liberal anti-war protestors/peace-niks and CCW is very much a conservative company.
They're all woried becuase in their minds this happens just in time for the upcoming 2004 elections. They seem to think CCW is going to be doing nothing but broadcasting pro-Bush/Republican and anti-Democrat messages for the next year.
I think they're getting all hot and bothered over nothing. I agree it's not a good thing for a few large groups to control all the media outlets. But I also belive they won't start using their control to force propaganda and political views. OK they probabbly will but things always have a way of fixing itself.
If CCW buys out 99% of the media outlets and starts doing nothing but showing one side of a story people will realize it. They'll stop watching, listening, and reading CCW owned outlets. CCW will loose money and have to change their ways or die. It's that simple. They are a publically owned company and if they start screwing up their stockholders will step in, fire the managers, and hire new ones that don't do the same thing.
So Just relax people. If you take the time to think logically you'll be more relaxed and have a happier life!
on 05/30/2003 at 07:39 PM