"Ain't Free Speech Grand?"

Things have happened recently that would have been impossible to perceive when I started my entertainment career in 1960. For example Lorimar purchased Telepictures, Warner Bros. Purchased Lorimar, Time Inc. merged with Warner Bros. And AOL bought Time-Warner.

Do the same for Viacom, Disney, GE, etc.

Many Americans have fought against these media consolidations with most people concerned about the lack of diversity in our media. This concern primarily was manifest by the idea that in 2001 News Corp/FOX, GE/NBC, Disney/ABC, AOL/Time-Warner and Viacom/CBS/UPN controlled broadcast media in this country.

While it was not possible to conceive that anything in the past could be reversed, my concern was that further consolidations could occur. The giants not satisfied that they have eaten the vast majority of the information and entertainment delivery systems in our country have now gone to a federal appeals court to overturn the limits of the number of stations they can own (presently 35% of US television households). They have had the temerity to state "by preventing existing entities from expanding, the national ownership cap. Hinders condition and diversity to the detriment of the public at large and deprives certain localities of the kinds of superior program that only a national broadcaster is able to provide." The networks went on to say existing are arbitrary and violate their constitutional rights to free speech. There are now 370 owners of one or more of the 1340 commercial stations operating today down from 749 station owners in 1995.

These giant companies would only like to devour independent media outlets in this country in order to manifest complete power in the broadcast media. This will serve to increase their profitability however that is not the principle issue. Those who control the broadcast media will control the process that elects mayor's governor's congressmen senators and presidents. If they have their way what voices will be heard by America that do not come from Sumner Redstone, Michael Eisner, Steve Case, Jack Welch or Rupert Murdock.

It's difficult to understand how the attorneys for these companies maintain that "existing rules are arbitrary and violate their constitutional rights to free speech." Is there a value to my right of free speech when these five media giants control virtually all the TV outlets in this country? How about these five big guys buying all the newspapers in the US stating that any regulations preventing this violate their right of free speech. How about their buying all of the radio stations in this country stating that any regulation preventing this would violate their right of free speech. These giants would like to "eat America for lunch" and will apparently continue to do whatever is necessary to accomplish their goal.

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