Murdoch Predicts Veto on FCC Bill

[Khephra]

News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch said there's a 60-40 chance that President George W. Bush will veto a bill that blocks a federal rule allowing television networks such as Murdoch's Fox to buy more local stations.

Bush will veto the bill if he has enough support in Congress to sustain the move, Murdoch said yesterday in remarks at a Morgan Stanley media and communications conference in Boston. The Federal Communications Commission passed new media-ownership rules in June.

"If there's any chance at all of the presidential veto being upheld by either the Senate or Congress, I think you'll find that Bush will veto it and the new rules put out by the FCC will stand," Murdoch said. "I give that a 60-40 chance." The Senate Appropriations Committee last week approved a bill that would block the rule. Interest groups including the National Rifle Association and Consumers Union have argued that it would reduce programming diversity. Networks including Viacom Inc.'s CBS, General Electric Co.'s NBC and Fox say consolidation will help them compete with cable and satellite TV.

more................

http://www.newsday.com/business/printedition/ny-bzfcc093446959sep09,0,5623524.story?coll=ny-business-print

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. And when Rupert Murdoch speaks,

people listen.

[saigon68]

2. WHEN MURDOCH SPEAKS , HIS LAPDOG CHIMP DOES HIS BIDDING

This is naked power and influence at its most BRAZEN and SHAMELESS IN YOUR FACE application.

[Catholic Sensation]

3. people listen

because Murdoch is "fair and balanced." Remember, his channels report, and we get to decide!

[Democat]

4. The NRA versus Murdoch

Which of his backers will Bush choose?

[w4rma]

5. That Australian media mongul is the biggest Nazi of them all

Bigger and worse that Bush, IMHO.

[0007]

6. So junior Murdoch and the FCC

steam rolls over the American people.

Fuck Michael Powell.

[hang a left]

7. The master plan is more important

that the NRA. Who cares if they don't vote for Bush. "They" will make sure they get their president, whether or not he has a D or an R on his shirt. Murdoch should know.

[kainah]

8. Go ahead and veto it, smirk!

I'm amazed by how many people are upset over this. In good old repug Wyoming, this is a hot issue and I've not heard ANYONE who supports the FCC position. Combine this veto with the Patriot Act and *'s large number of libertarian-leaning supporters are going to be mightily disillusioned. I don't believe they'll vote for the Dem but I believe many of them might just forget to go to the polls.

And, yet again, I'll enter a plea for the Dem party to wake up and smell the opportunities in the intermountain West!!!!!

[ixion]

9. shouldn't this title be...

Murdoch "Predict$$" Veto on FCC Bill :grr:

Yeah, you know if Murdoch can get the fix in, he will. :grr:

[leesa]

10. I would say it's closer to 100% certain Bush will veto

I 'spect Murdoch's final payment for services rendered was made a short time ago.

[KittyWampus]

11. Junior Desperately NEEDS The FCC Rules To Change

So that the mergers that would happen immediately after would provide a bubble for the '04 Elections.

[w4rma]

12. The problem with that (for Bush*) is that it will mean *more* job loss

even though stocks will go up.

[Hawkeye-X]

13. And I predict that in 2005, Murdoch will see his US citizenship

permanently revoked and forcibly removed from the US back to Australia where he can preach his right-wing crap. Also, he will be forced to sell DirecTV back to someone else who is fair and balanced.

Hawkeye-X

[Zhade]

14. I HATE THIS MAN.

It's so bad that I almost hope I do get laid off when he buys DirecTV!

(There's an 8-month severance package, just so you know I'm not crazy.)