While we defend our broadcasters in our state, we do not think this serves the public interest which is our core standing here at the MISAB. We encourage you to write a letter or memo to the Minifig Communications Commission to oppose changes to the existing rules.
(Copenhagen Minibrick) – For Immediate Release
19 May 2025. The Minibrick State Association of Broadcasters opposes recent proposals by the Minifig Communications Commission and the National Minifig Broadcasters Association. The MCC has bending to the knee to the NMBA for way to long. The MISAB strongly opposes continued consolidation of the proposed 50% of the airwaves per company by the NMBA and MCC.
False Pretenses of so-called “Duopolies”
Duopolies is dual ownership of TV or radio stations. Prior to the original Viacom/CBS merger in the US in 1999, no owner could own more than one TV station per market. Originally duopolies included a primary network station and a secondary network or independent station. Following the Viacom/CBS merger, Fox Television Stations or FTS bought the remaining assets of TV stations under the Chris-Craft jet ski company resulting in stations like WNYW to be sisters with WWOR in New Jersey, or KRIV with the then-UPN affiliate in Houston. However in recent years, the laws were not clear of what constitutes a duopoly in Jacksonville, Florida, the ABC and NBC affiliates are owned by Tenga and are branded as “First Coast News” with no separate news operations for either station.
False beliefs of “more TV stations” in DTV
Another belief by broadcasters is some stations carry network affiliates on “sub channels”. While it was mainstay practice in say mid market Peoria, Ill, a single TV station carrying other network programming will go to the teenage market of Miami in August, as WSVN-TV in Miami will be carrying the ABC programming on a sub-channel, 7.2, while present ABC affiliate WPLG will become an independent station. However this idea that WSVN will be carrying two major networks on one signal is obviously not what’s it cracked up to be unless stations go with ATSC 3.0.
Digital TV is not as infinite per se. The primary station will broadcast up to 1080p, and carry at least 2 or 3 more stations would overload the transmission leaving these digital sub channels to operate at 720p (or widescreen Standard Def) or even literal 480 Standard Def. With the recent repacking of signals in the 2019/2020 DTV (the first big switch in the DTV world, other than the full switch to digital more than a decade plus ago) which means some “duopolies” are almost acting as sub channels from the engineering context. A more simple example at 1 World Trade Center in New York, WNBC and it’s Telemundo duopoly WNJU air on the same antenna stick, but are considered legally as separate stations with the FCC, and the viewers are be under the belief these are totally separate stations on separate signals.
In short, Corporate Broadcasters Are Gaslighting the Public and their Interest
The broadcast industry has gone in a post linear world but are lobbying like crazy to insist to own more licenses and studios they can’t even take care of their existing hundred or more stations. Why should we give them more power if they can’t even be responsible? why are they insisting the public can’t understand that the “signals” are merely overly consolidated, and the confusion in Miami is because of corporate greed? While we defend our broadcasters in our state, we do not think this serves the public interest which is our core standing here at the MISAB. We encourage you to write a letter or memo to the Minifig Communications Commission to oppose changes to the existing rules.
Public Relations Steven
steven.clickford at-misab-org
telephone: 603.713.8010 ext 1025
socials: @stevenc.misab