Alliance eyes license challenges

From Broadcasting & Cable:

"Nuisance or nightmare, license challenges are activists’ new weapon against broadcasters.

In at least three markets, designated videotapers from local activist groups are right now recording the local TV news 24/7 on the top rated TV stations. A dozen or more potential license challenges may hinge on what they find. After election day, the tapes will be sent to the Alliance For Better Campaign headquarters in Washington, where an outside content analysis company will review them to determine how much local and regional election coverage has been aired by broadcasters.

If broadcasters are found wanting in the eyes of the alliance and their local partners, lawyers for the Alliance plan to help those local groups challenge the licenses of all the top stations in the market, claiming a market failure."You betcha," says Alliance President Meredith McGehee. And they aren't necessarily going to wait until those licenses come up for renewal. McGehee says the group has been talking with attorneys and the FCC about ways to challenge the licenses before their renewal cycle is up."