Update 2. on citizen actions versus XETV
Alfred Sikes (FCC Commissioner from 1989-92) called for "a commitment to the public trust" when he criticized television news coverage. By law, broadcast news must serve the public trust. Broadcast licensees do not enjoy the same First Amendment rights as other forms of mass media. In the case of television, this is because they use the airwaves free of charge. The signal of a local broadcast television station can reach everywhere within the region, so therefore, any TV set up can theoretically receive their signal.
Also, residents in the viewing area have the capability to view the station's news programming free of charge, with 100% saturation.
All of these factors and others compel a local broadcast news department to serve the public in good faith.
That means they must offer a variety of news programming that generally serves the entire population residing in their viewing area.
They must be receptive to viewer feedback, allow input of the community, and keep public files which include all aired news content.
The virtual absence of pro soccer news on XETV's news at 10 over an extended period of time, the reduction of pro soccer news by the station in a gradual way over the past 22 months to almost zero week-to-week, its status as news with the least soccer news in area, and its status as a station and news provider in a region with very high interest in the sport ARE ALL REASONS for the citizen actions.
It seems evident in a convincing way that the station - though repeatedly cautioned over time - has severely violated the public trust.
There will be a number of formal complaints filed, and as a last resort, petition for station's license revocation may also be considered.
Original article and statment of support by San Diego MLS founder,
http://mvn.com/soccer/2008/05/10/san-diegans-act-against-soccer-challenged-fox-news-affiliate/
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