Background on the new rules voted on by the FCC, and the previous rules.
The FCC commissioners' full statements and the commission's official summary of the revised rules.

So what does the continuing rise of big media mean on a local level?

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The following pages explore television and newspaper ownership in the top 50 Nielsen TV markets. Our survey examines the owners of television stations Nielsen recognizes in each market and each newspaper in that market with a daily circulation of 100,000 or more.

Click on a market to find out who owns what or use our owners menu to determine what properties that company holds in the examined markets.

Sources: Nielsen Media Research, The Federal Communications Commission, The Audit Bureau of Circulations, The National Assn. of Television Program Executives, 100,000 Watts

On the NewsHour:
Update: Congress Approves Spending Bill with FCC Language (1/22/04)

Update: White House, Congress Reach Agreement on FCC Rule (11/25/03)

Terence Smith looks at the various legislative methods Congress is pursuing to undo all or elements of the new FCC rules, and considers the Senate-approved resolution's prospects in the House and the White House. (9/16/03)

Update: Senate Panel Opposes New Federal Media Rules (9/5/03)
Update: The House of Representatives Approves Roll Back of Key Media Ownership Rules (7/23/03)
Update:Congress Moves to Overturn New Media Ownership Regulations (7/16/03)
Update: The Federal Communications Commission Publishes Final Report on Revised Media Rules (7/3/03)
Update: Two days after the FCC voted to ease media ownership rules, the five commissioners answered questions about their ruling. (6/4/03)

June 2, 2003:Terence Smith talks with FCC Chairman Michael Powell about the changed ownership rules and their implications, and Sen. Byron Dorgan about his opposition to the new rules and the possibility for a congressional move to negate the FCC's action.
Update: The FCC Votes Along Party Lines to Ease Key Limits on Media Ownership (6/2/03)
Update: Senators Caution FCC Ahead of Media Ownership Ruling (5/13/03)

Extended Interviews:
FCC Chairman Michael Powell discusses the changing face of media companies and the rise of new technologies.

Bob Wright, the chairman and CEO of NBC, talks about how changes in FCC rules will affect the television industry.

Larry Gelbart, a veteran writer for stage and screen, discusses how media conglomeration affects the process of creating good television programs.

Ken Auletta, media columnist for The New Yorker, examines the effect media consolidation has had on news programming.