Posted on 07/13/2009 7:26:42 PM PDT by kcvl
WASHINGTON --A group of minority broadcasters asked Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner Monday for financial assistance akin to the aid that has been extended to the financial and auto industries.
"Minority-owned broadcasters are close to becoming an extinct species," the letter said. "Even in better economic times, minority broadcasters have historically had difficulties accessing the capital markets."
The broadcasters told Mr. Geithner they can bounce back if they are given some temporary assistance while the credit markets are slow. "Unlike the auto business, broadcasting has been healthy for many years," their letter said.
The broadcasters appeal follows a proposal sent in May to Mr. Geithner by a group of influential House members asking for a minority broadcaster support program, bridge funding, or government-backed loans.
The House letter was signed by House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D., S.C.) and a group of key committee chairmen, including Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D., Mass.) Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (D., N.Y.) and Oversight Committee Chairman Edolphus Towns, (D., N.Y.).
At a hearing last week, National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters President James Winston told lawmakers that advertisers have severely cut investments in minority audiences at the same time minority broadcasters are having difficulty negotiating loan terms with banks.
Research from the Internet advocacy group Free Press says minorities own just 7.7% of full power commercial radio stations and 3.2% of full power commercial TV stations.
Minority broadcast ownership also is an issue important to Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Michael Copps, who was acting chairman of the agency earlier this year.
Companies and groups that signed on to the Geithner letter included the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters, the Inner City Broadcasting Coalition, the Spanish Broadcasting System, Taxi Productions Inc., and Carter Broadcast Group, Inc.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Good Lord! The bandwagon is bursting at the seems!
1. Provide money
2. Clear airwaves of conservative talk radio
Sure, why not. Tax me some more to pay off Democratic constituents who can’t manage to stand on their own two feet of color.
What about the 8 track tape industry? Shouldn’t that be propped up too? They are nearly a dying breed as well.
As it is with all business, produce a crap product and you will go out of business.
Supply and demand.
In a shock result in Alligator (population 220), Tommie “Tomaso” Brown, 38, defeated Robert Fava, the mayor since 1979, owner of the general store and once his opponent’s boss, by 37 votes to 27. (snip)
Some youngsters ran into Mr Fava’s store to taunt him. “They was pulling down their pants, shouting, ’Kiss my black ass, because we got a black mayor’, swinging their things around and throwing stuff,” said Jennifer Green, 31, a black mother of 10.
Miss Green is dubious about whether Mr Brown, whose duties will include organising contract labour, overseeing the water and sewer systems and distributing any grant monies, can deliver. “He says there’s going to be lots of changes and everything with all these kids running around here.
"But he do the same thing they do, drinking beer and stuff. You’ve got to stay at home and study the town. Alligator is the kind of place where if you leave your door open, when you come back there ain’t nothing in your house."
"There’s guns. Kids knock on your door asking for a beer at three and four in the morning. I get 14-year-olds asking me if I want weed or whatever. They should have just left Mr Robert in there."
"Tomaso won’t do anything about any of it. He’s going to put his hand in the cookie jar just at the wrong time and get caught."
Tomaso: "I just want the people to be comfortable. Small towns like this depend on government funding and that’s what we’re seeking."
Advertising is down everyplace. Where is the proof that they are disproportionately affected?
I don't think we need anymore Spanish Music broadcasts on the AM dial here in Central California. It is hard to find an English speaking station and if you find it more than likely you are getting bleed through from the closest Spanish music station. I really can't listen to radio here because it is impossible to get a good signal that is not Spanish language.
What, another bailout?
Funny you should mention that, just last night I was researching the history of 8-Track's on Wikipedia and such, and came to the same conclusion as I always did while 8-Track's were king ---
"The best place for an 8-Track Cartridge tape is tangled up in some tree by the side of the highway"
Why don't they broadcast what a majority of viewers freakin' want to watch?
Not black viewers only, but viewers in general.
Next thing you know, Female sportscasters will want a bailout too! ;0)
Yes.
Dunno. BET (Black Entertainment Television) seems to be quite successful, and we all saw the MSM outpouring of grief over Jacko's recent demise, as well as James Brown's a couple of years ago.
Seems that those broadcast outlets still struggling are playing the convenient 'race card' instead of looking within themselves and determining what will sell in their particular broadcast market.
For the record, several Rock n Roll radio stations in the NYC area have gone bust in recent years, or changed their format to something else .. their existing format just wasn't working out for them on the bottom line. That's just the way it is, there is no 'racism' involved whatsoever.
Get your specifics in writing and complain to the FCC. There is no excuse for bleed-through, you probably have PIRATE STATIONS. Make the FCC do their job and get rid of them.
Look on youtube to learn about pirate stations.
Sure, let’s throw out the owners, restrict salaries and make the govt. the major shareholder, and anyone that owns shares has to take a loss.
“Minority-owned broadcasters are close to becoming an extinct species,” the letter said. “Even in better economic times, minority broadcasters have historically had difficulties accessing the capital markets.”
Everybody is EQUAL!
No Special favors for Minority anything!
Equal = Equal
Do the math!
When you apply “Million Man Math”, not equal. ;)
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