Loading ...“Sounds Like Corruption”: FCC Fast-Tracks “Soros Shortcut” Purchase Of 200+ Radio Stations
” There is almost no factual record on the item because there was almost no attempt to do a real public interest analysis…”
According to the NY Post, the FCC adopted an order to approve Soros’ purchase of more than 200 radio stations in 40 markets just weeks before the US election in November.
This development has prompted allegations from Republican FCC commissioners and lawmakers of straight up malarkey. According to the Post, this deal was pushed through with a partisan 3-2 vote just before the presidential election, potentially enhancing Soros’ reach to over 165 million Americans during a critical time.
Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-NY) called out the FCC over the move – saying “Looking at the facts, it seems the administration is giving a left-wing billionaire, who is a major donor, a close ally, one of the chief funders of all of their efforts and their dark money, a free pass to take control of hundreds of local radio stations, flooding the airwaves with leftist propaganda and I think it’s blatant.”
Still more than +40 days to go and the cheating seems quite obvious! The stations reach 165M Americans.
200 radio stations in 40 markets
That alone should be cause to DENY the purchase.
Is that statement accurate?
That’s five stations PER MARKET, if “market” carries the usual definition appropriate for competitive analysis. Radio (advertising) markets are metro geographic.
And I used to work at the FCC in the General Counsel’s office doing this very kind of thing. Normally, Mass Media Bureau would review it first, then it would be passed to OGC, perhaps concurently. OGC would usually say “wait a minute here.”
Now the thing is, this is a transfer of ownership, not a merger (to the best of my knowledge). So no ADDITIONAL competitive harm. But if the FCC and FTC and DOJ are allowing one company to control FIVE stations per market, then there’s a problem here, unless Country and Pop and Urban and Talk are deemed separate markets reaching different ad audiences. Either way, the process here stinks and folks were ASLEEP or CORRUPT.
My perception is pure Corruption!
Soros announced in early 2Q/24 that he wanted to take over the stations.
All the normal FCC rules & regulations have been bypassed to ensure a quick transfer of ownership.
Transfer was approved in 3 to 2 vote — SOROS can dictate broadcast topics / tone during the 40 days immediately prior to election (he owns them – he can do whatever he wants).
It would be difficult for this to be anything other than deep state “slight of hand” so that Soros can influence the 2024 Presidential election.
Remember that Soros’s “son” (that now supposedly runs the empire) is now engaged to Hillary Clinton’s right hand Huma Abedin.
and all that that entails!