The commercial broadcasters have tremendous influence in Washington, D.C., for a couple of reasons. First, they're extremely rich and they have lots of money and they have had for a long time, so they can give money to politicians, which…

Quote by Robert McChesney

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When the government allocates monopoly rights to frequency, and there are only a handful in...

When the government allocates monopoly rights to frequency, and there are only a handful in...

Because what's going on now, and this applies mostly to television stations in the largest...

Because what's going on now, and this applies mostly to television stations in the largest...

Our existing media system today is the direct result of government laws and subsidies that...

Our existing media system today is the direct result of government laws and subsidies that...

And they've got to be held accountable; our broadcasting system has to be made accountable;...

And they've got to be held accountable; our broadcasting system has to be made accountable;...

When the government picked companies and gave them monopoly rights to frequencies in San Francisco...

When the government picked companies and gave them monopoly rights to frequencies in San Francisco...

Maybe if you and ten of your friends could pool your savings and borrow some...

Maybe if you and ten of your friends could pool your savings and borrow some...

But having said that, what's happening with campaign finance reform and our political culture is...

But having said that, what's happening with campaign finance reform and our political culture is...

Which is supposed to mean they're doing something in their broadcasting they would not do...

Which is supposed to mean they're doing something in their broadcasting they would not do...

And understand that scarce spectrum is used today for example for cell phone operators, they...

And understand that scarce spectrum is used today for example for cell phone operators, they...

What I've found is that there is a tremendous interest in these issues, across the...

What I've found is that there is a tremendous interest in these issues, across the...

Also, the commercial media in a superior position, really, to any other corporate lobby, because...

Also, the commercial media in a superior position, really, to any other corporate lobby, because...

So it's a much more difficult issue to organize around, because you can't get media...

So it's a much more difficult issue to organize around, because you can't get media...

The public gets not one penny from them in return for those airwaves.

The public gets not one penny from them in return for those airwaves.

The number one lobby that opposes campaign finance reform in the United States is the...

The number one lobby that opposes campaign finance reform in the United States is the...

But having said that, there's also a sea change in attitude towards media.

But having said that, there's also a sea change in attitude towards media.

One survey that I saw that was published I think in Variety or Electronic Media...

One survey that I saw that was published I think in Variety or Electronic Media...

So the competition isn't once you got the license, running the station; it's getting the...

So the competition isn't once you got the license, running the station; it's getting the...

Local television news, on both radio and television, is so appalling. Makes print journalism look...

Local television news, on both radio and television, is so appalling. Makes print journalism look...

Basically what they're saying is, if you want to be on TV, if you want...

Basically what they're saying is, if you want to be on TV, if you want...

You know, a left-winger, the barrier to success if you're on the left in commercial...

You know, a left-winger, the barrier to success if you're on the left in commercial...