Prime-Time Television Program Ownership in a Post-Fin/Syn World

摘要

The expiration of the financial interest and syndication rules in 1995 ushered in a decade of television conglomeration in the United States. The elimination the rules fueled joint studio and network control and resulted in high concentration in prime-time program ownership. From 2004-05 through 2007-08, six corporations held a financial interest in between 89.4% and 94.7% of prime-time programs with attributable ownership on the debut broadcast schedules. Over the same seasons, the six corporations held an interest in between 87.0% and 93.9% of the scripted series and mini-series on prominent general entertainment premium and basic cable services.