Trump again threatens to look at NBC News' broadcast license

The Week ^ | 9/4/2018 | Brendan Morrow

[Cheerio]

President Trump on Tuesday once again suggested NBC News' broadcast license should be revoked, this time because of the network's handling of Ronan Farrow's Harvey Weinstein exposé.

@real Donald Trump

Trump alluded to recent accusations from a producer that the network tried to kill Farrow's investigation into Harvey Weinstein's sexual misconduct. Farrow ultimately published the piece at The New Yorker. NBC News Chairman Andrew Lack has sent out a memo to staff arguing that Farrow's reporting was not ready to broadcast last year, but Farrow is taking issue with this version of events, saying that the network tried to stop him from pursuing the story further.

Tuesday's tweet was not the first time Trump floated the idea of revoking NBC News' "license," having previously done so in response to reporting about his administration. Last October, after the network reported that former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had called Trump a "moron" in private, Trump asked on Twitter, "At what point is it appropriate to challenge their license?"

As CNN's Oliver Darcy and Brian Stelter explained when Trump last made a comment like this, it's essentially an empty threat. Each one of NBC's local stations receives a separate broadcast license, and it's quite rare for these to be taken away by the Federal Communications Commission — and especially not for reasons like this. Brendan Morrow

[Cheerio]

I still do not understand what type of "Broadcast License" the NBC network holds. As a previous FCC 1st Class Radiotelephone Operator's License holder I have never heard of a "public air wave" license being granted to a network who transmits their video/audio signals to their network affiliates via satellite, cable, or microwave. THEY ARE NOT USING PUBLIC BROADCAST LICENSED AIRWAVES (that I am aware of).

[kaktuskid]

They have O&Os in NY, LA, and other cities.

[Publius]

The TV networks have their “O-and-O’s.” These are the TV stations in major markets that the networks own and operate to make sure their product reaches that major market. The FCC is responsible for the licenses of these O-and-O’s, and that is where they may be vulnerable.

[fruser1]

NBC, cbs, abc still broadcast over-air tv. It HDTV now.

[Reno89519]

This is trolling as I doubt any national network would lose their license since there are too many courts that would step in. Why not take more direct action today, remove these networks from the White House?

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Cheerio.

Ronan Farrow Shivs “Misleading” NBC News Over Why Harvey Weinstein Probe Was Deep Sixed - Update
by Dominic Patten
September 3, 2018 9:54pm
https://deadline.com/2018/09/nbc-news-andy-lack-memo-harvey-weinstein-ronan-farrow-explanation-not-airing-new-yorker-1202456410/

[SunkenCiv]

[editor-surveyor]

.
To be “fair,” he should put all commercial broadcast licenses up for lottery grab.
.

[SunkenCiv]

• It's a New York thing! SNL creator Michaels: show gave Weinstein a pass because he's from his city
• Rape is OK if you're on List "A". Don't sweat Harvey's Fling, it's a New York Thing.(vanity)

[editor-surveyor]

.
Most if not all of those stations have obvious violations daily that could be used as justification for ‘review’ of their licenses.
.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Make an example of NBC. The rest will get the message.

[Cheerio]

NBC, cbs, abc still broadcast over-air tv. It HDTV now.

Nobody understands what I am saying. The local broadcasters are not the NETWORK NBC - they carry the feed and use the public airwaves. Microwave & satellites are not using the "public broadcast airwaves" and of course neither is cable. You get comcast or direct TV via a paid subscription. I give up trying to help folk understand he cannot go after a network's public broadcast license - unless they local station is fully owned by the network. That is not usually the case, but I suppose there can be exceptions perhaps in NY and CA.

[fruser1]

Ok, that makes sense. So only the WJLA, WDCA, etc. carry the license - the guys w/the antenna. “NBC” has no antenna. I had thought they bought up stations or what not, sort of like how AT&T would run lines and COs everywhere. I didn’t know how the industry worked at that level. Thanks for clarifying (unless of course I still missed the point in which case your head may explode!) :)