[ClaireSolt]

What are the chances that the ratings will prompt shake-ups? After all, corporations own networks.

[Budge]

I'd say zero to none, unfortunately.

[Publius]

So far we've seen a number of things that should prompt the FCC to open hearings on stripping certain networks of the licenses of the small number of major market TV stations owned and operated by the networks. (Known in the industry as "o-and-o's".)

The CBS Bush-National Guard story using faked documents combined with the decision not to call Ohio for Bush until last night (being facetious here) should be prima facie evidence that the network deliberately attempted to influence the election.

ABC's decision to withhold the final 15 minutes of the bin Laden tape when it was turned over to the CIA is, I suspect, a federal felony.

Stripping these two networks of their o-and-o TV stations would indicate that it's time to take the MSM's antics seriously and would serve as a warning to others.

Thirty years ago, General Tire and Rubber, the owner of the RKO radio-TV chain, got caught funneling money to Nixon's re-election campaign in violation of the law that existed at the time. The FCC stripped General Tire of all their licenses. The case took a decade to go through the federal courts, but the FCC's decision was eventually upheld. RKO no longer exists.

Even doing this to CBS alone would send a message to the right people, the stockholders.