Fox and CBS are returning to the National Association of Broadcasters a decade after exiting over a battle about the number of owned-and-operated stations networks they should be allowed to own.
In that battle, NAB — with both networks and individual stations as members — took the stations' side, asking Congress to overturn a Federal Communications Commission attempt to let networks own more of their stations.
While station execs were successful, and Congress did overturn the FCC ruling — the battle caused a major rift at the NAB.
All four networks withdrew from the NAB as a result. NBCU and Disney returned several years ago, but Fox which left 11 years ago and CBS which left nine years ago, stayed out.
"We have been proud NAB members for many years, but it has recently become clear that we have a fundamental issue on which we and certain of the NAB's television members disagree," CBS said in a 2001 statement.
The rift, though, has made little sense recently, as station owners and the networks face common issues in Congress, the Federal Communications and in technology and try to respond by presenting a united front.
Station owners big and small are both concerned about efforts by the FCC to take some spectrum from TV stations. Station owners big and small are concerned about the FCC’s talk of changing rules for negotiating retransmission consent with cable systems.
Both are pushing efforts to bring TV to mobile content. Finally both face concerns that the internet and cable taking audience share away from broadcast TV.
In a statement announcing their return issued by NAB, Fox and CBS officials cited some of the joint challenges.
"As the media landscape evolves ever more rapidly, over-the-air broadcasting faces a number of clear opportunities and some significant challenges," said Martin D. Franks, CBS’s executive VP-Planning, Policy and Government Affairs.
Jack Abernethy, CEO of Fox Television Stations, said, "The interests of our industry, our company and our viewers are best served by speaking with one voice on Capitol Hill, at the FCC and in the Courts.”
