Chain Versus Independent Television Station Ownership: Toward an Investment Model of Commitment to Local News Quality

Abstract

Using empirical measures, a pilot test of an investment model of commitment to television news quality yielded statistically significant results supporting four hypothesized relationships between types of broadcast station ownership. The findings indicate that the news department operated by a small media group produced more local news, more locally produced video, more use of on-air reporters, and fewer news promotions than the larger chain-based broadcast groups investigated, suggesting a deeper commitment to local news quality. The results support the policy position that stricter ownership limits would enhance the quality of local television news.

Keywords:

• Commitment to News Quality
• Localism
• Media Ownership Characteristics

The authors would like to thank Renee Ridge and Amy Aldridge Sanford for their assistance in the preparation of the manuscript. An earlier version of this article was presented to the Mass Communication Division of the 2005 National Communication Association Convention, Boston, MA.

Notes

∗KOTV was the locally owned television station; KJRH and KTUL are considered large chain-owned stations for this study.

Localism, competition, and diversity are three of four policy goals currently used by the FCC to define “the public interest.” The fourth, service to all geographical areas of the United States, was an artifact of the emerging television area in the late 1940s and early 1950s and is no longer regarded as a relevant policy goal (see Besen, Krattenmaker, Woodbury, & Metzger, 1984; Levin, 1980).

Currently the Tulsa market is ranked 60thbased on the number of television households.

In October 2005, Griffin Communications announced their intent to purchase KWBT in Tulsa, which would bring their total to three television stations, all within the state of Oklahoma.

Although this was not a hypothesis of interest, the two larger chain-based stations, KJRH and KTUL, demonstrated striking similarities. With the exception of “on-air reporters” (p < .005; two-tailed), three out of the four content categories did not reveal any significant differences between the two stations.

This review was based on data provided in Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook (2005) and individual station and corporate Web sites. A small television chain was defined as three stations or less. Local ownership was defined as the corporate or ownership headquarters as being within an approximate 100-mile radius of the television station.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

David K. Scott

David K. Scott (Ph.D., University of Oklahoma, 1994) is a Professor of Communication Studies at Northeastern State University (Tahlequah, OK)

Robert H. Gobetz

Robert H. Gobetz (Ph.D., University of Oklahoma, 1992) is an Associate Professor of Communication at the University of Indianapolis (Indianapolis, IN)

Mike Chanslor

Mike Chanslor (Ph.D., University of Oklahoma, 1995) is an Associate Professor of Communication Studies at Northeastern State University (Tahlequah, OK).