AFMA asks FCC to keep rules

AFMA, the association representing independent TV and film producers, has
written Federal Communications Commission member Michael Copps asking that the FCC both maintain current
media-ownership restrictions and adopt additional rules, including a 25 percent
set-aside of network prime-time schedules for shows from producers entirely
independent of the networks (although many shows have numerous production
companies involved, they often included one of the network-co-owned studios).

Copps has been a leading voice for more input on further loosening of the
rules. AFMA's members include Home Box Office, Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc., FremantleMedia, New Lice
Cinema, RKO Pictures and Troma Entertainment Inc.

John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.