Federal Communications Commission FCC 08-15
DISSENTING STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER MICHAEL J. COPPS
Re:  K. Rupert Murdoch (Transferor) and Fox Entertainment Group (Transferee), Applications for 
Transfer of Control of Fox Television Stations, Inc., File No. BTCCT-20050819AAF, et al.
Because the Memorandum Opinion and Order released on October 6, 2006 was unaccompanied 
by Commissioners' statements, I now include my original statement which continues to reflect my 
thoughts and conclusions on this proceeding:    
As today’s decision acknowledges, the Commission’s review of a “long-form” Section 314 
transfer of control includes a de novo review of media ownership waivers held by the transferor.  
This means the Commission has a duty to examine carefully whether the public interest compels 
extension of previously granted waivers.  This is as it should be.  After all, Congress charged the 
Commission with inquiring in any license transfer whether the “public interest, convenience and 
necessity will be served.”  
On this account, I believe today’s decision is woefully deficient.  It is nowhere near the searching 
de novo review that the Commission’s precedent requires.  Instead, the majority sweeps over the 
facts that led to these waivers, considers too little in the way of new data and reaches 
unsustainable conclusions about corporate efficiency, financial viability and market diversity.  
Loss of voices in a market due to waiver of rules like the newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership 
rule requires serious analysis.  Yet there is no serious public interest analysis here.  I must, 
therefore, dissent.
The Order on Reconsideration does nothing to address these concerns.  Indeed, it fails to even 
mention the fact that, with the acquisition of the Wall Street Journal, News Corp. operates two of the New 
York market’s most popular television stations and two of its most popular newspapers. I therefore renew 
my dissent.