Report No. MM 95-68  MASS MEDIA ACTION              July 25, 1995
     
              FCC GRANTS REQUEST FOR WAIVER OF THE DUOPOLY RULE 
                TO PERMIT COMMON OWNERSHIP OF WCAU-TV AND WNBC
                                       
                                                                          The FCC granted the request for permanent waiver of the duopoly rule to
     permit common ownership of television stations WCAU-TV and WNBC.  
     
              Station Partners, a subsidiary of CBS, Inc., sought consent to the assignment
     of license of television stations WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA and WCIX(TV),
     Miami, FL, to NBC Stations Management, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of NBC,
     Inc.  Because the Grade B contour of WNBC overlaps with that of WCAU-TV, the
     applicant sought a permanent waiver of the duopoly rule, which proscribes common
     ownership of two television stations with overlapping Grade B contours.
     
               The Commission finds that, in addition to satisfying the duopoly waiver
     factors, NBC's public interest proposal, which included a pledge to increase locally
     originated news coverage by the station and, in particular, to increase programming of
     interest to New Jersey residents, as well as the unique nature of the Philadelphia-New
     York duopoly, warrants granting the waiver request.
     
              Action by the Commission July 19, 1995 by MO&O (FCC 95-304).  Chairman
     Hundt, Commissioners Quello, Ness, and Chong, with Commissioner Barrett
     concurring in the result and issuing a separate statement.
     
          - FCC -
                                       
                                        News Media contact: Kara Palamaras at (202) 418-0500.
     Mass Media Bureau contact: Dorann Bunkin at (202) 418-1630.