In Re Application of COLGREENE
BROADCASTING CO., INC. (TRANSFEROR) AND VALJON, INC. (TRANSFEREE) For Transfer
of Control of: (a) KPOI Broadcasting Co., Inc., Licensee of stations
KPOI-AM-FM, Honolulu, Hawaii; (b) Radio Associates, Inc.,
Licensee of Station KMEN, San
Bernardino, Calif.
Files Nos. BTC-5992, BTC-5993
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
20 F.C.C.2d 1051 (1969)
RELEASE-NUMBER: FCC 69-1409 40607
December 23, 1969 Adopted
BY THE COMMISSION:
COMMISSIONER BARTLEY DISSENTING; COMMISSIONER JOHNSON
DISSENTING AND ISSUING A STATEMENT IN WHICH COMMISSIONER BARTLEY JOINS;
COMMISSIONER J. REX LEE CONCURRING IN THE RESULT.
[*1051] 1.
We have before us the above applications wherein the transferee seeks to
acquire control of the licenses of a full-time AM and FM in
2. The transferee is legally, technically,
financially, and otherwise qualified to be the owner of the licensee of the
above stations. Grant of these
applications subject to the outcome of docket No. 18110 will not alter any
present degree of concentration of control of mass media of communications in
the
3. It is therefore ordered, That the
above-captioned applications for transfer of control of the licensee
corporations of stations KPOI-AM-FM and KMEN from Colgreene Broadcasting Co.,
Inc., to Valjon, Inc., Are granted and that the grant of the KPOI-AM-FM
application is made subject to the condition that if acquisition of these
stations becomes inconsistent with the rule as finally adopted in docket No.
18110, the transferee will divest itself of either the AM or the FM upon
notification by the Commission.
FEDERAL
COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, BEN F. WAPLE, Secretary.
[*1052]
Northwestern National Life Insurance Co.
[In re
Application of Colgreene Broadcasting Co., Inc., and Valjon, Inc., for Transfer
of Control of KPOI Broadcasting Co., Inc., and Radio Associates, Inc.]
DISSENTING OPINION OF COMMISSIONER NICHOLAS JOHNSON IN WHICH
COMMISSIONER BARTLEY JOINS
The case
before the Commission involves a seemingly innocuous transfer of radio stations
KPOI-AM-FM,
But this
case has something more. Northwestern
National Life Insurance Co., owns 9.09 percent of the stock of Valjon,
Inc. It is therefore in a position to
exert considerable control over the affairs of the company. The Commission opinion fails to develop
Northwestern's interest in other major broadcast properties. They include the following:
Northwestern
holds a $600,000 senior note of Metromedia, Inc., due on August 1, 1984, and
formerly held a $400,000 subordinated convertible note in the same
company. Metromedia, Inc. is one of the
major holders of broadcast properties in the country, with radio and television
stations in
Northwestern
holds $700,000 worth of subordinated notes of Storer Broadcasting Company,
convertible into 13,725 shares of that company's stock. Storer Broadcasting is the owner of
broadcast properties in
Northwestern
holds a promissory note of Northland Television, Inc., licensee of WAEO-TV,
Rhinelander,
Northwestern
holds a $500,000 promissory note of Community Television Service, Inc. (with a
present balance of $466,667), which is guaranteed by Midcontinent Broadcasting
Co., with broadcast outlets in several midwestern cities, and KSOO-TV, owner of
a television station in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
All
told, Northwestern National Life Insurance Co., is in a position to exercise
influence in the operation of over 40 radio and television stations in the
But in
one aspect of the rules there is less ambiguity. The rules provide that there is concentration of control when
"any party or any of its stockholders, officers, or directors * * * have a
direct or indirect interest in, or [are] stockholders, officers, or
directors" of more than 7 AM, 7 FM, or 7 TV stations.
I
realize, of course, that other interpretative notes, and most FCC rulings, have
applied these sections only to stock interests of a certain size. By such a strict interpretation of these
rules, the Commission majority finds that their specific provisions are not
violated by Northwestern's interest in this case. But it is obvious to me that the holdings of Northwestern, even
if not strictly creating a concentration of control, contravene the spirit of
the rules.
In
modern corporate practice, with its corps of professional managers, large
lenders have substantial control over the affairs of the borrowing
company. Depending on the relative
sizes of the debt and equity holdings, the holder of debt may actually have
greater control than any of the shareholders.
For example, it is quite common for the large lenders -- whether banks,
insurance companies, or other financial institutions -- to place one of their
officers on the board of directors of the borrowing company.
Being in
the business of supplying capital, they are more aware of what is going on in
the company and more likely to act quickly when their investment is
affected. They have the staff resources
necessary to manage their investments.
The shareholders -- even large shareholders -- are generally principally
engaged in another business. Even if
they are on the board of directors, they may be less informed of the affairs of
the corporation and less likely to exert control to protect their investment. Large lenders are usually consulted on all
major matters affecting the company, and often the covenants of the loan
agreement require their approval on financial decisions.
Given
the present litany of corporate practice and policymaking, it is absurd for
this Commission to confine its concern over concentration of control to
shareholders. We should not be blind to
who is exerting the control in the real corporate world. We should undertake rulemaking to clear up
this loophole and bring our rules into line with reality. In no event should the transaction before us
be so cavalierly approved.