…As I was watching the tube last night, I saw an advertisement for that station’s “News at 11” team. My thought was this: I’m already watching that station, and in order to be able to SEE the ads for that news team, I have to be watching that same station. My original thought was that, if they REALLY wanted to get the message across, they would advertise on other networks. I had a question about this, though. Other than finding a station who would let a rival buy advertising space on their network, does it violate any FCC law to do so? I mean, hypothetically, if CBS agreed to let ABC buy ad time during CBS programming, does that violate any FCC guideline?
Not exactly relevant but here in the UK the ITC (regulatory body for commercial TV - does not cover the BBC) ruled that the terrestrial commercial TV stations had to accept advertisements from satellite and cable TV companies.
First off, the FCC is much weaker than folks generally believe. Its main responsibility is regulating transmitters to keep signals from interfering. And fining Howard Stern for being naughty on the air.
Now, watch your local TV station and notice the occasional HBO or Showtime promo. No conflict there.
It’s basically the station’s desire not to advertise competitors; there is no rule against it that I know of. The only guideline that might apply is the rule that keeps stations from identifying themselves using another station’s call letters.
–Grump “shameless self promoter” y
Yeah, I took that into consideration. But those are pay stations. I mean the local, network, “free” channels. Maybe I should have elaborated on that
No, there is no FCC rule or order that prohibits terrestrial TV stations in the United States from advertising on a competing station in their market, or that prohibits one network from advertising on another. It would merely be a self-defeating policy for stations or networks to accept ads from competitors especially for similar programming (prime time, new, etc.).