Some advertisers say that from a local standpoint it is bad to have the top radio stations concentrated in a few hands. Although on a national level the implications for advertising are all about audience reach. National advertisers will be able to target specific demographics and regions of the country. The Federal Communication Commission's inaugural auction of broadcast spectrum generated higher than expected bids. The FCC offered station construction permits in about 12 markets.
Bidders appear to be willing to risk overpaying to get into some markets.
After three days of auctions, the FCC had received bids for 118 broadcast licenses, including 94 FM stations and 12 full power TV outlets. The big TV markets remaining to be auctioned include Virginia Beach and Manteo, North Carolina. Satellite TV Last week at the Interface XIII conference in Washington, DC, Eddie Fritts, president of the National Association of Broadcasters said that broadcasters want to build a non-profit satellite TV company to carry local broadcast signals in small to medium markets. The agreement is contingent upon Congress passing a bill for satellite TV reform that will allow satellite broadcasters to carry local signals in local markets. Fox is now the only broadcast network to have retransmission consent agreements with both high-powered satellite companies.