Big Media, Little Kids 2: Examining the Influence of Duopolies on Children's Television Programming
September 2007

The study compares the quantity of children's programming in eight different markets across the country in 1998, before the FCC allowed the formation of duopolies, and in 2006, after duopolies were permitted in some markets.
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Introduction
Television broadcasters claim that duopolies are necessary to “preserve and enhance” their ability to serve the public interest. Children Now's Big Media, Little Kids 2: Examining the Influence of Duopolies on Children's Televison Programming finds quite the opposite is true when it comes to children's television. The report provides compelling evidence that, as media companies grow bigger through consolidation, the amount of programming provided for children decreases dramatically.

This finding is especially important because the quantity of children's educational programming is one of only a handful of ways that citizens can measure broadcasters' efforts to serve the public interest, which they are required to do in exchange for free use of the publicly-owned airwaves.

Additional Resources

• Press Release
• Big Media, Little Kids (2003)
• Children Now Issues: Media Ownership