Media Action Center: Media watchdog files legal challenges with FCC to pull radio licenses of WISN-AM and WTMJ-AM

…The Media Action Center (MAC) said radio and television station owners are licensed by the FCC for the privilege of broadcasting to their local communities, much like drivers are licensed by the state for the privilege of driving a car. Stations must renew those licenses once every eight years, but the FCC must deny those licenses should the station fail to “serve the public interest, convenience, and necessity.”

MAC said it conducted a comprehensive study in May/June of 2012 – during the Scott Walker recall campaign – which clearly showed the two stations each gave supporters of Gov. Walker and the GOP about 80 minutes of free airtime daily on their local talk radio shows, while refusing any access to supporters of Mayor Tom Barrett and Democrats whatsoever.

In total, the two stations subsidized the Walker campaign with an estimated $1 million dollars in airtime. The study documents that WISN and WTMJ hosts and guests not only exclusively promoted GOP candidates, but actively recruited volunteers for GOP campaigns over the publicly-owned airwaves, while refusing to provide any free airtime for the other side.