Do the NFL owners have to much power?

[elsid13]

As some of you know I live in DC region and I'm surround by Redskin fans. Recently Dan Synder is effort to make more money and to control the media message about his team has purchase a number of radio stations in DC area and Richmond area. Those stations are affiliated with ESPN

Now those stations now get exclusive radio broadcast of all Skins games and access to all the coaches and players. In fact I beleive that the coaches can now only appear on those radio stations for thier coach shows, and news is release to Synder's stations before it goes anywhere else. Prime example Shawn Springs had to have surgery today for stomach tear, and the stations go the information before anyone else. Synder's reps also hires/fires all the local talent and programs the station format.

Do you think that Synder gone to far? and violate the basic Anti Trust Laws that Congress allow the NFL to operate outside of? How would you react if Jerry Jones, Hunt, Davis or Bowlen did something similar?

For some reason this seem to be major problem in making in my mind.

[Killericon]

Meh.

He owns the teams, and he owns the stations...it should be his call.

I will think he's a dick for doing it, but he should be able to do it.

[rugbythug]

he would have to own all the teams for any kind of football monopoly. What he is doing is just good business.

[elsid13]

he would have to own all the teams for any kind of football monopoly. What he is doing is just good business.

The current NFL is oligopoly, and can be subject would be subject to Anti-Trust laws without exemption. And it could be argued much like a cable company he holds a geographic monopolist power.

My point was I don't believe that any owner should complete control of the information about anything. It smack to much of big brother.

And just because it alright for his short term profit, doesn't mean there isn't a potential market failure

[GonzoLays]

What business wouldn't want to control the flow of information?

What Synder did with Redskins is essentially like Wal-Mart buying USA Today and using it as a tool of propaganda for the company. If Wal-Marts sales, company image and the bottom line increased because of the move, then it was a worthwhile investment. Same for Synder and the Redskins.

And this isn't new territory for the media industry. The warhawks/pro-Israeli clan have pushed a war agenda through NBC, ABC, CBS and CNN for decades. Ever wondered why Israel has been a major news story in the US since the late 70's? I mean, I love Israel as much as the next guy, but I don't need know every time somebody throws a rock or illegally crosses their border. The same thing happens in twenty other places in the world every single day, but you never hear about it. Its all Israel this, Israel that, take this crazy dictator out of power, Israel this, Israel that, take this crazy dictator out of power on our news channels every single day since I can remember. And what is really craaazaay, is that we put all of these "crazy" dictators in power before they turned crazy because they weren't crazy back then, but now they are really crazy and they want to bite the hand that put them in power and kill us. Makes complete sense doesn't it?

[STBumpkin]

He doesn't own all the radrio stations in the region. He simply owns the team (can control where the info goes) and a few stations (conveinient to get the word out). I don't like it but it's legal.

[Bronco Billy]

It's seems more of a effort to make money than controlling the image the media paints of his team. He can't control what station people choose to listen to and there are far too many media options out there. I seriously doubt he did this to control the 'Skins media image. It's all about the benjamins $$$