Venture Technologies Group, LLC Blasts NPR Comments to Mute Channel 6 LPTV Audio

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In Reply Comments filed at the FCC today, Venture Technologies Group, LLC (VTG) called NPR's previously filed comments "a cynical attempt to kill channel 6 LPTV service."

NPR's vendetta against Channel 6 LPTV service, whose audio can be heard on many FM radios at 87.7 MHz, is intended to silence any broadcaster whose audio can be heard near NPR's dial position.  NPR is so consumed with protecting its "turf" that its comments are filled with blatantly false allegations, some of which are sadly comical (See Attached).

NPR doesn't care who it hurts in its drive to kill channel 6 LPTV audio service. It doesn't care if the audiences being served by it are left disenfranchised, and it doesn't care if the staff employed by channel 6 LPTV stations are put out of work.

NPR's arguments go over the line when it suggests that family oriented Spanish-language Catholic programming serving the Latino community in Los Angeles, and Smooth Jazz programming that's ranked  #2 among African-American audiences in Chicago, ought to be taken off the air because it doesn't think the programming is "unique" enough to "serve the public interest."

VTG Chair Lawrence Rogow states, "NPR's position reflects a disturbing belief that it must control all speech not only within its program service, but on other broadcast outlets as well. This is about NPR trying to dictate what kind of programming should or should not be allowed on the air, and how channel 6 LPTV stations should or should not be allowed to market themselves."  NPR's government sponsors, private donors, member stations and management must be held accountable for this ill-founded position. This "inside the beltway" thinking must end.

VTG is a privately held media company based in Los Angeles that builds media properties from scratch, including five full power television stations and over 20 low power television stations.

SOURCE Venture Technologies Group, LLC