New Jerseyans get their local news and politics from the newspaper and NJ 101.5, always have (and seems always will). 

No one watches NJN or News12 as it is now, so its not shocking that the NY and Philly network affiliates aren't rushing to cover NJ news.

I'm not sure how you force TV stations to start covering more NJ content.

Is the demand even there?

Kudos to Senator Lautenberg for making the FCC notice our state for at least a few moments.  Too often the FCC, regardless of which party is in charge, seems completely blind to the fact that New Jersey is a state and a community unto itself, not just the western part of the "New York media market". 

Whether some newspaper company is allowed to own a TV station is less important than what they do with it.  It's only that much more important when we're talking about 2 TV stations in the same area.

What this is really all about and what's missing from all of this is a real, enforceable obligation to localism and public service.  What passes for community-oriented broadcasting by the major television stations "serving" our state is a farce and it's a farce that's been backed by the FCC for years.  And even when the broadcasters don't make good on even the sham community broadcasting they promise, the FCC does nothing about it.

New Jersey taxpayers own the public airwaves these stations lease every bit as much as New Yokers.  What we need out of this is an iron-clad commitment to substantial amounts of ongoing, regular and New Jersey-oriented programming about our communities, our people and our elections and candidates.  And, because the FCC's enforcement record is so weak in this area, the broadcasters need to know that there's a real threat that their licenses are going to get yanked if they don't committ to our state and then follow through.  That should be the price for going forward on this and, ultimately, ultimately all media mergers. And if that cuts too far into Mr. Murdoch or other media owners' profit for their liking, I'm sure there will be someone out there who wants that broadcast license who will find a way to make money and serve New Jersey at the same time.

Right now, there's nothing in this merger for New Jersey: our delegation shouldn't let this go forward unless we come out way ahead at the end of the day in terms of real, community-oriented programing.  And then, let that be the example for every other merger across the country.

 New Jersey has always been a keg tapped at both ends.  Half the state likes the Yankees or Mets and the other likes the Phillies.  One end Giants/Jets and the other the Eagles. NJ does not have its own market and never will. TV really isn't the local medium radio is and cannot repeat the success of 101.5.  Broadcast is a business and the success of a business depends on the demand for its product.  There is no demand for an all Jersey network no matter how much NJN may spin its ratings and viewership numbers.  Grandpa Frank should have a better understanding of basic capitalism after all these years. Forcing a product on an uninterested consumer requires substantial subsidies if it is to remain.  We already have subsidized TV in NJN specifically and PBS generally.  Enough already with the NJ self esteeem issue.  I have never seen a state embrace victimhood quite like the Garden State. Frank is just pandering to our self-loathing.

NJN does an awesome job covering NJ as far as news and education, but ultimately, it is not a commercial station like WOR.

NJ12 is good, but also limeted in quality due to their small budgets.  No national advertisers equal small budget for quality programming, no quality programs, no viewers... thus no major advertisers... it's like cycle...

 NJ 101.5 is just plain stupid... there is nothing of substance on that station other than DJs with major egos talking to a low IQ audience.

 Where is our WNYC? WNYE? Bloomberg or even NY1.. this state is home to some of the most educated, intelligent people on the planet, yet most of us feel like we are living on the margins of NYC or Philly since our local media has failed us.  No substance.. no style.. no wonder we continue to reach out to NYC and Philly for intelligence...

 This could be an interesting opportunity for the state to push for better solutions.. we invest too much in this state...we deserve better.. 

Everybody knows that New Jersey already has it's own TV channel!  It has shows like "The Fighting McGreevey's", "Find An Honest Politician", and "I Don't Care What The Voters Want Corzine"!  The channel is "The Comedy Channel".

"The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything."
                --Theodore Roosevelt--

HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO My9NY...

You can start by bringing back Lloyd Lindsey Young.