• by June 12, 2002

Members of the television industry, expressing concern about the impact of media consolidation on programming quality and diversity, has asked for a federal study of the issue.

In a letter to FCC chairman Michael K. Powell, TV creators called popular culture among "our great national treasures" and one that is under assault.

"The harm comes about as a direct result of the growing concentration of ownership. The consequences of this new factor in our industry are - and this is no exaggeration - potentially catastrophic," the Caucus for Television Producers, Writers & Directors said in its June 7 letter.

While new technology has increased the number of radio and TV channels available "there has also been an alarming increase in the number of corporate entities which own and control these systems," the caucus wrote.

"We believe the FCC needs to consider these implications and the results deregulation has had upon the public interest," the letter said.

A call seeking comment from the Federal Communications Commission was not immediately returned Monday.

The approximately 150-member caucus bills itself as the "creative conscience" of the TV industry and the only group to represent the writers, directors and producers guilds.