[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 164 (Friday, August 23, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54672-54673]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-21492]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Antitrust Division


United States v. Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc., and Viacom 
International, Inc., Case No. 72-820-RJK (C.D. Cal.)

    Notice is hereby given that Viacom International, Inc. 
(``Viacom''), has moved to terminate the Final Judgment entered against 
it by the United States District Court for the Central District of 
California on January 17, 1973. In a stipulation also filed with the 
Court, the United States has tentatively agreed not to oppose the 
motion, but as a matter of policy will not finally consent to the 
termination of any judgment without providing public notice and an 
opportunity for public comments to be received and considered.
    On April 14, 1972, the United States filed separate actions against 
CBS, NBC and ABC, the companies that operated the three then-existing 
national television networks (the ``Network Cases''). The Network Cases 
charged the three networks with restraint of trade, monopolization and 
attempted monopolization of the market for prime time entertainment 
programming in violation of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act.
    The syndication operations of CBS had been spun off from CBS to 
Viacom in 1971 in order to comply with a 1970 FCC rule. Viacom was 
named as an additional defendant in the action against CBS to insure 
that any relief obtained against CBS would be effective. The Final 
Judgment prohibited any Viacom director or officer from also being a 
director or officer of a broadcast television network, and from owning 
or controlling more than one percent of the stock of any such network.
    Between 1977 and 1980, each of the three networks entered into 
settlements with the United States (the ``Network Decrees''). Among 
other things, the Network Decrees: (1) Prohibited the three networks 
from acquiring certain financial interests or proprietary rights in 
television programs produced by others; (2) limited the amount of 
programming that each network could produce for its own use; and (3) 
prohibited the networks from engaging in the domestic syndication of 
television programs. Following significant changes in the marketplace 
and the erosion of broadcast television's share of the overall 
television market, the Network Decrees were modified by the Court in 
1993 and have ceased to be operable.
    Viacom has filed with the Court a memorandum setting forth the 
reasons it believes that termination of the Final Judgment would serve 
the public interest. Copies of Viacom's motion and supporting 
memorandum, the stipulation containing the United States' tentative 
consent, and all further papers filed with the Court in connection with 
the motion will be available for inspection at the Antitrust Documents 
Group of the Antitrust Division, 325 7th Street, NW., Room 215 North, 
Liberty Place Building, Washington, DC 20530, and at the Office of the 
Clerk of the United States District Court for the Central District of 
California. Copies of these materials may be obtained from

[[Page 54673]]

the Antitrust Division upon request and payment of the copying fee set 
by the Department of Justice regulations.
    Interested persons may submit comments to the United States 
regarding the proposed termination of the Final Judgment. Such comments 
must be received by the Antitrust Division within sixty (60) days and 
will be filed with the Court. Comments should be addressed to J. Robert 
Kramer, II, Chief, Litigation II Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. 
Department of Justice, 1401 H Street, NW., Suite 300, Washington, DC 
20530.

Constance K. Robinson,
Director of Operations.
[FR Doc. 02-21492 Filed 8-22-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-11-M