Ted Turner Considering Bid for CBS : Nothing in FCC Rules Would Prevent Takeover of Network

Lawyers for Ted Turner, chief of a multimillion-dollar communications empire, have been talking to the Federal Communications Commission about the possibility of taking over the CBS television network, the FCC said today.

FCC spokesman Bill Russell stressed that the discussions between Turner’s representatives and FCC commissioners have been broad and that no official action has been taken.

“All I can say is that Charles Ferris, Turner’s attorney, has met with various commissioners,” Russell said. “There’s been no filing, no formal request.”

Russell confirmed published reports that Ferris had discussed the possibility of acquiring CBS.

In Atlanta, where Turner’s Cable News Network and the Turner Broadcasting Systems Inc. are based, a company spokesman would confirm only that “broadcast license transfer procedures” were discussed with FCC officials.

Meetings With Members

James C. McKinney, chief of the FCC’s mass media bureau, said Ferris has met with a number of current commissioners to discuss the possible takeover bid.

Today’s editions of The New York Times quoted FCC sources as saying Turner himself has spent several days in Washington making presentations to each of the five commissioners.

Dan Dwyer, a spokesman for the network, said today that “CBS has had no discussions” with Ted Turner regarding any plan he might have to acquire CBS.

“Over the last several years, Turner has expressed repeated interest in acquiring CBS or another network,” Dwyer said. “On one occasion two years ago, Turner approached CBS directly and proposed a combination of his company with CBS. At that time, CBS rejected this proposal unequivocally, convinced that it would be contrary to the interest of CBS shareholders.”

Fairness in Media Bid

CBS is already the object of a takeover bid by Fairness in Media, a group of political conservatives who have received support from Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.).

Jim Cain, one of three men involved in the Fairness in Media attempt to gain control of CBS, refused to say whether his organization has talked to Turner.

Fairness in Media has urged conservatives to buy stock in CBS so that like-minded individuals could “become Dan Rather’s boss.” Rather is the anchor of the CBS Evening News, which Fairness in Media said has a “liberal bias.”

On the surface, there would seem to be no legal or regulatory impediments to Turner’s taking over the CBS stations.

The limit on the number of stations that an individual company could own has just been raised, and a combined portfolio of Turner and CBS holdings would be within the limits.