Company Town

Television: NBC fired another regulatory lob at rival Fox, formally contesting the emerging network’s plan to take away an affiliate in Wisconsin. NBC filed a petition to the Federal Communications Commission asking it to block the acquisition of WLUK-TV, Green Bay, by Fox and partner Savoy Pictures Entertainment Inc. The acquisition, NBC said, would violate FCC rules limiting the number of stations one broadcaster can own nationally to 12 and limiting to 25% the amount of equity a foreign company can take in a U.S. broadcaster. NBC raised the same issues before the FCC in August, but stopped short of filing a formal petition against the acquisition. Peggy Binzel, vice president of Fox’s parent News Corp., called the petition “another attempt to use the regulatory process to prevent competition.” Binzel said she expects further assaults by NBC on other station acquisitions. NBC has signed long-term agreements extending the network’s affiliations with KRON-TV in San Francisco and WOWT in Omaha. The agreements--announced by NBC and Chronicle Broadcasting Company--are said to be for seven to 10 years.