21st Century Fox wants the FCC to renew...

21st Century Fox wants the FCC to renew the license of WWOR-TV Secaucus, N.J., a lawyer at the company reported telling an aide to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, during a meeting held at the request of Wheeler’s office. The agency had probed whether the company then called News Corp. had made misrepresentations over the contested license renewal of the station, required to carry news serving the northern New Jersey audience and not just its community of license as with all other U.S. TV stations (CD Feb 18/11 p6). WWOR “served the tastes, needs and interests of Northern New Jersey throughout the preceding term of its license,” said a 21st Century Fox filing posted Monday in docket 07-260 (http://bit.ly/PNzFEC). “The Commission consistently has made clear that WWOR-TV’s public service obligation is no different in kind or degree than any other station’s obligation, except that WWOR-TV historically was tasked with serving the area of Northern New Jersey within its service contour.” The agency doesn’t “sit in judgment of a broadcast licensee’s editorial discretion,” 21st Century Fox’s lawyer reported having told Wheeler’s aide.