As the FCC is poised to unleash the largest wave of media consolidation, a new study has found that concentration of media ownership leads to a dramatic decrease in children’s programming.

With the FCC vote on media ownership less than two weeks away, a new study reveals how a rise in media consolidation has led to a dramatic decrease in children’s TV programming.

The new study is released by a children research and action organization called Children Now. It concludes that there is a strong link between a reduction in children’s programming and concentration of ownership.

The wave of further media consolidation expected after a relaxing of media ownership rules does not bode well for children’s programming.

The FCC solicited 12 studies to assess the impact of the rules changes on the media, but none of them examined children’s programming.

• Patti Miller, director of the Children and the Media Program for Children Now.