Suuure, cable industry critic and FCC chairman Kevin Martin may have helped some media companies – by allowing ownership of both a newspaper and a TV or radio station in the same market, so long as there are at least eight other sources of news, and that the TV station is not among the top four – but he also managed to piss off some behemoths with his voting yesterday.

Namely, Comcast, the nation's largest cable operator, which has been snapping up smaller outfits with hest. But the new rules mean no single company can control more than 30 percent of the cable market, which means Comcast's expansion ends right … NOW.

Unless it can get a court to overturn the ruling. And try, they will.

So while the struggling newspaper industry has been offered a de-regulatory hand-out, the booming (less that WGA mess) television industry was dealt a blow. Not that either side is happy.

Reports the Times:

For opposite reasons, both rules approved on Tuesday were sharply criticized by industry. John F, Sturm, president of the Newspaper Association of America, called the new cross-ownership rule “a baby step in the actions needed to maintain the vitality of local news, in print and over-the-air, in all communities across the nation.” Mr. Sturm said he favored eliminating the cross-ownership ban completely.

On the other hand, the cable television industry accused Mr. Martin of once again imposing unfair regulations on it.

David L. Cohen, an executive vice president of Comcast, said it was “perverse to see the commission approving huge mergers by the Bell companies while now telling cable companies, who compete toe-to-toe with the Bells, that they may not also grow larger and achieve the same efficiencies.”

Rupert Murdoch, meanwhile, could be looking at "permanent waivers to control two television stations in New York, as well as The New York Post and The Wall Street Journal." It can be tough to see the good in every situation, but try, we will.