Announced Actions for November 16, 1999

Publication of Federal Register Notice:

As part of its study of the marketing practices of the entertainment industry, the Federal Trade Commission is publishing its second Federal Register notice seeking public comment on proposed information requests to members of the motion picture, recording, and video, personal computer, and coin-operated game industries. The information solicited will be used by the FTC and the Department of Justice to produce the study, requested by the President on June 1, 1999, on whether and to what extent the entertainment industry markets age-restricted violent material to children.

The request for public comment, which is required under the Paperwork Reduction Act and will be published in the Federal Register soon, outlines the information to be sought from industry members. The requests for information will be sent to 60-75 members of the entertainment industry to examine: (1) the voluntary systems used by industry members to rate or designate violent content within three industry groups - movies, recordings, and video or computer games; (2) how industry members market or advertise movies, recordings, and video or computer games with violent content; and (3) whether industry members have policies or procedures to restrict access to movies, recordings, and video or computer games with violent content.

Written comments should be sent to Edward Clark, Senior Economist, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 10202, Washington, D.C., 20503 and to Office of the Secretary, Federal Trade Commission, Room H-159, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580, or by e-mail to entstudy@ftc.gov. The submissions should include the submitter's name, address, telephone number, and, if available, FAX number and e-mail address. All submissions should be captioned "Entertainment Industry Study" - FTC File No. P994511.

The Commission vote to publish the Federal Register notice was 4-0. For the initial Federal Register notice, see press release dated August 24, 1999. Staff contact at the FTC is Sally Pitofsky, 202-326-3318.

Application for approval of transactions:

Following the conclusion of a 30-day public comment period, the Commission has approved a transaction from the following: Jitney-Jungle Supermarkets of America, Inc., et al. The transaction involves the sale of two Supervalu supermarkets in Biloxi and Gulfport, Mississippi to Piggly Wiggly Mid-South, Inc. Supervalu was the up-front buyer approved by the Commission to acquire all 10 supermarkets that Jitney-Jungle was required to divest under the terms of a 1997 FTC order.

The Commission vote to approve the transaction was 4-0; Docket No. C-3784; (see press release dated September 12, 1997; staff contact is Daniel P. Ducore, 202-326-2526).

Copies of the documents mentioned in this FYI are available from the FTC's web site at http://www.ftc.gov and also from the FTC's Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580; 877-FTC Help (877-382-4357); TDD for the hearing impaired 1-866-653-4261. To find out the latest news as it is announced, call the FTC NewsPhone recording at 202-326-2710.