But in a way it is as heavily controlled, but just not by the government.

Large media conglomerates own such a large percentage of the media outlets that they are literally controlling what is broadcast by using the exact same text and "news" in every single one of their markets. These "local" stations are dicated to what they can air, and forced to carry specific segments whether it is the same pre-produced segment or at the least the same pre-approved copy that the local read verbatim.

That is not a free press. That is a press doing the bidding of its corporate overlords