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US: Coalition tells FCC to keep Sinclair-Tribune paused

By  |  March 4, 2018

A coalition formed to fight Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc.’s proposed, US$3.9 billion acquisition of Tribune Media recently told the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that Sinclair’s divestiture plan to make the deal compliant with federal media-ownership rules is an “empty vessel.”

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    The FCC stopped the clock in January awaiting Sinclair’s adjustment of the deal given the FCC’s local ownership rule dereg. That new deal included efforts to own two of the four stations in a market, which is now allowable on a case-by-case basis, and signaled that it was parking spin-off stations in a trust, and striking services agreements with some, all as a way to keep its options open, including if the FCC lifts the 39% cap on national audience.

    That adjusted deal did not sit any better with the Coalition to Save Local Media. Members signing on to the letter included AWE: A Wealth of Entertainment channel, Cinemoi, Common Cause, Competitive Carriers Association, the Computer and Communications Industry Association, Indivisible– Herndon & Reston, International Cinematographers Guild, ITTA, Latino Victory Project, NABET-CWA, NTCA—The Rural Broadband Association, OANN- One America News Network, Public Knowledge, RIDE TV, and the Sports Fans Coalition.

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