The Coalition to Save Local Media issued the following statement on the Federal Communications Commission requesting more information from Sinclair Broadcasting and Tribune Media on their proposed merger:
The FCC is taking steps to give the Sinclair-Tribune merger the scrutiny it requires by asking the Applicants questions raised by interested parties as well as Members of Congress that have gone unanswered for far too long. Now Sinclair-Tribune must justify how this merger is in the public interest and how the combined company plans to comply with ownership rules.
While our Coalition eagerly awaits Sinclair-Tribune’s response, sharp scrutiny must be given to any and all evidence they provide. A combined Sinclair-Tribune would create the single largest operator of local broadcast stations in the country, a massive consolidation that will stifle local, independent journalism and lead to fewer choices and higher prices for consumers. The FCC and Department of Justice should closely scrutinize this merger and deny it.
The Coalition to Save Local Media came together to stop the proposed Sinclair-Tribune merger. The Coalition is nonpartisan and includes members on both sides of the aisle. Notably, the Coalition includes members that have previously been on opposite sides of regulatory fights.
Founding members of the Coalition to Save Local Media include: American Cable Association, A Wealth of Entertainment channel, Cinemoi, Common Cause, Competitive Carriers Association, the Computer and Communications Industry Association, DISH, ITTA – the Voice of America’s Broadband Providers, Latino Victory Project, NTCA—The Rural Broadband Association, One America News Network, Public Knowledge, RIDE TV, the Sports Fans Coalition, and The Blaze.