The Coalition to Save Local Media issued the following statement on the Federal Communications Commission announcement seeking additional comments on the Sinclair Broadcasting-Tribune Media merger:
“As FCC opens a new comment period around the proposed Sinclair-Tribune merger, this time focused on additional divestitures attempting to comply with media ownership rules, there remains a major problem. The FCC and all merger stakeholders are waiting for the pivotal decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on whether the FCC will be allowed to restore the UHF discount. Without the outdated and unjustified UHF discount, Sinclair and Tribune’s attempted merger will place the combined entity substantially over the national ownership cap, even under their latest proposal.
“The Coalition to Save Local Media members look forward to continuing to raise serious concerns about this proposed deal that is not in the public interest and would harm consumers and hurt local media across the country. But any action on this transaction is premature until the D.C. Circuit settles a critical question impacting how big Sinclair is allowed to grow.”