The Coalition to Save Local Media released the following statement on today’s FCC news:
“We applaud the FCC for recognizing today that no matter how many times Sinclair revised this deal, they were never serious about proposing a merger that follows the rules. For over a year, Sinclair tried to play games and try to retain control of stations rather than truly divesting. Furthermore, Sinclair continued to completely rely on the antiquated UHF discount currently under court review.
“This merger as proposed by Sinclair was never in the public interest, which is why opposition to it brought together parties from both sides of the aisle and groups that previously were on opposite sides of regulatory fights. And today’s move by the FCC proves this fight was never about right versus left but protecting the key principles of our public airwaves—localism and competition.
“The Coalition to Save Local Media, a diverse group of media organizations, distributors, independent networks, labor, public interest groups, and other allies joined forces nearly a year ago to stop the Sinclair-Tribune merger, will continue to highlight how this mega-merger will stifle local and independent media voices and put Sinclair’s profits ahead of local viewers, jeopardizing both localism and competition.”
Members of the Coalition to Save Local Media include: American Cable Association, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, A Wealth of Entertainment channel, Cinemoi, Common Cause, Competitive Carriers Association, the Computer and Communications Industry Association, DISH, Indivisible Chicago and Herndon & Reston, International Cinematographers Guild, ITTA, Latino Victory Project, Leased Access Programmers Association, NABET-CWA, NTCA—The Rural Broadband Association, One America News Network, Parents Television Council, Public Knowledge, RIDE TV, the Sports Fans Coalition, TheBlaze, and UCC.