FCC Investigating Sinclair Over Tribune Deal

In a letter of inquiry sent by the Federal Communications Commission's Media Bureau to Sinclair Broadcast Group General Counsel David Gibber, the FCC asks for documents releated to Sinclair's  aborted effort to buy Tribune TV stations and whether Sinclair mislead the FCC about who would actually be controlling the stations it was spinning off as part of the deal. The FCC is investigating "whether, in light of the issues presented in the HDO, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (Sinclair or Company) was the real party-in-interest to the associated WGN-TV, KDAF, and KJAH applications, and, if so, whether Sinclair engaged in misrepresentation and/or lack of candor in its applications with the Commission." 

"This is a big deal. The worst thing you can do to the FCC is lie," said Benton Senior Counselor Andrew Schwartzman. "This is the only way to lose a license for a broadcaster. Sinclair needs to prove they didn't lie, or that they didn't mean to and won't again."

The FCC wants deal-related documents from the company no later than July 9.