FCC Approves Sinclair Purchase of Fisher Stations

The Federal Communications Commission has approved the transfer of Fisher TV stations to Sinclair, according to application approvals recorded in its online TV station database.

The approvals came the same day, Aug. 7, that the FCC approved the pro forma transfer of the Allbritton stations from the late Joe Allbritton to his estate. Sinclair, which has been on a buying binge of late, agreed to buy Fisher for $373 million back in April and two weeks ago announced a deal to buy Allbritton's stations for $985 million. The two deals still give Sinclair room to grow unless the FCC removes the 50% UHF discount, as it currently is proposing to do. If all the company's current station purchases go through, it would have an impressive 149 stations that the company will "own and operate, program or provide sales services to." Without the discount, Sinclair would be a hair below the FCC's 39% cap on national station reach. [Aug 8]