Free Press Plans to Try And Block Some Sinclair/Allbritton Transfers

Free Press Policy Director Matt Wood said his group plans to file a third petition to deny a big TV station merger, in this case Sinclair's nearly $1 billion purchase of Allbritton TV stations.

While Wood said the group hopes to file the petition, he pointed out it had until Sept. 3 to make that call, and was still "assessing its options and resources." To comply with Federal Communications Commission local ownership limits, Sinclair said it would have to sell four stations in three markets, but would "provide sales and other non-programming support services to each of these stations pursuant to customary shared services and joint sales agreements." Free Press argues that spin-offs combined with those agreements amount to continued control of the stations and should be counted as ownership.