Trib-ulations Ahead? Group Tries to Stop Sale to Zell

TRIB-ULATIONS AHEAD? GROUP TRIES TO STOP SALE TO ZELL
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
Media Access Project, a public interest law firm, sought Monday to block the sale of Tribune Co., saying the $8.2 billion deal shouldn't be allowed to go through unless the conglomerate breaks up its joint newspaper and broadcast ownership in five cities. In a filing at the Federal Communications Commission, MAP is urging the FCC to deny Tribune's request for waivers from rules banning same-market ownership of television and newspapers. MAP says the waivers Tribune seeks in the wake of the proposed deal are designed solely to "facilitate a mind-boggling and complex tax-efficient restructuring" and are not in the public's best interest. Andy Schwartzman, the group's president, notes that Tribune had several opportunities to sell its broadcast and newspaper properties separately. The comment came as an FCC deadline expired for public input on the $8.2 billion Tribune deal. The only public comment posted on the FCC's Web site by late Monday, aside from Tribune's, came from the Georgetown University Law Center's Institute for Public Representation. In tandem with the Media Access Project, the institute voiced opposition to allowing a transfer of Tribune's licenses.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003597304

* Tribune deal challenged with FCC
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8PMSI180.htm

* Tribune Accused of 'Gaming' Sale to Avoid Cross-Ownership Rules
http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=117267

* Groups oppose Tribune waivers
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-tue_tribune0612jun12,0,4557753.story

** Learn more about MAP at http://www.mediaaccess.org/index.html