Coalition Formed to Fight Sinclair/Tribune

Groups who have already signaled they want the Federal Communications Commission to block the proposed $3.9 billion merger of Sinclair and Tribune have branded that effort under a new group moniker, the Coalition to Save Local Media.

Members include activists, computer companies, pay-TV providers and independent programmers, who fear a heavied-up Sinclair is a threat to local news and diverse viewpoints and that the combined company will raise retransmission fees and make it harder for competing programming to get shelf space on Sinclair properties, given that it owns Tennis Channel and WGN America cable nets. Coalition members include the American Cable Association, Dish, Common Cause, Public Knowledge, Herring Networks, NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association, the Competitive Carriers Association and the Computer & Communications Industry Association.