FCC Seeks More Evidence For Sinclair/Tribune Deal Claims

The Federal Communications Commission’s Media Bureau has asked Sinclair to back up a bunch of its pledges to bring its proposed $3.9 billion purchase of Tribune stations within the FCC's current media ownership rules, including the duopoly and national ownership cap, as well as of the benefits of the deal. The FCC also wants more supporting material to back up claims about benefits to the ATSC 3.0 transmission standard transition and assertions the deal would offer greater value to MVPDs. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has signaled he thinks the ownership regulations need loosening, but Media Bureau Chief Michelle Carey, in a letter to Sinclair dated Sept. 14, signaled that Sinclair needs to get a lot more specific about what exactly it will do to comply with the current rules.