Groups Petition FCC to Delay Sinclair-Tribune Decision

Critics of the Sinclair-Tribune merger continue to try to get Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai to delay a decision on the deal until a federal appeals court rules on the UHF discount that made the combo possible. Common Cause and Public Knowledge officially petitioned the FCC to "hold the proceeding in abeyance," which is just legalese for "hold off," pointing out that "the Court’s consideration of the UHF Reinstatement Order has direct bearing on whether the proposed acquisition of Tribune Media Company (“Tribune”) by Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (“Sinclair”) (collectively, the “Applicants”) can be consummated as currently envisioned." They point out how difficult it would be to disassemble and reassemble the deal if the court rules the discount does not apply and cite precedent for the FCC holding its decisions in abeyance pending relevant court decisions.