Holiday Handouts: How the FCC Gave Gifts to Sinclair and Lumps of Coal for Consumers

At the end of the day, each action the Federal Communications Commission took described below has furthered Sinclair’s efforts to merge with Tribune at the expense of consumers.

Gift 1: Creating the Landscape for Sinclair to Merge by Reinstating the UHF Discount

Gift 2: Feeding Into Sinclair’s Business Model by Eliminating the Main Studio Rule

Gift 3: Sweeping Away Legal Problems With the Merger by Relaxing Media Ownership Rules

Gift 4: Giving Sinclair Benefits in the ATSC 3.0 Transition

Gift 5: Proposing to Eliminate the National Ownership Cap

Stocking Stuffer: A Slap-on-the-Wrist Fine for Failing to Disclose Sponsored Programming