Sinclair Pays $48 Million and Settles All Pending Investigations

In this Order, we adopt the attached Consent Decree entered into between the Federal Communications Commission and Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (Sinclair). The Consent Decree resolves the FCC’s investigations of (1) real party-in-interest issues originally designated for hearing in Sinclair’s proposed acquisition of stations owned by Tribune Media Company; (2) Sinclair’s compliance with section 1.65 of the FCC’s rules (Rules), which requires applicants to ensure the continued accuracy and completeness of information before the FCC in an application proceeding; (3) Sinclair’s compliance with section 325 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (Act), and section 76.65(b) of the Rules, which require commercial television broadcasters to negotiate in good faith for consent to retransmit their signals; and (4) Sinclair’s compliance with the sponsorship identification laws. To settle these matters, Sinclair will pay a $48,000,000 civil penalty and implement a compliance plan. 


Sinclair Pays $48 Million and Settles All Pending Investigations