Deals
FCC Pauses Its Review of Sinclair Purchase of Tribune Media
- Agency says it awaits Sinclair plans to sell some TV stations
- Questions linger over ownership limits and antitrust rules
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The Federal Communications Commission paused its review of Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc.’s proposed purchase of Tribune Media Co. to give time for the companies to arrange for the sale of some TV stations to bring the $3.9 billion deal in line with broadcast ownership limits.
Sinclair earlier told the FCC it was evaluating divestitures, and Michelle Carey, the agency’s media bureau chief, said in a letter that it was “appropriate” to pause the agency’s informal 180-day deadline as the government assesses the company’s proposals. The letter, posted Thursday on the FCC’s website, set the clock to Jan. 4, or day 167, of the review. Before the action the clock had advanced to day 174.