Maria Cantwell Leads Democratic Senators in Call for Scrutiny of Sinclair-Tribune Broadcasting Deal

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) led seven of her Senate colleagues urging Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the chairmen of the Senate Commerce and Judiciary Committees, to examine the pending sale of Tribune Media to Sinclair Broadcasting.

Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Al Franken (D-MN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) joined Cantwell in signing the letter.

With the acquisition of Tribune Media, Sinclair would have the market power of an unprecedented 200 stations. Smaller stations would have difficulty recruiting top talent and matching Sinclair’s rates for broadcasting content and fees for retransmission. An already challenging business environment for small stations will be made untenable for many by the creation of a Sinclair conglomerate. The proportion of stations owned by women and minorities is abysmally low and would be driven down further by the deal.

“We are concerned about the level of media concentration this merger creates, and its impact on the public interest,” wrote the Senators. “In light of these concerns, we believe that Senate hearings would provide critical transparency for the many American consumers who will be impacted by the deal and greater accountability from the companies who must demonstrate that the deal serves the public interest.”

https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-leads-democratic-senators-in-call-for-scrutiny-of-sinclair-tribune-broadcasting-deal-senate-hearings