Dems to FCC: Force Sinclair to sell stations for merger approval

Source: The Hill

Top House Democrats want the Federal Communications Commission to force Sinclair Broadcasting Group to sell off some television stations if the agency approves its proposed merger with Tribune Media.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Energy and Commerce ranking member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.), the top Dem on a communications and technology subcommittee wrote to the agency's commissioners on Monday to voice their concerns about the merger.

Currently Sinclair is already the nation's largest owner of television stations in the country. The $4 billion deal with Tribune media would give the combined company access to 72 percent of the American television audience.

The Democrats pointed out that currently, no single broadcaster is allowed to have a reach over 39 percent of the U.S. population. Those media ownership rules were created to create a diversity of viewpoints among local media stations across the country.

Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/technology/361280-top-house-dems-warn-fcc-of-ignoring-law-on-sinclair-tribune-merger