Sinclair Broadcast Group met with another obstacle in its proposed $3.9 billion purchase of Tribune as the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Media Bureau requested more detailed information and documents about the plan.
The FCC is asking for information about pledges Sinclair has made about how it would follow current FCC rules regarding media ownership and the national ownership cap of stations, Broadcasting Cable reported Saturday.
Sinclair had pledged to spin-off or seek waivers for stations that brought the company out of compliance, although they also had included language indicating the FCC could change its rules under anticipated deregulation.
Groups criticizing the purchase have maintained Sinclair should be working under current FCC guidelines. Karl Frisch, executive director of Allied Progress, which opposes the deal, called this move "the latest obstacle for the Sinclair merger, potentially pushing a final decision on the merger well into next year."
"The FCC is taking steps to give the Sinclair-Tribune merger the scrutiny it requires by asking the applicants questions raised by interested parties as well as members of congress that have gone unanswered for far too long," the Coalition to Save Local Media announced about Sinclair's plan. "Now Sinclair-Tribune must justify how this merger is in the public interest and how the combined company plans to comply with ownership rules."
"While our Coalition eagerly awaits Sinclair-Tribune's response, sharp scrutiny must be given to any and all evidence they provide," the coalition added.
The FCC also requested information about Sinclair's plans for capital investment for expanded news coverage at Tribune stations that are part of the purchase.
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