Sinclair Broadcast Group and Tribune
Media call allegations that their combined power after their $3.9
billion merger would allow the new entity to delay the television
channel repack, “absurd and unfounded.” They defend their planned deal,
asserting their need to combine to survive the competitive media
landscape. “Each of the petitioners is either trying to use this
proceeding to stifle competition for its own economic interests, or is
still living in a pre-cable, pre-internet, pre-smartphone world,
untethered from the economic realities of the current media market,”
said both companies in a response to Petitions to Deny filed with the
FCC late Tuesday evening.
The Rural Broadband Association and
the Competitive Carriers Association were among those filing petitions
opposing the combo. Each said after combining, Sinclair would own over
200 television stations and since it also owns antenna-maker Dielectric,
it would have the power and incentive to seriously delay the pace of
the TV channel repack, Inside Towers reported.
NTCA, CCA, plus T-Mobile, said Sinclair has tried to delay both the
spectrum auction and the subsequent repack numerous times and would do
so again. Continue Reading
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