Today, Sinclair Broadcast Group announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Tribune Media for an estimated $3.9 billion. Among other things, Sinclair and Tribune are both large broadcast companies that control TV stations in many local markets.
The following can be attributed to John Bergmayer, Senior Counsel at Public Knowledge:
“This deal is yet another example of media consolidation that can harm consumers.
“In addition to reducing viewpoint diversity and contributing to the homogenization of broadcasting, large broadcast chains are one of the primary drivers of rising cable bills. By tying together multiple markets in retransmission consent negotiations, companies like Sinclair are able to demand higher payments for their signals. Consumers ultimately foot the bill.
“We hope that the Department of Justice and FCC will closely examine this deal and reject it and any other merger that leads to higher prices for consumers, reduced diversity and fewer independent viewpoints in dominant media outlets.”