Local
reactions to FCC’s blocking of Sinclair/Tribune merger
By Steve
Ahlquist for UpRiseRI
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai announced today that aspects of the Sinclair Broadcast Group’s proposed purchase of Tribune Media will be subject to a review process
by an administrative law judge.
“Based on a thorough
review of the record, I have serious concerns about the Sinclair/Tribune
transaction,” said Pai is a statement.
“The evidence we’ve received suggests that certain station divestitures that have been proposed to the FCC would allow Sinclair to control those stations in practice, even if not in name, in violation of the law. When the FCC confronts disputed issues like these, the Communications Act does not allow it to approve a transaction.
"Instead, the law requires the FCC to designate the transaction for a hearing in order to get to the bottom of those disputed issues. For these reasons, I have shared with my colleagues a draft order that would designate issues involving certain proposed divestitures for a hearing in front of an administrative law judge.”
“The evidence we’ve received suggests that certain station divestitures that have been proposed to the FCC would allow Sinclair to control those stations in practice, even if not in name, in violation of the law. When the FCC confronts disputed issues like these, the Communications Act does not allow it to approve a transaction.
"Instead, the law requires the FCC to designate the transaction for a hearing in order to get to the bottom of those disputed issues. For these reasons, I have shared with my colleagues a draft order that would designate issues involving certain proposed divestitures for a hearing in front of an administrative law judge.”
The announcement
surprised many, as Aijit Pai is a Donald Trump appointee
who was hostile to Net Neutrality and Sinclair Broadcast Group seems to work
hard in favor of the President.
Sinclair Broadcast Group
owns WJAR/Channel 10 in the local Rhode Island market
and is the largest television station operator in the United States by number
of stations and total coverage.
Since taking ownership of WJAR, Sinclair Media Group has mandated that WJAR include two minutes of right-wing or pro-Trump propaganda in local news broadcasts nine times a week, as they do in all their stations across the country.
Since taking ownership of WJAR, Sinclair Media Group has mandated that WJAR include two minutes of right-wing or pro-Trump propaganda in local news broadcasts nine times a week, as they do in all their stations across the country.
Locally, Sinclair Media
Group’s control of WJAR has been protested by Turn Off 10, a
campaign coordinated by the Rhode Island ReSisters.
The group has protested outside WJAR studios in Cranston and has targeted advertisers on the station such as Cardi Furniture and York Shoes.
The group has protested outside WJAR studios in Cranston and has targeted advertisers on the station such as Cardi Furniture and York Shoes.
“Needless to say, we are extremely happy about this decision. It certainly reinforces the fact that public outcry DOES make a difference,” said Dr Patricia Ricci, speaking as a proud member of the RI ReSisters and Turn Off 10.
“It is easy to become extremely discouraged, given the political climate within which we are currently submerged. Many people across the United States repeatedly called and submitted written opposition to the FCC. Despite Ajit Pai’s appointment, our collective voices were heard! We are now further emblazoned to soldier on locally to combat propaganda media.”
United States
Representative David Cicilline (Democrat,
Rhode Island) issued a statement saying, “This is the right decision. If
Sinclair buys Tribune, it will control the local TV news market. It will be
able to raise costs, eliminate jobs, and threaten the integrity of local
reporting.
“Media consolidation
doesn’t just raise the possibility of higher prices on consumers—it raises far
deeper concerns about the ability of corporate monopolies, motivated both by
profit and politics, to influence public opinion by injecting or withholding
information from elected officials and voters,” continued Cicilline.
“Vigorous antitrust enforcement is one of the most important tools to protect our democracy against the concentration of economic power. The American people expect the FCC to prevent mergers like this one.”
“Vigorous antitrust enforcement is one of the most important tools to protect our democracy against the concentration of economic power. The American people expect the FCC to prevent mergers like this one.”