WASHINGTON—The Wall Street Journal reports that a top federal communications regulator has “serious concerns” about Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc.’s $3.9 billion acquisition of Tribune Media Co. and took action to block the deal. Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. is the owner of Bay Creek.
The Justice Department is investigating whether television station owners violated antitrust law in ways that inflated local television advertising prices.
The probe has examined whether Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc., SBGI -1.55% Tribune Media Co. TRCO 0.35% and other independent TV station owners coordinated efforts when their ad sales teams communicated with each other about their performance, potentially leading to higher rates for TV commercials, WSJ reported.
Government officials found the ad sales practice during their review of Sinclair’s $3.9 billion proposed acquisition of Tribune. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai put that deal in jeopardy last week by referring the matter to an administrative law judge. Mr. Pai said Sinclair hadn’t been candid in its filings with the telecom regulator.
It is unclear when the investigation over advertising sales started or what penalty, if any, the companies might face.
About the Author
Not sure where Julie is from but her world sounds rather grim. I'm 78, retired on a small monthly Social…
How did the poor, lost Eastern Shore folks ever make it before you people got here? I am quite sure…
Wow! You sound utterly helpless. Remember this, people with real wealth never mention their 'wealth'.
She is just as worthless as the hind tit on a boar-hog.
At first glance, you might think that wealthy retirees do not need services provided by the county, like schools. But…