FILE PHOTO: Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission Ajit Pai speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at National Harbor, Maryland, U.S., February 23, 2018. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts
July 16, 2018
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Federal Communications Commission chairman Ajit Pai said Monday he has “serious concerns” about Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc’s <SBGI.O> proposed $3.9 billion acquisition of Tribune Media Co <TRCO.N> and called for a hearing to review some disputed issues.
Pai said in a statement evidence suggests certain station divestitures “would allow Sinclair to control those stations in practice, even if not in name, in violation of the law.” Sinclair did not immediately comment. The transaction has come under harsh criticism from many Democrats and some state attorneys general.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
