The group Allied Progress called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to stop the clock on Sinclair’s proposed merger with Tribune Media.

And the FCC did just that. The FCC added 15 days to the clock to give the public more time to weigh in on the proposed deal. 

Allied Progress says it is now more than 100 days into the FCC’s 180-day review of the merger and the company has failed to address fundamental issues, despite repeated requests for information by consumer groups, other media companies, and the FCC. Historically, under both Democratic and Republican administrations, the FCC has “stopped the clock” until important questions like these are answered.

“Over 100 days into the review period, the Sinclair merger has sailed through the FCC with little resistance. Yet time and again Sinclair has failed to answer fundamental questions, such as how do consumers benefit from giving one company access to three out of four U.S. households,” said Karl Frisch, executive director of Allied Progress.“From the sycophantic pro-Trump content, to the threat posed to industry competition, to likely price increases for consumers, the FCC has every reason to stop the clock on this review. It’s time to finally get some answers from Sinclair, and it’s time for the FCC to do their job,” Frisch added. 

The group says that Sinclair has failed to address how their proposed merger is compliant with several major FCC rules, including:

The duopoly rule that prohibits ownership of two of the top four-ranked television stations within the same Designated Market Area.

The national cap, which states that a single entity can't own television stations that, in total, reach more than 39% of all television households in the nation. Even by Sinclair’s own count, they would own more than 45%.

How the merger would be in the public interest?

Sinclair remains confident that they have sucked up to the right people and greased the right palms, that this deal is going to be approved. 

Remember, they're buddy, buddy with the President.