Chicago Tribune: Kill the Sinclair Deal Now

The Chicago Tribune writes, hundreds of consumers are offering some simple and direct advice to federal regulators eyeing Sinclair Broadcasting Group’s proposed acquisition of locally-based Tribune Media: Kill this awful deal — now.

They’re right.

Tribune Reporter Robert Reed goes on to say, protesters fret Sinclair will hack away at their stations by cutting costs to the bone, dumping well-known and trusted talent and providing homogenized, one-size-fits-all content that doesn’t relate to their markets or concerns.

Those worried about such matters won’t get much comfort from Sinclair’s Oct. 5 FCC filing.

The 400-plus page document nods to the possibility of selling some TV stations to get government approval (there’s about 10 markets where Sinclair and Tribune stations overlap). It’s also raring to start cutting costs once the deal is approved — although in the FCC document it redacted the exact amount it intends to lop. (The Chicago Tribune is separate from Tribune Media.)

Sinclair intends to whack at high-level “duplicative” corporate jobs, eliminate unnecessary facilities or real estate and reduce the number of suppliers, according to the filing. Sinclair goes on to say it won’t get into staff reductions until after it’s reviewed Tribune Media’s operations, but states that the merger will “facilitate the streamlining of Sinclair’s news gathering infrastructure.”

Anyone hear an axe sharpening?

---