Even the Right Wing is Balking at the Sinclair/Tribune Deal
/
It seems that just about everyone outside Sinclair's corporate offices think that the Sinclair deal to buy Tribune is not good.
The hard right Sinclair is even getting push back from the conservative side.
CEO of conservative media news outlet Newsmax Chris Ruddy wants the FCC to give them additional time to weigh and comment on the proposed deal.
Broadcasting and Cable says that a Newsmax representative confirmed Ruddy has major problems with the combo.
Newsmax points out the combined company would be the nation's largest broadcaster, would exceed the FCC's 39% ownership cap, and would have impermissible duopolies in 11 markets—it would have to divest or the FCC would have to give it some help.
"This current transaction overturns more than three decades of bipartisan consensus and rulemaking, as well as Congressional intent, while raising serious competitive concerns," said Newsmax, stopping just short of asking for outright denial but coming close.
B&C also reports that a group of independent programmers, including The Blaze and One America News Network has called on House and Senate GOP leadership to hold hearings on the proposed Sinclair/Tribune merger.
They argue the deal could cripple program diversity, which is why they want Hill hearings on the impact of the merger. "As independent programmers, we stand together in our concerns over further consolidation in the video programming marketplace," they said.
The Sinclair deal is bad for everyone. Those of the right, those on the left and most importantly those that care about objective news coverage that does not takes sides.
