If you don't think Sinclair wants to ruin local news, you need to read this.

During Sinclair's earnings call, CEO Chris Ripley he would like to see local news consolidated.

Ripley's vision? The local broadcast industry would boil down to two, maybe three, station groups, with one or two of them churning out local content in each market.

“Right now there are three to five local players, and to us that doesn’t make sense,” Ripley said on the earnings call.

He says that consolidating news operations would lead to “significant savings.” We're guessing that savings is more important than Jornalism in his world.

He then added, “The strategic output would also be great for the industry,” he said. Ummmm....how is that? We have to ask.

Ripley says that consolidation is dependent on the FCC relaxing regulations, Ripley said he, and his fellow Sinclair execs, believe that is where the industry is heading.

As for the deal from Sinclair to acquire Tribune, Ripley believes it will happen. “We have no reason to believe (the deal) won’t close around the year’s end,” he said. “The FCC has been very constructive in terms of its review.”

Then after the deal closes, let the consolidation begin and watch as people get tossed into the street all in an effort for “significant savings.”

Oh Boy!

H/T B&C