FCC Still Looking at Sinclair
The Sinclair/Tribune deal was disallowed because the FCC says that Sinclair misled the commission as they tried to get the deal past.
But, Sinclair’s troubles might still be ongoing.
Broadcasting and Cable writes that the FCC’s Administrative Law Judge, Jane Halprin, has granted Sinclair's request that she terminate the hearing on its aborted deal to buy Tribune stations, but said the allegation Sinclair may have misled the commission was a serious charge that warrants further scrutiny in another context.
Halprin said the concern by the FCC chairman and commissioners, who voted unanimously to designate the deal for hearing before the ALJ, that Sinclair lacked candor was a serious charge that "reasonably warrants" a thorough examination" in another context, perhaps when its licenses come due since lack of candor goes to its fitness to be a licensee.
In other words….”We’re still looking at you Sinclair.”