LIVE TV
ZEE Business
ZEE BUSINESS
हिंदी में पढ़ें  हिंदी में पढ़ें
Live TV
Live TV
  • Home
  • Budget 2021
  • Personal Finance
    • PPF
    • Mutual Funds
    • Income tax
    • EPFO
    • Income Tax Calculator
    • Personal Loan Calculator
    • Car Loan Calculator
    • Home Loan Calculator
    • SIP calculator
    • SWP Calculator
    • MF Returns Calculator
    • Lumpsum Calculator
  • India
    • Companies
    • Property
    • Startups
    • Uidai
  • Economy
    • Aviation
  • Tech
    • Mobiles
    • Apps
  • Auto
    • Cars
    • Bikes
  • Markets
    • Commodities
    • Currency
  • Jobs
  • Indian Railways
  • World
    • Economy
    • Politics
    • Markets
  • videos
  • photos
  • Authors
  • More ...
    • VIDEOS
    • PHOTOS
Read in App
Business News » World News

White House counsel asked FCC chair about Sinclair Tribune merger status

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • whatapp
  • View in App
Updated: Thu, Aug 16, 2018
11:30 pm
Reuters
RELATED NEWS
Infosys Chairman Nandan Nilekani on India's Digital Economy I Kotak Institutional Equities highlights details Infosys Chairman Nandan Nilekani on India's Digital Economy I Kotak Institutional Equities highlights details
Digital economy to outpace GDP growth, will result in 'competitive advantage period' for leaders in digital space highlights ICICI Securities Digital economy to outpace GDP growth, will result in 'competitive advantage period' for leaders in digital space highlights ICICI Securities
#GSTMakeItEasy: Facing GST related issues? Big initiative by Zee Business - Tweet your problems now! Check all details here #GSTMakeItEasy: Facing GST related issues? Big initiative by Zee Business - Tweet your problems now! Check all details here
India’s economy picking up steam, estimate recovery at 10% in FY22: S&P Global India’s economy picking up steam, estimate recovery at 10% in FY22: S&P Global
RBI Monetary Policy: Governor Das says repo rate unchanged, sees GDP at 10.5 pct for FY22, inflation at 5.4 pct for Q4FY21 RBI Monetary Policy: Governor Das says repo rate unchanged, sees GDP at 10.5 pct for FY22, inflation at 5.4 pct for Q4FY21

White House counsel Don McGahn called the head of Federal Communications Commission in July to ask about the status of Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc’s now abandoned $3.9 billion acquisition of Tribune Media Co.

FCC chairman Ajit Pai disclosed the call in testimony on Thursday before a U.S. Senate panel. Pai said the call from McGahn came around the same time he issued a July 16 statement that said he had "serious concerns" about the proposed takeover and proposed referring the matter to an administrative law judge.

The call suggested unusual interest by the White House in the status of a planned acquisition by a company that President Donald Trump has publicly supported. Pai said that McGahn did not express a view on the merger. He said that the counsel had seen a news report "and wanted to know what ... the action was."

The collapse of the deal, hatched 15 months ago, potentially ended Sinclair’s hopes of building a national conservative-leaning TV powerhouse that might have rivaled Twenty-First Century Fox Inc’s Fox News.

Pai said on July 16 that evidence uncovered by the FCC suggested some proposed divestitures of stations by Sinclair would allow the company to control them "in practice, even if not in name, in violation of the law." He recommended the merger be referred for an administrative hearing. The FCC said later that Sinclair "did not fully disclose facts" about the merger.

The following week, Trump tweeted: "So sad and unfair that the FCC wouldn’t approve the Sinclair Broadcast merger with Tribune. This would have been a great and much needed Conservative voice for and of the People." Trump also tweeted support for Sinclair in April.

Advocacy group Free Press said in an FCC filing in August 2017 that Sinclair forces its TV stations to “air pro-Trump propaganda and then seeks favors from the Trump administration.” Sinclair has previously denied the charge that it is biased in favor of Republicans, and did not immedately respond to a request for comment on Thursday.

The White House did not immediately comment on the McGahn call.

Pai agreed to turn over a written summary of the conversation to Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat.

Last week, Tribune terminated the deal and sued Sinclair for breach of contract, claiming the rival TV-station owner mishandled efforts to get the transaction approved by taking too long and being too aggressive in its dealings with regulators.

Sinclair, the largest U.S. broadcast station owner with 192 stations, said last week it would no longer pursue the Tribune merger and denied Tribune’s allegations.

(This article has not been edited by Zeebiz editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

Get Latest Business News, Stock Market Updates and Videos; Check your tax outgo through Income Tax Calculator and save money through our Personal Finance coverage. Check Business Breaking News Live on Zee Business Twitter and Facebook. Subscribe on YouTube.

TAGS:
Economy
RELATED NEWS
Infosys Chairman Nandan Nilekani on India's Digital Economy I Kotak Institutional Equities highlights details Infosys Chairman Nandan Nilekani on India's Digital Economy I Kotak Institutional Equities highlights details
Digital economy to outpace GDP growth, will result in 'competitive advantage period' for leaders in digital space highlights ICICI Securities Digital economy to outpace GDP growth, will result in 'competitive advantage period' for leaders in digital space highlights ICICI Securities
#GSTMakeItEasy: Facing GST related issues? Big initiative by Zee Business - Tweet your problems now! Check all details here #GSTMakeItEasy: Facing GST related issues? Big initiative by Zee Business - Tweet your problems now! Check all details here
India’s economy picking up steam, estimate recovery at 10% in FY22: S&P Global India’s economy picking up steam, estimate recovery at 10% in FY22: S&P Global
RBI Monetary Policy: Governor Das says repo rate unchanged, sees GDP at 10.5 pct for FY22, inflation at 5.4 pct for Q4FY21 RBI Monetary Policy: Governor Das says repo rate unchanged, sees GDP at 10.5 pct for FY22, inflation at 5.4 pct for Q4FY21

LATEST NEWS

EaseMyTrip IPO Review: Market Guru Anil Singhvi predicts at least 50% listing gains

Oppo F19 Pro+ 5G, Oppo F19 Pro and Band Style launched in India: Check Price, Features and Offers on HDFC, ICICI Bank and more

Following Rakesh Jhunjhunwala portfolio? This is the share to buy today, say experts

SBI share price today: Rs 37 dropped in 3 weeks; watch out for levels around 378

JEE Main 2021 Result 2021: February session results declared, see where to check: Also know what happens when two students score the same marks

Delhi Budget 2021 LIVE: Top announcements, highlights

7th pay Commission latest news: Grab this job opportunity that offers salary up to Rs 1,77,500, DA and other allowances

WhatsApp feature: Chat backup with password protection may be launched soon | Here's all you need to know

Golden chance to buy BPCL shares today, company may give big dividend before divestment, says Anil Singhvi

Craftsman Automation IPO: How special is this issue? Check Axis Capital Highlights

  • India News
  • World News
  • Companies News
  • Market News
  • Personal Finance News
  • Technology News
  • Automobile News
  • Small Business News
  • Income Tax Calculator
  • Live TV
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Author
  • Rss Feed
  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Legal Disclaimer

Latest Trending Updates

  • EPFO
  • Budget 2020
  • Income Tax Return
  • Auto Expo 2020
  • Home Loan
  • Business News

Trending Topics

  • Income Tax
  • income Tax Calculator
  • 7th Pay Commission
  • Reserve Bank of India
  • GST
  • Latest Business News

Follow us on

zeebiz
zeebiz

Partner Sites

  • Zee News
  • Hindi News
  • Marathi News
  • Bengali News
  • Tamil News
  • Malayalam News
  • Gujarati News
  • Telugu News
  • Kannada News
  • DNA
  • WION
Copyright © Zee Media Corporation Ltd. All rights reserved