President Trump said Tuesday it was “disgraceful” that federal regulators have blocked Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc.’s $3.9 billion acquisition of Tribune Media Co., taking sides against the Federal Communications Commission in the politically charged deal.
“So sad and unfair that the FCC wouldn’t approve the Sinclair Broadcast merger with Tribune,” tweeted Trump. He said the acquisition would have created a “much needed conservative voice by and for the people.” Trump also referenced the 2011 merger of Comcast Corp. CMCSA, -2.28% and NBC Universal, which the FCC allowed to go through. NBC is one of the networks Trump regularly criticizes.
Jessica Rosenworcel, a Democratic commissioner on the FCC, tweeted a one word response: “Disagree.”
Earlier this month, the Republican chairman of the FCC, Ajit Pai, said he had “serious concerns” about the deal and took action to block it. Pai said that proposed station divestitures by Sinclair SBGI, -2.43% to meet FCC media-ownership regulations could leave the company in practical control of those stations “in violation of the law.”
An expanded version of this report appears on WSJ.com.
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