FCC Chairman Has ‘Serious Concerns’ With Sinclair-Tribune Deal

Ajit Pai says evidence suggests proposed station divestitures would leave Sinclair in control of them ‘in practice, even if not in name’

From AT&T and Time Warner to the hot pursuit of 21st Century Fox and Sky, media mergers are in full swing. Why now? WSJ's Amol Sharma answers all your questions about the forces driving media deals. Photo: Getty Images
By

WASHINGTON—A top federal communications regulator said he had “serious concerns” about Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc.’s $3.9 billion acquisition of Tribune Media Co.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement that the evidence so far suggests that proposed station divestitures would leave Sinclair in control of them “in practice, even if not in name.”

Mr....