https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/19/17591852/fcc-sinclair-broadcast-group-tribune-media-merger-public-interest

The Federal Communications Commission has published its order calling for a hearing regarding the proposed Sinclair Broadcast Group acquisition of Tribune Media, following an unexpected announcement by Chairman Pai earlier this week where he said he had “serious concerns” about the deal. The order claims that, as proposed, the merger between the two media giants would “not be in the public interest.”

The administrative hearing was approved yesterday after the Commission voted unanimously to take a closer look at the merger. In its initial response after the agency called for the hearing, Sinclair revised its $3.9 billion acquisition of Tribune Media in an attempt to salvage its deal in light of the FCC’s announcement. In the new deal, Sinclair would also acquire the WGN-TV Chicago station, along with two other Tribune stations in Texas — Dallas and Houston — that would then be put into a trust and sold by an independent trustee after the deal with Tribune is approved.