FCC Weighs Revamping Ownership Rules Before Sinclair Deal

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai has told an opponent of Sinclair Broadcast Group's proposed purchase of Tribune Media that the agency may review media ownership rules before ruling on the $3.9 billion deal, something that could delay a decision on the merger. “Ajit Pai told me in my meeting that he has not decided to approve the merger first, that he may conduct a review of the ownership cap," Christopher Ruddy, chief executive officer of Newsmax Media Inc., said Oct 13. “I can confirm to you on the record that he told me that he had not decided and that he was open to doing the review first. And I encouraged him to do it."

Ruddy said Pai made his statement in a Sept. 27 meeting. The Newsmax chief said the merger would allow too much media concentration that could crowd out independent voices. Newsmax offers a TV channel that appears on cable systems and online.