Statement Of FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai On Three TV Stations Going Dark Following Review Of The Sinclair/Allbritton Transaction

The Federal Communications Commission’s crackdown on joint sales agreements claims three more victims: two television stations in the Birmingham, Alabama market (WCFT and WJSU) and one television station in Charleston, South Carolina (WCIV).

How does this outcome serve the cause of diversity? And how does this outcome serve the cause of competition?

In Charleston, South Carolina, for example, WCIV would have been owned and operated by Howard Stirk Holdings, an African-American owned broadcast company. But apparently the FCC believes that it is better for that station to go out of business than for Howard Stirk Holdings to own the station and participate in a joint sales agreement with Sinclair. I strongly disagree.


Statement Of FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai On Three TV Stations Going Dark Following Review Of The Sinclair/Allbritton Transaction