Eating Their Own

Another conservative outlet has filed a petition with the FCC, asking them NOT to approve the Sinclair/Tribune deal. 

The hard right leaning news network Newsmax has filed a petition with the FCC to deny the merger of Sinclair and Tribune, saying that the combination would cripple a diverse press and do "immeasurable harm to democracy."

B&C reports that Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy had already told the FCC he did not like the proposed Sinclair-Tribune deal and had asked the agency to hold off on making any decision about it, signaling that his company would likely oppose the transaction. It has.

In the petition, a copy of which was obtained by Multichannel News, Newsmax said the merger—which would create the nation's largest broadcast group with over 200 stations reaching more than 72% of the country—"creates an unprecedented concentration of power in the hands of one broadcaster while setting the stage for other television broadcast networks to amass similar market penetration."

Newsmax wants the FCC to dismiss the application and complete its review of media ownership rules. 

---