Sinclair/Tribune Bad for Local Weather Anchors, Says Opposition Group

Sinclair buying Tribune would put local weather anchors “at risk," said deal opposition group Coalition to Save Local Media (see 1708150063), with members like the American Cable Association, Competitive Carriers Association, Dish Network, ITTA, NTCA and Public Knowledge. Sinclair has a “record of eliminating veteran weather anchors, reporters, and resources used by newsrooms to report live and on the ground during weather events,” the group said Thursday. Local weather reporters are “especially threatened” in markets where Sinclair will acquire new big-four stations, including Seattle, Denver, Cleveland and Sacramento, it said. “To suggest that Sinclair would ever put the well-being of our viewers at risk by cutting local weather coverage is absurd," said Senior Vice President-News Scott Livingston. "Broadcasting provides critical information during crises and we remain committed to providing this essential information to our local communities." Sinclair stations "devoted countless hours to round the clock coverage by local meteorologists," during the recent hurricanes, he said. Sinclair's WPEC West Palm Beach, Florida, offered continuous coverage for four days during Hurricane Irma, Livingston said.