Newsmax Visits Rosenworcel on Sinclair/Tribune

FCC decisions to seek comment on eliminating the main studio rule and to reinstate the UHF discount were favorable to Sinclair and could undermine public confidence in the agency, Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy said in a meeting with Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel Wednesday, recounted a filing in docket 17-179. Newsmax opposes Sinclair buying Tribune, and Ruddy and the commissioner discussed and “agreed” on possible consequences of the merger, it said. Rosenworcel “reviewed with Mr. Ruddy how the proposed transaction could be utilized to force adoption of ATSC 3.0 creating a windfall for Sinclair as a result of its patents on this technology,” the news organization said. Rosenworcel in a speech last week called the new standard a tax on consumers (see 1710120057). Ruddy and Rosenworcel “agreed that the Commission should engage in a comprehensive review of media ownership rules, including seeking comment from the public and Congress before deciding on the Sinclair merger,” the filing said. They agreed the deal likely would lead to higher retransmission consent prices, it said. Rosenworcel’s office didn’t comment.