Cardenas, 48 Other House Dems Press Sinclair CEO on Tribune Deal Concerns

Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., sent a letter to Sinclair CEO Chris Ripley on concerns about the potential impact the company's proposed purchase of Tribune could have on local news operations, consumers and communities, as expected (see 1710250050). Communications Subcommittee ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., and Digital Commerce Subcommittee ranking member Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., were among 48 House Democrats who signed Cardenas' letter. They sought responses by Nov. 10 on questions about Sinclair/Tribune's potential impacts, along with information on the broadcaster and FCC officials using nongovernmental and personal email addresses and social media. “We need to get all the information on this merger ahead of time,” Cardenas said in a news release. “In light of recent actions by the FCC to remove obstacles for Sinclair, Congress must step up and ask the tough questions to fulfill our oversight duties." Sinclair Senior Vice President-Strategy and Policy Rebecca Hanson told us she met with Cardenas' office “this morning, and we had a productive dialogue addressing his concerns. We are happy to converse with any office willing to [learn] more about us as a company, our commitment to localism, and the public interest benefits of this transaction.”