The Sinclair Broadcast Group, the largest owner of local TV stations, serving 81 markets, wants to expand by buying
Tribune Media’s TV stations, many of which are in larger markets, like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.
Sinclair Is Said to Be Near a Deal for Tribune Media -
By MICHAEL J. de la MERCEDMAY 7, 2017
The Sinclair Broadcast Group may not have much name recognition outside its home base near Baltimore,
but the company is poised to control more than a third of the country’s local television stations.
Under the Smiths’ control, the company has spent more than $7 billion on acquisitions, leading David
D. Smith, the longtime chairman, to once remark, “We’re forever expanding — like the universe.”
Beyond giving Sinclair greater negotiating power, a deal for Tribune would increase the reach of the company’s
news operation, which has promoted a mostly conservative agenda since the presidency of George W. Bush.
Buying Tribune Media, once the Tribune empire’s television arm, would give Sinclair control of properties like WGN in Chicago and WPIX in New York.
TV stations owned by Sinclair
TV stations owned by Tribune
Growth would help the 46-year-old Sinclair gain more negotiating leverage in the television industry, which has consolidated rapidly in recent years.
