Former Top Republican DeLay Calls for Sinclair/Tribune to Be Denied
Approving Sinclair's buy of Tribune could undermine DOJ’s position on AT&T/Time Warner (see 1801310074) and lead to “huge liberal broadcasters that dwarf the size and power of the merged Sinclair-Tribune company,” wrote former House Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay for…
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Politico Wednesday. Broadcast ownership limits allowed Republicans to make large gains in the 1980s and '90s because they ensured a broad spectrum of licensees owned most of the country’s TV stations, “bypassing the liberal bias of New York City network executives at NBC, CBS and ABC,” DeLay said. Though Sinclair is conservative-leaning, approving the deal would set a precedent that would allow the much larger networks to grow, DeLay said. “At that point, nothing can stop liberal Northeast corporate executives from telling homes in the heartland what to think.” Allowing Sinclair/Tribune would weaken the case against AT&T/TW, DeLay said. “Trump’s DOJ would be gifting AT&T’s lawyers with a powerful argument that DOJ’s selective enforcement is not only arbitrary but also illogical.” It would give “an easy talking point to liberal Democratic senators” who argue Justice’s opposition to that deal is “political payback for CNN’s drumbeat of anti-Trump news,” Delay said. Sinclair didn't comment.