HERRING WELCOMES TERMINATION OF SINCLAIR/TRIBUNE MERGER

~ OAG had been investigating the proposed merger ~

RICHMOND (August 9, 2018)—Attorney General Mark R. Herring issued the following statement on the announcement that Tribune Media Company would abandon its proposed merger with Sinclair Broadcast Group. If finalized the merger would have given Sinclair control of more than 200 stations reaching nearly 75% of all households in America.

"This proposed merger would have given a single entity unprecedented control over the news, entertainment, and information received by millions of Americans. Its demise is good news for American consumers and for the health of our democracy,” said Attorney General Herring. "My team and I had been investigating the merger for months and were prepared to force significant concessions from the company or take legal action to block the merger. Thankfully, that will no longer be necessary.”

Attorney General Herring previously opposed the proposed Sinclair/Tribune merger by asking the Federal Communications Commission not to change its rules in a way that would facilitate the merger. The Antitrust Unit of Attorney General Herring's Consumer Protection Section has led the OAG's investigation into the proposed merger.

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