Fox In Talks To Acquire Tribune Stations Post Sinclair Merger
February 22, 2018
Fox In Talks To Acquire Tribune Stations Post Sinclair Merger
One day after Sinclair Broadcast Group laid out plans to divest certain local television stations to gain FCC approval of its deal to acquire Tribune Media, a buyer has emerged on the horizon: 21st Century Fox.
Related
Sinclair Lays Out Plans To Divest Stations To Win FCC Approval Of Tribune Acquisition
Fox is in talks to acquire at least six stations from Sinclair, a source confirms. Discussions center Tribune-owned Fox affiliates in five markets — Seattle (KCPQ), Denver (KDVR), Salt Lake City (KSTU), Sacramento (KTXL) and Cleveland (WJW) — and a CW affiliate in greater Miami (WSFL), Variety reported.
Four of the six Tribune stations are in markets with NFL teams, a seeming fit for Fox’s strategy of investing in live sports –particularly professional football.
None of the parties involved — Fox, Sinclair or Tribune – would comment about negotiations. The sale would be contingent upon Sinclair winning regulatory approval for its $3.9 billion Tribune acquisition.