FCC fines Sinclair $48M, refuses to revoke its broadcast licenses

Enlarge / A sign for the Sinclair Broadcast buildings seen on October 12, 2004 in Hunt Valley, Maryland. (credit: Getty Images | William Thomas Cain)

Sinclair Broadcasting Group has agreed to pay a $48 million fine for portraying sponsored TV segments as news coverage-and other violations-in the largest-ever civil penalty paid by a broadcaster in Federal Communications Commission history.

The FCC announced the penalty yesterday, saying that a consent decree signed by Sinclair includes the fine and a "strict compliance plan" in order to "close three open investigations," including one into Sinclair's actions during its failed attempt to acquire Tribune Media Company. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai resisted calls to go further, which means that Sinclair is in no danger of losing broadcast licenses.

"Today's penalty, along with the failure of the Sinclair/Tribune transaction, should serve as a cautionary tale to other licensees seeking Commission approval of a transaction in the future," Pai said. "On the other hand, I disagree with those who, for transparently political reasons, demand that we revoke Sinclair's licenses. While they don't like what they perceive to be the broadcaster's viewpoints, the First Amendment still applies around here."

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