Sinclair Draws Scrutiny Over Growth Tactic

Amid a frenzy of activity around local TV station groups, WSJ.com takes a look at how Sinclair and other broadcasters are using controversial “sidecar” agreements that allow broadcasters to run far more stations than they would be allowed to own directly.

In Columbus, for instance, Sinclair Broadcast Group manages several stations in one building, and collects most of the revenue from all three.

But it only owns one of them — the other are controlled by bankers close to its chief executive, and one was controlled by his mother until last year.

Critics say broadcasters are using sidecars as loopholes that let them violate the spirit of FCC ownership that encourage diversity and localism.

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