President Trump’s Justice Department, barring any last-minute changes, is days away from clearing the controversial $6.6 billion acquisition of Tribune Media by Sinclair Broadcasting, The NYPost has learned.
Antitrust lawyers at the department, which has primary oversight, have recently reached out to colleagues at the Federal Communications Commission to advise them of the move, one source familiar with the matter said.
As currently configured, a post-merger Sinclair would own 223 stations covering 72 percent of US households.
To gain regulatory approval, Sinclair, which is acquiring 42 Tribune stations, is selling 13 of them, sources said. The Justice Department approval will come after Sinclair announces agreements on the divestitures, they said.
The FCC will continue its review, which is seen as a much easier hurdle to clear. That decision is expected in August, a source said.
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