DOJ Probes Sinclair, Other TV Stations for Ad Rate Collusion

The Justice Department's antitrust investigation of Sinclair Broadcast Group focused on potential collusion among local broadcasters on inflated pricing of advertisements and alleged communications between their ad sales teams, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.

The coordination of ad sales teams between Sinclair, Tribune Media, and other independent TV station owners potentially led to higher rates for TV commercials, a source told the Journal.

Media companies like Sinclair and Tribune, which had sought FCC approval of a merger, own dozens of local TV stations which broadcast major networks like ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC.

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