WASHINGTON—A federal inspector general has agreed to investigate actions by federal regulators that might benefit Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. SBGI -2.15% in its efforts to buy Tribune Media Co. TRCO 0.19% , according to a top congressman who requested the probe. The probe could further complicate the government’s review of the $3.9 billion Sinclair-Tribune deal, which has already run into delays over questions about how the merged company will comply with legal limits on local-station ownership. Aides described the fine as the largest ever for a violation of the FCC’s sponsorship identification rules. Mr. Pallone said Thursday that he was “grateful” that the inspector general took up the investigation. The inspector-general investigation could give opponents of the Sinclair-Tribune deal additional ammunition to attack it.

Source: Wall Street Journal February 16, 2018 03:00 UTC