WGN-TV To Be Sold To Allow Sinclair-Tribune Media Merger: Filing

CHICAGO, IL — Sinclair Broadcast Group will sell WGN-TV if the company's proposed $3.9 billion merger with Tribune Media Co., which owns the Chicago TV station, is approved by the FCC and the U.S. Department of Justice, according to Variety magazine. Unloading WGN would be part of Sinclair's efforts to comply with federal limits on TV station ownership, the report added.

Sinclair's plan to sell WGN was included in an Federal Communications Commission filing by the company Wednesday, which outlined steps to sell WPIX-TV in New York City and KSWB-TV in San Diego — both currently owned by Tribune Media, the report stated. Considered the final hurdle before the FCC makes its ruling on the proposed Sinclair-Tribune Media merger, the filing also revealed that buyers have been secured for the stations, but they weren't identified, the report stated.

But a sale wouldn't end Sinclair's involvement with WGN or the New York and San Diego outlets. The company still would run the stations and have already worked out an agreement with the prospective buyers, the report added.

RELATED: Tribune Media Sold To Sinclair Broadcast Group For $3.9B

In May, the Baltimore area broadcast company announced a deal to buy Tribune Media, creating the largest TV broadcast group in the country. The sale would combine Tribune's stations — including KTLA in Los Angeles — with the more than 170 outlets owned by Sinclair — which include WVTV in Milwaukee and WJLA in Washington, D.C.

In order for the sale to be in line with federal TV station ownership guidelines, though, Sinclair can't own outlets that reach more than 39 percent of U.S. TV househoulds, according to Variety. Selling the three stations would keep the company below that percentage, the report added.

More via Variety

Image via WGN-TV