FILE - This Oct. 12, 2004 file photo shows Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.'s headquarters in Hunt Valley, Md. Tribune Media is ending its $3.9 billion deal with Sinclair Broadcast, and has filed a lawsuit against Sinclair for breach of contract. Sinclair had offered to buy Tribune’s 42 TV stations. The two companies had until midnight Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018 to call the deal off and have been facing tough regulatory challenges. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark, File) FILE - This Oct. 12, 2004 file photo shows Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.'s headquarters in Hunt Valley, Md. Tribune Media is ending its $3.9 billion deal with Sinclair Broadcast, and has filed a lawsuit against Sinclair for breach of contract. Sinclair had offered to buy Tribune’s 42 TV stations. The two companies had until midnight Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018 to call the deal off and have been facing tough regulatory challenges. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark, File)
JOHANNESBURG - Tribune is withdrawing from its $3.9 billion (R52.13bn) buyout by Sinclair and it’s filing a lawsuit against it, citing breach of contract.
Tribune Media would be on the hook for a $135 million breakup fee, according to the agreement last year. Sinclair Broadcast Group had offered to buy the Chicago company’s 42 TV stations and had agreed to get rid of stations in some markets to gain regulatory approval.
Tribune claims Sinclair used “unnecessarily aggressive and protracted negotiations” with the Department of Justice and Federal Communications Commission over regulatory requirements and refused to sell the stations it needed to. The two companies had until midnight on Wednesday to call off their deal.
Sinclair is one of the largest owners of US TV stations.