In August 2024, a divided FCC affirmed a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the millions of dollars handed to Sinclair Inc. and several shared services partners, including Michael Anderson-helmed Cunningham Broadcasting, for apparent FCC violations of its Children’s TV programming rules.
Sinclair fought the $3.34 million fine, perhaps sensing that a change in leadership at the FCC would lead to a differing view of how to handle its transgressions. That happened, with NALF dissenter Brendan Carr becoming Chairman.
Now, the Carr Commission has entered into a Consent Decree with Sinclair and the shared services partners that absolves them of any rule violations. And, instead of forking over millions of dollars in fines, Sinclair will make a sizable but less-hefty payment to the U.S. Treasury.
The settlement also covers late “OPIF” uploads, a late license renewal application for a Southern Nevada TV translator station, and a Closed Captioning matter at WUHF-TV in Rochester, N.Y.
