Even After Sinclair Changed Divestiture Plans, HDO OK'ed 4-0 and Issuance Expected Thursday

With FCC members having unanimously approved a hearing designation order on Sinclair buying Tribune, the agency said Wednesday evening that the HDO will be released the next day. That was despite the companies changing their plan earlier Wednesday. Some of the divestitures that would have gone to broadcasters linked to Sinclair would instead be sold to others once buyers were found.

Many industry officials told us that if the HDO is issued, they think the merging companies might abandon the deal altogether.

The two companies that own TV stations didn't comment right away after business hours.