By Liana B. Baker and Jessica Toonkel
(Reuters) - Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc (O:SBGI) is nearing a deal to acquire Tribune Media Co (N:TRCO) for close to $4 billion after prevailing in an auction for one of the largest U.S. television station operators, according to people familiar with the matter.
A potential deal for Tribune comes just weeks after the U.S. Federal Communications Commission voted to reverse a 2016 decision that limits the number of television stations some broadcasters can buy.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, named by President Donald Trump in January, is planning to take a new look at the current overall limit on companies owning stations serving no more than 39 percent of U.S. television households.
Sinclair's deal for Tribune Media also represents a blow to Rupert Murdoch's ambitions to expand Twenty-First Century Fox Inc's (O:FOXA) broadcast assets.
Fox Networks Group chairman Peter Rice confirmed at the Milken Institute Global Conference last week that Fox was looking to buy Tribune Media because "having more scale and more control of distribution is important."
Sinclair's offer values Tribune Media at around $44 per share, the sources said on Sunday. That would represent a premium of close to 30 percent of the price of Tribune Media shares on Feb. 28, the day before Reuters broke the news that Sinclair had approached Tribune Media to discuss an acquisition.
Tribune Media shares ended trading on Friday at $40.29, giving it a market capitalization of $3.5 billion.
Negotiations between Sinclair and Tribune Media have not yet been finalized, and there is still a possibility the deal will not be reached, the sources cautioned.
The sources asked not to be identified because the deliberations are confidential. Tribune Media declined to comment. Sinclair did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Tribune Media has 42 owned or operated broadcast stations, as well as cable network WGN America, Tribune Studios and WGN-Radio. Sinclair, which has a market capitalization of $3.36 billion, owns, operates or provides services to 173 television stations in 81 markets.
Sinclair branched out into cable networks last year when it bought the Tennis Channel for $350 million.
Tribune Media said last year it was working with financial advisers Moelis & Co and Guggenheim Securities on a strategic review. It subsequently sold its media data unit Gracenote to Nielsen Holdings Plc for $560 million.
Twenty-First Century Fox was in talks with Blackstone Group LP (N:BX) last week about submitting an offer to buy Tribune Media, sources said at the time. Nexstar Media Group Inc also considered an acquisition of Tribune Media, sources have previously said.
Fox never submitted a bid, according to a source familiar with the matter.