Nexstar to acquire Tegna

[mre29 1967]

21 hours ago, nathannah said:

WCTX channel shares with WTNH, and WCCT's main channel is hosted by WTIC as the area lighthouse. Subnets notwithstanding, it's a very manageable conflict as we all know WCTX is the CW affiliate once Tegna's CW deal is done, and WCCT (which had their 'site' hosted on the CW+ portal for over a decade) is all but a zombie station once the CW moves off there (the only issue with CW of course is if WTNH prefers to keep the primetime newscasts as-is and they move to streaming/WTNH+ down the line).

 

Worse comes to worse because WCTX and WTNH channel share is both WCCT and WCTX get sold off to someone like RNN, Weigel or HC2/Innovate, and 59.1 becomes 8.2 in a renumbering and is your new CW affiliate. And Nexstar still has a wild card with WFXQ-CD, which could be moved from being a WWLP UHF repeater in Springfield to a Hartford station without any regulatory conflicts rather easily. WTIC could even be sold off to comfortably fit Fox onto 20.1 because hey, it's #6 in the market until Fox moves there, so then it's a 'clean deal' in technicality.

 

They will finagle these deals and conflicts in a way that makes Sinclair/Tribune look like a clean merger in comparison.

 

Good points. I hadn't considered the possibility that Nexstar and Tegna would find a way to make situations like this work. Also, as someone who believes we're eventually going to start seeing broadcast stations disappearing, Hartford-New Haven may actually prove to be an example what I expect to see in the next few years.

 

[Weeters 2173]

I'm not sure a strongly-worded letter written by Newsmax is going to sway many opinions in Congress and at the FCC. What ulterior motives could Newsmax have for wanting a bunch of full-power TV station licenses to be available at low cost? 

 

Keep in mind, the FCC's mission is to regulate the wireless spectrum, not business and commerce. The cap exists to prevent a company from monopolizing available, finite radio spectrum. The stupid simple solution to this issue (which I suspect we might see play out if this merger is attempted and fails) is to make that work differently.

 

Sinclair and Nexstar have been pushing ATSC 3.0 datacasting quite heavily, to the point that datacasting is often the only time ATSC 3 comes up in their quarterly and annual investor reports. All they need to do is make the argument that, because the spectrum can now be used for multiple purposes, they are no longer "television stations" but "data transmitters". Multiple stations sharing one transmitter is already happening (both "sides" of ATSC3 lighthouses, post-repack channel sharing), and the FCC has not really addressed the multiple questions this raises. If everyone is on one frequency anyways, what exactly is the FCC regulating?

 

The next step is to decouple the transmitters from the broadcasters themselves (hey remember EdgeBeam Wireless?). The UK has been doing this since 1997, and I believe most, if not all, of the transmitters in the country are owned by Arqiva. The UK Government still regulates the use of the "Muxes" on these transmitters, but the US has a pesky "Constitution" that would probably make that difficult for our government to do. It would likely end up with "let the free market decide", and pitched as "anybody" can now operate a "TV station" over these transmitters, as long as there is available bandwidth, and you can pay for it. Not enough transmitters? Oh well! Should have formed a consortium and bid on the spectrum that was freed up when every television broadcaster consolidated onto 3-4 frequencies in each market.

 

We're kind of already doing this. What are cellular networks if not wireless data providers, available to anyone who can afford a phone and the subscription to use it? We don't regulate what websites can be accessed on cellular networks, so why would we regulate datacasting differently?

 

Something is going to give, eventually. Whether it be the scenario above, or the FCC/congress/etc. just throwing up their hands and saying it's pointless when all this is available online, anyways.

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

It should be noted that some of Tegna's stations (and most recent acquisitions) are either former Tribune or Nexstar castoffs from the Tribune purchase by Nexstar.

 

Given the status that some of these duopoly stations have (shacked up on another frequency because of sold spectrum), why have they held on to the old licenses instead of just shutting down these stations?

That alone frees up a station so they can legally acquire another.

 

But if this deal goes through, and Nexstar gets their way 100 percent, the results will be devastating. 

Think if the same people who run the doormat WGNO shut down what's left of WWL.

 

And most importantly (kinda)...

WNEP will become another prong that is the pitchfork of what was once "Eyewitness News".

No more Talkback 16, and no more of our favorite MCTYW clone....

[newsteam13 417]

If the deal comes to fruition, then CW2 KWGN and FOX31 KDVR will be under the same roof as NBC9 KUSA and MyDenver20 KTVD

[GraphicsMan 345]

This is not good and very sad actually, this literally could happen and no one is gonna care. The average American citizen may not notice a difference there not ya know interested in tv ownership like us but this would effect them. If stations are sold it’s gonna be stations that are a shadow of a bigger station they might get sold. But you’re talking about acquiring stations and shutting down competition because one of those stations in higher rated that the other. I’m thinking about doing something personally to warn people about this I don’t like this.

1 hour ago, tyrannical bastard said:

But if this deal goes through, and Nexstar gets their way 100 percent, the results will be devastating. 

Think if the same people who run the doormat WGNO shut down what's left of WWL.

 

Yesh I’m gonna try to explain this to the average viewers how bad this will be if it happens. I been thinking about writing a book about tv stations it just when I try to explain the concepts to myself it sounds confusing to me I mean I understand it completely, but I just don’t know how I’m gonna explain this in a series of TikTok videos and not confuse people. It’s like a math professor who sucks at explaining math concepts to you and make it hard to understand.

Edited August 10, 2025 by GraphicsMan

[channel2 1042]

I remember what a mess it was when they merged KWGN with KDVR...

 

Not eager for that sort of thing to happen again!

[GoldenShine_10 263]

2 hours ago, tyrannical bastard said:

It should be noted that some of Tegna's stations (and most recent acquisitions) are either former Tribune or Nexstar castoffs from the Tribune purchase by Nexstar.

 

Given the status that some of these duopoly stations have (shacked up on another frequency because of sold spectrum), why have they held on to the old licenses instead of just shutting down these stations?

That alone frees up a station so they can legally acquire another.

 

But if this deal goes through, and Nexstar gets their way 100 percent, the results will be devastating. 

Think if the same people who run the doormat WGNO shut down what's left of WWL.

 

And most importantly (kinda)...

WNEP will become another prong that is the pitchfork of what was once "Eyewitness News".

No more Talkback 16, and no more of our favorite MCTYW clone....

 

That station would be one of the most likely to get forced to be sold - not by the FCC, but by courts. Since there would be an effective monopoly there.

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

30 minutes ago, GoldenShine_10 said:

 

That station would be one of the most likely to get forced to be sold - not by the FCC, but by courts. Since there would be an effective monopoly there.

Regardless of "opolies", market share is going to factor in heavily and will be the deciding factor in who gets sold.

 

The question is, how bad off are some of these Tegna stations that their market share is virtually irrelevant to being merged into their competition?

 

 

But in a place like Cleveland, if WKYC is the second place station, and WJW is #1, Nexstar is likely going to have to cast off WKYC to someone else.

Edited August 10, 2025 by tyrannical bastard

[NYAZSporty 196]

3 hours ago, tyrannical bastard said:

It should be noted that some of Tegna's stations (and most recent acquisitions) are either former Tribune or Nexstar castoffs from the Tribune purchase by Nexstar.

 

Given the status that some of these duopoly stations have (shacked up on another frequency because of sold spectrum), why have they held on to the old licenses instead of just shutting down these stations?

That alone frees up a station so they can legally acquire another.

 

But if this deal goes through, and Nexstar gets their way 100 percent, the results will be devastating. 

Think if the same people who run the doormat WGNO shut down what's left of WWL.

 

And most importantly (kinda)...

WNEP will become another prong that is the pitchfork of what was once "Eyewitness News".

No more Talkback 16, and no more of our favorite MCTYW clone....

If news of this sale goes through, the lines for Talkback 16 will be lit up when it breaks like a Christmas tree!!!

[mre29 1967]

2 hours ago, tyrannical bastard said:

But in a place like Cleveland, if WKYC is the second place station, and WJW is #1, Nexstar is likely going to have to cast off WKYC to someone else.

 

 

In the Hampton Roads market, Nexstar owns WAVY (NBC) and WVBT (Fox) and Tegna owns WVEC (ABC). I have no idea how the three stations rate, but I'm guessing it's a more complicated situation than what could happen here in Hartford-New Haven.

 

[MD TV 389]

If this gets approved, they're absolutely gonna force DC News Now on WUSA. And I think they're going to try to find some way to keep WDVM since it's not technically a DC station (and judging by the recent format change of it's morning show, people are probably not flocking to it).

[10Viewer 362]

Nexstar owns WFLA - one of their jewels. Tegna owns WTSP. 

 

I know many dislike Tegna but I will say they have, in my opinion, really beefed up the staff at WTSP. Brought back veteran Dave Wagner, Courtney Robinson is a terrific co-anchor. the weather staff has several good picks. WTSP has had bad management for so long, it's just good to see that station shine a bit. 

 

There is some speculation about the CBS affiliation moving to CBS owned WTOG in 2028. 

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

4 hours ago, MD TV said:

If this gets approved, they're absolutely gonna force DC News Now on WUSA. And I think they're going to try to find some way to keep WDVM since it's not technically a DC station (and judging by the recent format change of it's morning show, people are probably not flocking to it).

They could turn it into a satellite of WDCW or WUSA, and technically run all 3 stations on it for the benefit of Western Maryland.

And the irony of the old WDVM calls coming under common ownership...

Just now, 10Viewer said:

Nexstar owns WFLA - one of their jewels. Tegna owns WTSP. 

 

I know many dislike Tegna but I will say they have, in my opinion, really beefed up the staff at WTSP. Brought back veteran Dave Wagner, Courtney Robinson is a terrific co-anchor. the weather staff has several good picks. WTSP has had bad management for so long, it's just good to see that station shine a bit. 

 

There is some speculation about the CBS affiliation moving to CBS owned WTOG in 2028. 

 

Plot twist: Tegna could end up trading out WTSP and others like KHOU to CBS.

But what would CBS trade out in return?

[Rusty Muck 4688]

I can't believe that people are under this belief that a court ruling will stop this when this regime has purposely ignored all court rulings they don't like. Let alone this false hope a decimated and useless FTC and Patel/Toasterhead DOJ will do anything.

 

It's a fait accompli and exercise in right-wing political patronage. The worst part won't be the shuttering of newsrooms wholesale, it'll be when the remaining newsrooms will be weaponized as a front for far-right propaganda, which Uncle Perry will gladly engage in.

[mer764KCTV5 213]

I wonder what would happen in Kansas City and St. Louis is Nexstar decides to buy Tegna?

 

For context: In St. Louis, Tegna owns NBC affiliate KSDK Ch. 5 in St. Louis,

...But doesn't own any stations in Kansas City.

However Nexstar owns FOX affiliate KTVI in St. Louis in a duopoly with CW station KPLR which is a sister station to Kansas City's Fox affiliate, WDAF-TV.

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

My question is...if this administration is so gung-ho on the route to dictator-ism and those who have bended towards our fearless leader are getting what they want...

Where's Sinclair in all of this?

 

Surely the new FCC has let them off the hook by now for all of their (mis) deeds.  

 

Perhaps they are playing their sleeper role by selling off some stations here and there and will magically appear one day like Nexstar did to disrupt the Meredith-Media General merger.  

Edited August 10, 2025 by tyrannical bastard

[Rusty Muck 4688]

2 hours ago, tyrannical bastard said:

My question is...if this administration is so gung-ho on the route to dictator-ism and those who have bended towards our fearless leader are getting what they want...

Where's Sinclair in all of this?

 

Surely the new FCC has let them off the hook by now for all of their (mis) deeds.  

 

Perhaps they are playing their sleeper role by selling off some stations here and there and will magically appear one day like Nexstar did to disrupt the Meredith-Media General merger.

Sinclair is not a buyer, they are very much a seller. They aren't selling Dielectric (nor is David Smith selling the Baltimore Sun) but Sinclair is not going to be able to compete with Nexstar and Gray after their mergers get approved.

 

In the economy of scale game, Sinclair is going to be left behind. Big time.

Edited August 10, 2025 by Rusty Muck

[ColtFromGulfcoast 869]

3 hours ago, tyrannical bastard said:

My question is...if this administration is so gung-ho on the route to dictator-ism and those who have bended towards our fearless leader are getting what they want...

Where's Sinclair in all of this?

 

Surely the new FCC has let them off the hook by now for all of their (mis) deeds.  

 

Perhaps they are playing their sleeper role by selling off some stations here and there and will magically appear one day like Nexstar did to disrupt the Meredith-Media General merger.  

Counting down the days until Gray or private equity or forces unknown takes over Sinclair. 

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

Seems like they should be an easy beneficiary in any necessary cast-offs.

 

But if they are still dead to the FCC, despite their stance, oh well...

[Hometown News 127]

19 hours ago, GraphicsMan said:

This is not good and very sad actually, this literally could happen and no one is gonna care. The average American citizen may not notice a difference there not ya know interested in tv ownership like us but this would effect them. If stations are sold it’s gonna be stations that are a shadow of a bigger station they might get sold. But you’re talking about acquiring stations and shutting down competition because one of those stations in higher rated that the other. I’m thinking about doing something personally to warn people about this I don’t like this.

Yesh I’m gonna try to explain this to the average viewers how bad this will be if it happens. I been thinking about writing a book about tv stations it just when I try to explain the concepts to myself it sounds confusing to me I mean I understand it completely, but I just don’t know how I’m gonna explain this in a series of TikTok videos and not confuse people. It’s like a math professor who sucks at explaining math concepts to you and make it hard to understand.

 

Most people don't care because, in their view, they've already long since replaced whatever local TV brought to the table with streaming and the internet. I also assume this is ultimately why the FCC has checked out of regulating all this consolidation. They probably don't see much of a future in local linear TV either, just a few sclerotic companies haggling over what's becoming a razor-thin slice of the pie.

[Media_1904 26]

Wow if the deal does go through Nexstar will own 3 stations in San Diego KUSI, KSWB, & KFMB. Interesting.

[MarkAnimates 40]

Is Nexstar trying to become a mega-corporation at this point??????

I have a STRONG feeling that this will violate multiple FCC regulations/rules.

[GraphicsMan 345]

39 minutes ago, MarkAnimates said:

Is Nexstar trying to become a mega-corporation at this point??????

I have a STRONG feeling that this will violate multiple FCC regulations/rules.

Brendan Carr will allow it. 

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

We're at the point now where most markets have 3 newsrooms.  Some have 4, and a very select few have 5 or more.

Smaller markets may have two, and others only have 1.

 

We could see things dwindle to the point where two voices is the norm in the top 100 markets, and only one in those below.

 

FOX, CW, MyNetwork and independents are easier to consolidate since they don't program a daily national morning show or have network programming during the 10/9pm hour.  If ABC, CBS or NBC pulls the plug on that time, (or CBS kills off CBS Mornings...since GMA and Today are not going anywhere) that makes them easier to consolidate as well.

 

CBS seems the most likely to cut and burn since The Late Show is disappearing next year and CBS Mornings will never, ever, ever be able to compete with GMA and Today.

And if they get sold to someone (like Nexstar), expect them to be squeezed wherever Nexstar puts them.

 

[TheRob 969]

Just as many cities don't have two or three competing newspapers anymore, fewer local TV newsrooms would not surprise me.