Nexstar to acquire Tegna

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

Nexstar is the new Sinclair.  And after the POTUS exclaimed his "approval" of the deal, it seems like Nexstar would be happy to oblige even if it costs them their ABC and NBC affiliations.

 

With CBS in the hands it's in now, its all about the bottom line and trying to shift them towards the center, maybe a little too far to the right.

 

ABC as a broadcast network may not be a thing much longer at this rate with the higher price they're demanding and especially with the difficulties they've faced with Sinclair and Nexstar.  NBC may be willing to pull the plug as well but could stick with Nexstar if it's their only option. 

 

And of course, there's always the CW, which, by default, could be a juggernaut (under Nexstar) especially if the other networks decide to take a walk.

Edited November 25, 2025 by tyrannical bastard

[NYAZSporty 196]

14 minutes ago, tyrannical bastard said:

NBC maybe willing to pull the plug as well but could stick with Nexstar if it's their only option. 

Especially when you considering Nexstar picking up TEGNA & many major market NBC affiliates are owned by them (ie Atlanta, Denver, Minneapolis, Phoenix).

[GodfreyGR 812]

13 hours ago, NYAZSporty said:

Especially when you considering Nexstar picking up TEGNA & many major market NBC affiliates are owned by them (ie Atlanta, Denver, Minneapolis, Phoenix).

And in some of these markets, where would NBC go if they pull the plug? ATL and PHX they can go to Gray, who has indy stations in the market, But Minneapolis they are stuck with KARE unless they go back to Hubbard and settle for KSTC (Assuming Hubbard keeps ABC on KSTP). Denver is another question mark if they leave Nexstar/Tegna... Hope Scripps lets you go on KCDO? 

[Megatron81 343]

Sinclair wishes they had Brandon Carr as The FCC Chairmen when they wanted to buy Tribune as Carr would've let them buy everything and Pai didn't when he was chairmen of The FCC. I don't see NBC or ABC pulling networks from Nexstar if their merger with TEGNA goes through in my opinion.

[GoldenShine_10 263]

The cap decision still has to come through Congress, not the FCC. It will be hard-pressed to get past a Democratic filibuster, and even some GOP members may be hesitant if Newsmax and OAN are against it. If Carr unilaterally does it, this ends up in court.

[mre29 1967]

2 hours ago, GoldenShine_10 said:

The cap decision still has to come through Congress, not the FCC. It will be hard-pressed to get past a Democratic filibuster, and even some GOP members may be hesitant if Newsmax and OAN are against it. If Carr unilaterally does it, this ends up in court.

 

Honestly, I'm surprised smaller broadcasters such as Graham, Hearst, Morgan Murphy, and others haven't spoken out in opposition to this deal.

 

[AmericanErrorist 267]

9 hours ago, mre29 said:

 

Honestly, I'm surprised smaller broadcasters such as Graham, Hearst, Morgan Murphy, and others haven't spoken out in opposition to this deal.

 

They would probably like to keep their options open for potential buyers themselves.

Edited November 26, 2025 by AmericanErrorist

[GoldenShine_10 263]

https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/fcc-sets-deadlines-for-comments-on-nexstar-acquisition-of-tegna

 

Quote

 

On December 1, 2025, the FCC began accepting filing applications at MB Docket No. 25-331 on the proposed transfer of all outstanding equity interests in Tegna, the parent company of 64 full power television stations, one AM radio station, one FM radio station, and other related FCC licenses, to Nexstar Media Inc.

 

The FCC said that any Petition to Deny filings must be received by December 31, 2025; Opposition filings must be submitted by January 15, 2026 and Reply filings by January 26, 2026.

 

 

Here's where to mention the lack of candor that Nexstar has had in the paperwork, along with the fact that it is built on a house of cards and relying on endless waivers.

 

There are numerous fallacies in the paperwork, regarding competition (or lack thereof) and ignoring the stations that they control through shell companies.

 

Petitions so far: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/results?q=(proceedings.name:("25-331"))

Edited December 2, 2025 by GoldenShine_10

[AmericanErrorist 267]

2 hours ago, GoldenShine_10 said:

https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/fcc-sets-deadlines-for-comments-on-nexstar-acquisition-of-tegna

 

 

Here's where to mention the lack of candor that Nexstar has had in the paperwork, along with the fact that it is built on a house of cards and relying on endless waivers.

 

There are numerous fallacies in the paperwork, regarding competition (or lack thereof) and ignoring the stations that they control through shell companies.

 

Petitions so far: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/results?q=(proceedings.name:("25-331"))

Note that the FCC has liberty to disregard the entire content of your statement, but it's the only place where your opinions on the deal can be put on the record.

Edited December 2, 2025 by AmericanErrorist

[Recovering Producer 410]

On 8/19/2025 at 12:56 PM, Recovering Producer said:

 

Tribune sold 100 E. Speer to get cash before selling and signed a long-term leaseback, Tegna still owns 500 E. Speer, which can easily be sold to pay off debt and cram everyone into the KDVR/KWGN building.

 

A little late noticing this, but Nexstar purchased the KDVR/KWGN building at 100 E. Speer Blvd. in November 2025 from the company Tribune sold it to in 2017. Read into that what you will on where Nexstar plans to have operations if (lets be honest, when) they own four TV stations in Denver.

[l_miro 245]

4 hours ago, Recovering Producer said:

 

A little late noticing this, but Nexstar purchased the KDVR/KWGN building at 100 E. Speer Blvd. in November 2025 from the company Tribune sold it to in 2017. Read into that what you will on where Nexstar plans to have operations if (lets be honest, when) they own four TV stations in Denver.

 

Not necessarily. Nexstar's first lease option was in 2034, likely had the typical 2-5% per year lease increase (plus insurance, property tax, maintenance), they bought the building for less than it sold for in 2017. So with the lease they're paying 2-5% more each year for an asset that didn't appreciate in 9 years, mortgage is probably costing them less overall and they get to take advantage of depreciation to lower taxable income. 

The seller is also in distress going through foreclosures and if Nexstar's lease was subordinate - recorded after the mortgage - the lender or next note owner has the right to terminate the lease, not a situation to be in. 

 

 

Edited January 4 by l_miro

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

Here's hoping Chris Ruddy and Newsmax kill this deal.

https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2026/1/5/newsmax-tries-blocking-nexstar

 

It's one of the few (if not the only way) I'd ever agree with them.  And even their delusion towards Nexstar as part of the "liberal media" when in fact Perry Sook and Nexstar is trying to be the next Fox News or NewsMax mogul, we're still better off with Tegna surviving another day as opposed to being swallowed up by Nexstar.

 

Let the next suitor have their shot at Tegna, or just let them die off in the open market.

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

Great...

https://www.ispot.tv/ad/B9OY/keep-news-local-one-big-problem

[NowBergen 924]

Create more local news by shutting down newsrooms and consolidating newsrooms into one single voice across 2 or 3 stations?  What a crock of crap.  Not to mention their assertions when Nexstar and Sinclair, both conservative voices, are the ones trying to control all media.  Worse, the current FCC Chair would believe this crap.

[AmericanErrorist 267]

There's no indication who's actually funding "Keep News Local". Its website is utterly barren of information. The usual suspect is possible, but it may be tied to various other conservative funders.

[NowBergen 924]

9 minutes ago, AmericanErrorist said:

There's no indication who's actually funding "Keep News Local". Its website is utterly barren of information. The usual suspect is possible, but it may be tied to various other conservative funders.

Well, considering is blatantly pro and differential to trump....  

[TVLurker 389]

6 hours ago, tyrannical bastard said:

Great...

https://www.ispot.tv/ad/B9OY/keep-news-local-one-big-problem

How does creating a monopoly break a monopoly?

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

On 1/20/2026 at 1:58 PM, TVLurker said:

How does creating a monopoly break a monopoly?

That's probably how Sinclair thinks.  Grease the wheels so they can be allowed to buy up more stations again.

[Reweivvt88 173]

The only accurate statement in that ad is that allowing Nexstar to buy Tegna will help MAGA. 

 

The keep "local TV local" is 100% false. Allowing Nexstar to own more "local" stations does the exact opposite of keeping them "local". The "local" stations owned by Nexstar are anything but local. All decisions for the stations are made by Nexstar. Nexstar decides what programming they air, what programming they buy, and what programming they pre-empt regardless if it makes sense for the local station or the local market. The "local" station has ZERO say in any of the decisions for the station, it's all up to Nexstar. They are forced to air far right Nexstar propaganda, forced to promote and broadcast content from the far right horribly rated disgrace known as NewsNation. A foreign company would do a better job at running local U.S. stations than Nexstar. U.S. television media is now among the worst in the world for pro-government bias. It's no different than state TV in other authoritarian countries.  

[GoldenShine_10 263]

What is the "outside date" for this deal where the sides can walk away?

[Megatron81 343]

I really don't think comments sway The FCC one way or other whether it is pro or con in my opinion. I believe that this is going to be approved.   

[AmericanErrorist 267]

The deal has Donald Trump's support (and Brendan Carr agrees):

 

https://deadline.com/2026/02/trump-endorses-nexstar-tegna-merger-1236712070

[GoldenShine_10 263]

On 2/2/2026 at 1:37 PM, Megatron81 said:

I really don't think comments sway The FCC one way or other whether it is pro or con in my opinion. I believe that this is going to be approved.   

 

And then get stuck in courts due to the national cap.

[ABC 7 Denver 1889]

2 hours ago, GoldenShine_10 said:

 

And then get stuck in courts due to the national cap.

 

And ruled illegal. Standard General acquisition 2.0, as far TEGNA is concerned.

Edited February 8 by ABC 7 Denver

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

Even Sinclair stations are reporting on this on their local newscasts.

Seriously, are they trying to score some brownie points from the FCC for all of their mis-deeds of the past?