The Ministry of Justice and the FCC, the powerful competition watchdog, have approved the acquisition of Tegna by Nexstar. They lifted the ban that usually prevents a single channel owner from reaching more than 40% of American households. With this acquisition, Nexstar will have control over 265 local TV channels across the country, reaching 80% of households in the United States.
Nexstar’s CEO Perry Sook was quick to thank Donald Trump for enabling this deal. The agreement will take effect starting in August 2026. It is worth noting that the CEO wasted no time in demonstrating loyalty to the US president: in 2025, he decided to suspend the airing of comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s show due to a remark that displeased the White House.
Operators Opposed to the Merger
However, several operators opposed the merger. The rival group EchoStar believes that the merger would create a media giant capable of standardizing information, imposing editorial choices, and eliminating political diversity on local airwaves. A public interest group, “State Cable Petitioners,” also opposes the merger, arguing that it would reduce local news production and allow Nexstar to impose content reflecting its own political agenda.
With this consolidation, media control by allies of Donald Trump increases further. Paramount recently acquired the parent company of HBO and CNN. Their newsrooms have reason to be concerned in light of CBS’s acquisition in 2025 and its drastic editorial shift.
[Context: Approval for Nexstar’s acquisition of Tegna by the Ministry of Justice and the FCC. Fact Check: Confirmation of Nexstar’s control over 265 local TV channels post-acquisition and its impact on American households.]
