FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced Wednesday that the commission is launching a formal review of the relationship between national TV networks and their local affiliates, the first such examination in more than 15 years, with the goal of strengthening local stations’ ability to meet their public interest obligations.
The proceeding will focus on whether network affiliation agreements, including reverse compensation payments and programming control, unduly limit affiliates’ capacity to air local news, emergency information, and community-focused content.
No specific rule changes have been proposed yet, but the inquiry opens the door to potential limits on network leverage over programming and finances. The FCC will soon open a public docket for comment.
The review is the latest in a series of Carr-led actions since January 2025 that include investigations into ABC, CBS, and NBC affiliates, threats of license revocation for perceived bias, and support for stations that preempted network programming such as Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
Industry reaction is mixed: some local broadcasters and conservative groups welcome stronger local control, while critics and Democrats warn the process could be used to pressure stations over editorial content.