FCC's Carr Supports Nexstar, Tegna Deal

FCC Chair Brendan Carr announced Wednesday that he supports Nexstar's proposed $3.54 billion acquisition of Tegna, a deal that would create the largest U.S. regional TV station operator by combining their stations and reaching about 80% of TV households in key markets.

"I support that transaction. We're going to be moving forward," Carr told reporters. He did not specify whether the FCC would handle approval at the staff level or through a full commission vote.

The merger, announced in 2025, has already received public backing from President Donald Trump earlier this month. It would require the FCC to lift or waive the current national ownership cap, which limits a single company to stations reaching no more than 39% of U.S. TV households (with some discounts for weaker signals).

Brendan Carr

The deal comes amid challenges for local broadcast media, including declining revenues and subscriber losses due to the rise of streaming services. Broadcasters, including the National Association of Broadcasters, have long argued that the 85-year-old ownership rule is outdated and unfair, as it does not apply to Big Tech platforms.

Carr has previously stated he believes the FCC can revise the cap without congressional approval. However, Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez has opposed this view, arguing the agency lacks such authority and has called for the full commission to vote on the Nexstar-Tegna deal.

Critics, including Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy, have defended the existing cap as a key safeguard for competition and diversity in broadcasting. Carr, in contrast, has argued that national players like Comcast and Disney hold excessive power, and that approving the merger would introduce meaningful competition against them.

Trump has often criticized mainstream media coverage and pushed for regulatory actions against broadcasters. The merger remains under FCC review, with no final decision announced.