NAB Urges FCC Action On TV Ownership Restrictions

The National Association of Broadcasters’ (NAB) push to repeal the FCC’s broadcast TV ownership restrictions, specifically the national television ownership cap, is primarily focused on television rather than radio. 

The current proposal and the FCC rules in question—like the 39% TV household reach limit—apply directly to commercial television stations, not radio. However, radio broadcasting could still feel indirect effects if the FCC broadens its deregulation stance or if the NAB’s campaign sparks a wider overhaul of media ownership rules.

Radio has its own distinct FCC ownership limits, set under the 1996 Telecommunications Act. These rules cap the number of stations a single entity can own in a given market—e.g., up to eight in the largest markets, with no more than five in the same service (AM or FM)—and there’s no national audience reach cap like TV’s 39%. 

The NAB’s letter to the FCC doesn’t explicitly target these radio-specific restrictions, focusing instead on TV’s competitive disadvantages against streaming and tech giants. That said, the NAB’s broader “Modernize the Rules” campaign advocates for updating all broadcast regulations, which could eventually encompass radio.

If the FCC repeals the TV cap by a single entity, radio could be indirectly affected through market dynamics. Consolidation in TV might shift advertising revenue or influence how broadcasters allocate resources between TV and radio arms, especially for companies like iHeartMedia or Audacy, which operate both. For instance, if TV consolidation boosts profits, those funds could prop up struggling radio stations—or conversely, TV could siphon ad dollars away, as seen with digital platforms already outpacing combined TV and radio ad revenue (per NAB’s 2023 data).