2025 was a pivotal year for broadcasting and media, marked by regulatory deregulation, accelerating NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) adoption, major mergers, AI-driven production tools, and the ongoing decline of traditional cable networks amid cord-cutting and streaming dominance.
January
- Wildfires devastated Los Angeles production facilities and local broadcast operations.
- CES 2025 showcased AI in content creation and early NextGen TV receiver advancements.
- FCC began reviewing media ownership rules, signaling potential deregulation.
February
- NAB Show preparations emphasized AI and NextGen TV innovations.
- Ongoing recovery from 2023 strikes impacted radio and TV production schedules.
March
- Realscreen Summit highlighted unscripted content trends.
- FCC advanced ownership rule proceedings.
April
- NAB Show Las Vegas (April 6-9) focused on ATSC 3.0 deployments, AI tools, and cloud virtualization.
- U.S. Court of Appeals vacated FCC's Top-4 TV ownership prohibition, easing local mergers.
May
- TV Upfronts: Networks unveiled slates amid ad shifts to streaming.
- International events like CABSAT discussed regional media trends.
June
- FCC NPRMs on ATSC 3.0 flexibility and ownership rules progressed.
- BroadcastAsia emphasized global broadcasting advancements.
July
- FCC approved Paramount-Skydance merger with conditions on viewpoint diversity.
- Court decision enabled more top-four TV station combinations.
August
- NAB Show New York prep intensified AI discussions.
- Streaming dominance: Netflix led U.S. viewing share, Disney+ bundles gained traction.
September
- IBC 2025 (Amsterdam) featured AI Media Zone and NextGen TV progress.
- FCC launched 2022 Quadrennial Review of local radio/TV ownership and dual network rules.
October
- INMA World Congress focused on news media transformation.
- Nexstar-TEGNA merger advanced toward FCC review.
November
- FCC eased LPTV/translator operations.
- Political scrutiny on public media funding and bias.
December
- FCC revised LPTV rules after decades.
- Major deals: Netflix pursued Warner Bros. assets; Paramount-Skydance closed.
- Cable networks shut down (e.g., Universal Kids, HBO Family); NextGen TV reached ~75% U.S. coverage.
Overall, 2025 saw deregulation easing consolidation (e.g., mergers, station swaps), NextGen TV maturation with new receivers and services, AI integration in production, and cable's continued decline as streaming solidified its lead. Challenges like cord-cutting persisted, but local broadcasters gained flexibility to compete.