The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee is holding a hearing today on the decades-old national television ownership rule that caps broadcasters' reach at 39% of U.S. TV households, with representatives from major broadcasters and conservative network Newsmax clashing over whether to lift or retain the limit.
The rule, dating back 85 years, is under scrutiny amid shifting media consumption toward streaming and digital platforms. Witnesses include National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) CEO Curtis LeGeyt, who will urge Congress to eliminate the "antiquated restriction" to allow broadcasters to better compete for audiences, advertising, and programming against unregulated Big Tech companies. LeGeyt argues the cap unfairly hampers local stations, reducing revenue needed to fund local journalism as ad dollars move online.
For radio, stakeholders hope for relief from 30-year-old local ownership limits, which cap the number of stations one entity can own in a market (e.g., up to 8 in large markets, with subcaps on AM/FM).
Opposing that view, Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy will testify that the cap "remains one of the last meaningful protections for competition and diversity in the broadcast and cable ecosystem." He warns that raising it would lead to massive consolidation, allowing "two or three corporations" to eventually control most or all U.S. television stations and, by extension, local news.
The debate ties into a pending $3.54 billion (now reportedly referenced as higher in some contexts) proposed acquisition of Tegna by Nexstar Media Group, which would create the largest U.S. regional TV operator but exceed the current cap—potentially requiring regulatory changes.
President Donald Trump endorsed the Nexstar-Tegna merger in a recent social media post, and FCC Chair Brendan Carr echoed support, criticizing the power of national networks like Comcast and Disney while calling for "real competition."However, Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez emphasized that only Congress—not the FCC—can change the statutory cap, which she said reflects lawmakers' judgment against excessive concentration that threatens competition, localism, and viewpoint diversity.
Sen. Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on the Commerce Committee, warned Reuters that raising the cap would "accelerate the consolidation that's already hollowed out local newsrooms."The hearing, titled “We Interrupt This Program: Media Ownership in the Digital Age,” is convened by Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to examine whether the rules still fit today's media landscape.