A rational poll conducted and released by Public Opinion Strategies (a prominent Republican-leaning polling firm, often working with GOP candidates and causes), shows conservative oppose the merge of Nexstar and Tegna.
The poll focused on Republican primary voters' views regarding media consolidation, specifically in the context of the proposed Nexstar Media Group acquisition of TEGNA (a $6.2 billion deal involving numerous local TV stations across the U.S.).
This polling comes amid ongoing debates over broadcast ownership rules, FCC regulations, and a recent reversal by President Donald Trump, who had previously opposed aspects of such large mergers but endorsed this one in early February 2026, arguing it could help local broadcasters compete with Big Tech and streaming platforms.
- 68% opposed the Nexstar-TEGNA merger, with only 7% supporting it. Opposition reportedly jumped even higher (to 96%) when respondents were informed about potential implications, such as reduced local control or impacts on news quality.
- 83% of respondents believed local TV stations should be locally owned, emphasizing the importance of community ties and independent local journalism.
- Only 2% preferred local stations to be owned by major corporate entities.
- 75% opposed large corporate/national TV groups buying up local TV stations, reflecting broader resistance to consolidation that could centralize ownership and potentially affect local news coverage, programming decisions, or competition.
The poll highlights a strong preference among Republican base voters for preserving local ownership and local news integrity, viewing heavy corporate consolidation as a threat (e.g., to diverse voices, conservative media access, or community-focused reporting). This sentiment aligns with some conservative media outlets (like Newsmax) criticizing the merger for risking higher cable bills, less competition, and harm to local/conservative content.
Note that this contrasts with some other recent surveys on broader voter attitudes toward broadcast ownership caps (e.g., a December 2025 poll showing general opposition to loosening FCC rules on consolidation, and a January/February 2026 NAB-commissioned survey arguing the current 39% national reach cap unfairly disadvantages local broadcasters vs. unregulated Big Tech).