Nexstar already has an almost 40% reach across the US. They’ve been sucking up to Trump this year because they want to merge with TEGNA, which would give them access to 80% of the country. To do this though, regulations need to be dropped to allow them to exceed limits that have been in place for decades to prevent this level of media control. This is the quid-pro-quo for them, as Colbert was for the Paramount merger.
As Deadline’s Dade Hayes reported, the merger “challenges decade-old limits on control of local media” as the new company would control 265 local TV stations across 44 states and the District of Columbia, representing about 80 percent of American households. This would far exceed the current limit of 39 percent, which has been in place for the past three decades through both Democratic and Republican administrations.
Making his intentions crystal clear shortly after Trump’s 2024 electoral victory that he sought an end to the broadcast station ownership cap, Sook declared in November that he hoped GOP control of government would help usher in an expansion of his company.
Nexstar already has an almost 40% reach across the US. They’ve been sucking up to Trump this year because they want to merge with TEGNA, which would give them access to 80% of the country. To do this though, regulations need to be dropped to allow them to exceed limits that have been in place for decades to prevent this level of media control. This is the quid-pro-quo for them, as Colbert was for the Paramount merger.
(Source)