The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has started a pleading cycle that seeks public comment on Nexstar Media Group’s $6 billion acquisition of peer broadcaster TEGNA.
In a public notice issued on Monday, the agency said the public comment period comes after Nexstar sought multiple waivers to certain FCC rules after acknowledging the acquisition of TEGNA would exceed the limit on TV stations a company may own outright.
Under the current rules, a broadcaster is restrained from owning local TV stations that reach more than 39 percent of the American viewing audience. Nexstar operates local TV stations that reach more than 80 percent of the American viewing audience, but some of the stations within its control are owned by other companies on paper. Those shell companies hold the broadcast licenses issued by the FCC for the affected stations, which allows Nexstar to comply with existing ownership regulations.
Over the past year, Nexstar has lobbied the FCC to eliminate the ownership rule, going so far as to encourage its local TV station executives — and even its local news viewers — to advocate on their behalf. The FCC is examining some media ownership rules as part of a separate matter, but has yet to act on any proposal.
Rather than bankroll another shell company, Nexstar is seeking to acquire TEGNA’s broadcast licenses outright: Last month, the company filed applications with the FCC that would transfer control of the licenses, with waiver requests for all stations covered by the merger. It also sought waivers from the FCC on ownership restrictions that prevent one broadcaster from owning more than two stations in a given city.
On Monday, the FCC said its pleading cycle was intended to solicit public comment on the waiver requests. All petitions to deny the merger are due by December 31, with oppositions to those petitions due by January 15, 2026 and replies due by January 26.
The docket number for the matter is 25-331. The electronic system for submitting public comments is available by clicking or tapping here.
