Legal News
Policy-related stories involving the broadcasting, streaming, advertising, measurement and journalism industries. Includes public service journalism on press freedom issues, government agencies and international affairs.

FCC ends enforcement of closed captions on public access TV
An order released Wednesday applies to certain PEG channels and programming carried on non-broadcast networks, the FCC said.
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Fired Nexstar news directors get trial date in defamation lawsuit
Jury selection in the case will begin in early October, but a settlement could still be reached before then.
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Press freedom group moves to unseal documents in Catherine Herridge case
Freedom of the Press Foundation has moved to unseal two Department of Defense documents tied to journalist Catherine Herridge’s fight to protect confidential sources.

Appeals court rejects Soo Kim challenge over failed TEGNA acquisition
Kim sued the FCC and numerous private parties on grounds of racial discrimination and Civil Rights Act violations following his failed attempt to acquire TEGNA in 2023.a

Nexstar appoints new TEGNA Board after court order
Nexstar has appointed three new directors and one non-voting member to TEGNA's board, less than a month after a federal judge ruled its earlier board violated a hold-separate order.
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Appeals court clears way for Cumulus-Nielsen lawsuit to resume
The mandate formally returns the case to a lower court, which issued an injunction against Nielsen earlier this summer.

Federal appeals court blocks FCC guidance on political ad rates
The case centered on the “lowest unit charge” requirement for broadcast campaign ads before elections.
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Main Street Sports sues Comcast, Charter over unpaid fees
Main Street Sports accuses the two large pay television providers of underpaying for the rights to its channels during the first half of 2026.

North Carolina governor backs Disney, ABC in ongoing fight with FCC
Governor Josh Stein argued the FCC should exercise its licensing authority in a way that protects press freedom under the First Amendment.
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Groups seek to join Disney’s lawsuit against FCC over ABC licenses
The proposed intervenors support Disney’s challenge but argue the company’s corporate interests may not always align with the interests of viewers.
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DIRECTV urges Supreme Court to reject Nexstar retransmission appeal
DIRECTV urged the U.S. Supreme Court to reject Nexstar Media Group’s petition seeking review of a Second Circuit ruling in a retransmission consent antitrust case.
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