Federal Communications Commission chair backs Nexstar, Tegna merger

Core Viewpoint - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr supports Nexstar's proposed $3.54 billion acquisition of Tegna, which would create the largest U.S. regional TV station operator [1] Group 1: Merger Details - The acquisition would allow Nexstar to cover 80% of TV households across key geographies [1] - The deal requires the FCC to lift the current cap on station ownership, which limits a company from owning broadcast stations reaching more than 39% of U.S. television households [1] Group 2: Regulatory Context - Carr believes the ownership cap could be revised by the FCC without needing Congressional approval, although Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez disagrees [1] - The National Association of Broadcasters has called for the repeal of the 85-year-old national television ownership rule, arguing it is unfair compared to the lack of restrictions on Big Tech companies [1] Group 3: Industry Competition - Carr argues that the Tegna-Nexstar deal will enhance competition against national networks like Comcast and Walt Disney, which he claims have accumulated excessive power [1] - Chris Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax, stated that the ownership cap is one of the last significant protections for competition and diversity in the broadcast and cable ecosystem [1]