Media Consolidation and Regulation

President Donald Trump has reversed his earlier criticism and is now publicly urging regulators to approve Nexstar Media Group’s $6.2 billion acquisition of rival broadcaster Tegna, calling it a “good deal” that will help counter what he labels “Fake News National TV Networks.” In a new Truth Social post, he said the combined company would increase competition and told opponents they “don’t fully understand how good the concept of this Deal is for them,” adding, “GET THAT DEAL DONE!” The takeover, announced in August and still subject to Tegna shareholder and federal regulatory approval, would join Nexstar’s more than 200 owned and partner stations in 116 markets — plus its networks like The CW and NewsNation — with Tegna’s 64 stations in 51 markets, making an already dominant local TV owner even larger. The push comes as the FCC is reviewing ownership caps and some courts have struck down limits on how many top stations one company can control in a market, and as Americans continue to cut cable in favor of streaming, weakening traditional broadcast economics. Nexstar’s CEO has pitched the deal as aligned with Trump’s deregulatory moves and necessary to compete with Big Tech and legacy national media, but critics warn further consolidation could reduce local news diversity even if it creates another right‑leaning counterweight to the big networks.