Bennet, Neguse Urge FCC to Reject Nexstar Media-Tegna Merger

Oct 24, 2025| Press Releases

Denver - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and Colorado U.S. Representative Joe Neguse urged Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr to reject the $6.2 billion merger between Nexstar Media and TEGNA Inc.

The deal between the two broadcast companies directly violates federal law, enforceable by the FCC, that prevents a single company from controlling television stations that collectively reach more than 39 percent of U.S. households. Barring action from the agency, the merger would create a local TV giant, granting the Nexstar Media Group ownership of 265 stations across 44 states and increasing its reach to about 80 percent of U.S. households.

"We write to express significant concern about the proposed merger between Nexstar Media Group and TEGNA Inc that is currently under Federal Communications Commission (FCC) review. If approved, this deal would violate the national broadcast ownership cap and could have devastating consequences for our home state of Colorado. That's why we implore your agency to put Americans first and reject this deal that will ultimately put corporate profit above the needs of our communities," wrote Bennet and Neguse.

In Colorado, the Nexstar Media-TEGNA merger may lead to the consolidation of local TV news stations, causing local media to become more nationalized and decreasing local coverage. In their letter, the lawmakers emphasize that the merger would undercut staff and resources while removing a local voice from nightly news programs.

"The national broadcast ownership cap promotes competition and incentivizes stations to maintain local newsroom activity and retain local journalism jobs. Without it, our media coverage will become more nationalized and local coverage will decrease," continued the lawmakers. "As you know, acquired stations often replace diverse, community-specific reporting with centrally produced content, reducing ideological variety and distancing local broadcasting from the very communities it's meant to serve."

The lawmakers conclude that this merger would have devastating consequences for Colorado.

"Congress made it clear that only Congress, not the FCC, has the authority to unilaterally lift or eliminate the national broadcast ownership cap. As such, this proposed merger between Nexstar Media Group and TEGNA Inc. would violate federal law and jeopardize local news stations and local coverage. For this reason, we urge you to reject this merger and maintain the integrity of our local media," concluded the lawmakers.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Chairman Brendan Carr,

We write to express significant concern about the proposed merger between Nexstar Media Group and TEGNA Inc that is currently under Federal Communications Commission (FCC) review. If approved, this deal would violate the national broadcast ownership cap and could have devastating consequences for our home state of Colorado. That's why we implore your agency to put Americans first and reject this deal that will ultimately put corporate profit above the needs of our communities.

Congress set the national broadcast ownership cap in statute via Section 202(c)(1)(B) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-104) and further strengthened this cap via the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-199). The ownership cap currently stands at 39 percent of U.S. TV households, after applying the FCC's ultra-high-frequency (UHF) discount. The Nexstar Media Group is already the largest owner of broadcast television stations nationally, reaching about 39 percent of U.S. TV households after applying the UHF discount, and 70 percent of households with the discount removed. By allowing Nexstar to acquire TEGNA, which currently owns 64 stations in 51 markets, Nexstar would increase its reach to about 80 percent of U.S. households, if the UHF discount is removed. This is a clear violation of the national broadcast ownership cap, and therefore the law.

The national broadcast ownership cap promotes competition and incentivizes stations to maintain local newsroom activity and retain local journalism jobs. Without it, our media coverage will become more nationalized and local coverage will decrease. We have seen this play out in Colorado in the past - when Fox 31 and Channel 2 merged operations, Channel 2 was largely folded into Fox 31 and much of Channel 2's independent programming was discontinued. As you know, acquired stations often replace diverse, community-specific reporting with centrally produced content, reducing ideological variety and distancing local broadcasting from the very communities it's meant to serve.

A merger like this could jeopardize stations in Colorado, and reduce consumer access to varied and locally-oriented programming. In Denver, two stations - Nexstar-owned Fox31 and TEGNA-owned 9News and its sister station KTVD - could potentially be folded together. And the possibility of anticompetitive consolidation is not confined to Colorado - similar concerns exist in Indianapolis, New Orleans, and Tampa.

Approving this merger is not in the public interest, nor is it within the authority of the FCC. Congress made it clear that only Congress, not the FCC, has the authority to unilaterally lift or eliminate the national broadcast ownership cap. As such, this proposed merger between Nexstar Media Group and TEGNA Inc. would violate federal law and jeopardize local news stations and local coverage. For this reason, we urge you to reject this merger and maintain the integrity of our local media.

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