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FCC removes cap on broadcast TV ownership

newsAug 6, 2026312,837

The Federal Communications Commission voted 2-1 on August 6, 2026, to repeal the 22-year-old national television ownership cap that barred any single company from owning stations reaching more than 39 percent of U.S. television households. The commission replaced the fixed cap with a case-by-case review process; Republican Chair Brendan Carr, who published an op-ed on Breitbart calling the limit outdated, led the push alongside fellow Republican commissioner Olivia Trusty. Democratic Commissioner Anna M. Gomez called the move unlawful and warned it would concentrate control in national companies that own local stations. Free Press said it plans to sue the FCC over the decision, and legal challenges are expected because the 39 percent limit was codified in federal law in 2004 after Congress raised an earlier 35 percent ceiling. The repeal clears a potential path for large station groups to grow; Nexstar Media Group, which is pursuing a $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna that a federal judge paused after state antitrust suits, stood to gain a combined reach of at least 60 percent of U.S. households. Supporters argued the rule handicapped local broadcasters competing with streaming platforms, while opponents said the change will reduce local journalism and concentrate editorial control in national owners.

Rahawa Haile
@rahawahaile.bsky.social

This is one of the most catastrophic developments imaginable for US media and the country. I don’t even have the words for it.

128445d ago
Kyle Clark
@kylec.bsky.social

Proponents say local broadcast journalism won’t survive without consolidation and economies of scale to compete with Big Tech. Opponents say consolidation will result in fewer local journalists and corporate-imposed fealty to the Trump administration. www.nbcnews.com/business/med...

13445d ago
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