Des Moines Paper Wonders How Tegna Deal Might Change Local TV Market

The proposed deal between Nexstar and Tegna is stirring up all kinds of conjecture amongst trade professionals and even native TV viewers.The Des Moines Register simply revealed an article to let native Iowans know what the deal would imply to their residence markets.Reuters mentioned the 2 media giants are betting on looser antitrust insurance policies beneath President Donald Trump to assist them with their quest to personal all of the stations.In June, the Federal Communications Fee mentioned it was seeking to refresh a rule that caps station possession at a mixed attain of 39% of U.S. tv households. An appeals courtroom additionally just lately struck down the FCC’s “High 4” rule, which barred possession of two top-rated stations in the identical market.“The initiatives being pursued by the Trump administration supply native broadcasters the chance to increase attain, degree the taking part in subject, and compete extra successfully with the Huge Tech and legacy Huge Media firms,” mentioned Nexstar CEO Perry Sook.The deal would give Nexstar and its companions 265 full-power tv stations in 44 states and the District of Columbia and 132 of the nation’s 210 tv DMAs. The mixed firm may have stations in 9 of the highest 10 DMAs, 41 of the highest 50 DMAs, 62 of the highest 75 DMAs and 82 of the highest 100 DMAs, overlaying, in whole, 80% of U.S. tv households.Right here’s an excerpt from the Des Moines Register: The merger may carry Des Moines’ ABC affiliate, WOI Native 5 beneath Nexstar, which already owns NBC affiliate WHO 13. Tegna additionally owns KCWI, a CW affiliate in Des Moines that doesn’t produce its personal native information. Within the Quad Cities, Tegna owns WQAD, a Moline, Illinois, based mostly ABC affiliate and Nexstar owns WHBF, a Rock Island, Illinois, based mostly CBS affiliate. In each instances, the stations are positioned within the similar designated market space. Nexstar additionally owns KCAU, the ABC affiliate in Sioux Metropolis. Tegna doesn’t personal any stations in that market. The proposed merger would battle with present federal guidelines that forestall the possession of two tv stations in the identical designated market space. Click on right here for the entire story.