President Donald Trump shared his opposition to changing the FCC ownership limits for broadcast TV operators on Sunday. Nexstar Media Group released a statement sharing why it believes the merger with TEGNA should be pushed through.
“If this would also allow the Radical Left Networks to ‘enlarge,’ I would not be happy,” Trump said of the potential for the FCC to remove the ownership cap that states no single broadcaster can own TV stations that reach more than 39% of U.S. households.
“ABC & NBC, in particular, are a disaster – A VIRTUAL ARM OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY,” Trump continued. “They should be viewed as an illegal campaign to the Radical Left. NO EXPANSION OF THE FAKE NEWS NETWORKS. If anything, make them SMALLER!”
His statements were accompanied by a news article from Newsmax, showcasing CEO Chris Ruddy’s opposition to the proposed merger between Nexstar Media Group and TEGNA.
In a statement released on Monday afternoon, Nexstar Media Group shared it’s reasoning for why it believes that change is needed.
“We continue to believe that the landscape is ripe for regulatory reform and that we are on the path to completing our transaction,” the Nexstar statement read. “We agree with President Trump that the status quo is no longer acceptable, nor should the government do anything to strengthen the stranglehold of legacy media and Big Tech on the marketplace of ideas. Those platforms already reach into every pocket, purse, and backpack in America, and the best way to disrupt their monopolistic power is to allow local broadcasters an opportunity to compete on a level playing field.
“Americans want more access to local news and a variety of voices without the filter of the coastal elites. By modernizing the FCC’s rules, regulators will ensure that local communities benefit from an array of fact-based local journalism — the anti-fake news — for years to come,” the statement continued. “This is a historic opportunity to change the status quo and deliver a win for Americans across the country who are weary of legacy media’s leverage over local broadcasters.”
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