In a Truth Social post, President Trump shared that he “would not be happy” if the FCC were to remove the ownership cap of television broadcasters.
“ABC & NBC, in particular, are a disaster – A VIRTUAL ARM OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY,” Trump wrote. “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.
Currently, guidelines state that no single station owner can collectively reach more than 39% of U.S. households. Nexstar has already been granted a waiver to surpass that threshold. But once the deal with TEGNA is closed, Nexstar Media Group will then have 265 TV stations in 44 states and the District of Columbia. Additionally, it will feature outlets in 132 of the country’s 210 markets.
The statement from Trump is a rebuke of the stance held by FCC Chair Brendan Carr, who has repeatedly shared his support for removing the ownership limitations. Additionally, the NAB has also continually shared its support for the removal of the cap.
“Ownership modernization is not about making national networks larger, it is about empowering local broadcasters that serve their communities with trusted news, emergency information and local journalism,” the NAB said, in a statement.
“These outdated rules do not restrict networks, they restrict local stations that are trying to survive. Chris Ruddy’s misleading campaign is about preventing those local broadcasters from competing on the same playing field as a station like his that already reaches 100 percent of the country.”
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