FCC Chair Brendan Carr is facing Bipartisan pressure over the agency’s approval of Nexstar’s $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) sent Carr a strongly worded letter on March 30th. They want answers — and fast.
The senators are questioning why the FCC‘s Media Bureau, rather than the full commission, signed off on the deal. The merger would create the largest local broadcast television group in U.S. history, combining 259 full-power television stations across 44 states and reaching nearly 80% of American TV households.
Cruz and Cantwell argue that a transaction this massive demanded a full commission vote. Approving it at the bureau level, they warn, risks making any future commission review “largely procedural.” That’s not oversight — that’s rubber-stamping.
The deal’s most controversial element is an expansive waiver of the 39% national audience reach cap, a limit Congress set to curb broadcast consolidation. The FCC also granted exemptions from local ownership rules, allowing Nexstar to hold three major full-power stations in certain markets. Critics say both moves stretch regulatory authority well beyond precedent.
The legal challenges are already piling up. DirecTV secured a temporary restraining order in federal court last week, arguing the merger distorts retransmission consent negotiations. Eight states, led by California, are pursuing antitrust and consumer protection reviews. Newsmax filed a separate federal court action alongside six cable industry associations, contending the approval violates the national ownership cap.
Conservative organizations — including CPAC, the National Religious Broadcasters, and the Zionist Organization of America — have filed amicus briefs supporting Newsmax’s suit. Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy didn’t mince words, calling the approval “perhaps one of the biggest TV merger approvals ever contemplated.”
Cruz and Cantwell also flagged a serious procedural problem. Because the bureau — not the full commission — issued the decision, challengers must petition the commission before heading to court. That delay could allow integration to advance so far that unwinding the deal becomes impossible.
The senators are demanding a response from Carr by April 13th. The clock is ticking, and the broadcast industry is watching closely.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
