After publicly sharing its opposition, Newsmax has officially asked the FCC to block the merger between Nexstar Media Group and TEGNA.
The company formally filed a petition with the FCC on New Year’s Eve, arguing that the proposed merger “violates the law and creates an unprecedented concentration of power in the hands of one broadcaster.”
Newsmax’s focus on its opposition is that the current ownership limits make a single entity owning enough stations to reach more than 39% of the U.S. TV households illegal. Should the proposed merger with TEGNA go through, Nexstar Media Group would reach nearly 80% of all households.
“This merger would create an unprecedented and dangerous consolidation within the broadcast TV industry, giving them immense control over local news and political news coverage,” Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy — who signed the filing with the FCC for the network — said in a statement.
“This merger is no better than others the FCC has already blocked,” the filing from Newsmax concludes. “The Commission should reject the proposed transaction because it violates the law, will harm competition, and will damage the public interest.”
Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy has not been shy about his opposition to the merger. In August, Ruddy shared that he was against the proposed merger, further arguing that the FCC “lacks authority and a compelling reason to change” the ownership caps put in place in 2004. Ruddy’s comments and opposition to the move have been labeled as “misleading” by the National Association of Broadcasters.
His sentiments appear to be shared by President Donald Trump, who in November said he “would not be happy” if the ownership cap were to be removed.
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