Says it violates federal antirust law A federal judge blocked the $6.2 billion merger between Nexstar Media Group and Tegna Friday evening, setting the stage for a long and perhaps costly court battle. As first reported by The Desk, U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley in Sacramento issued the 52-page injunction, stating the mega-merger violates antitrust laws, and declared it illegal, […]
Approved despite lawsuits by states, DirecTV In a historic move, the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice approved the $6.2 billion merger between Irving, Tex.-based Nexstar and McLean, Va.-based Tegna, despite a lawsuit filed by eight state attorneys general and DirecTV. The deal officially closed Thursday night. The FCC granted waivers to Nexstar despite the national ownership cap […]
WPIX New York and KTLA Los Angeles also hit with staff cuts, drawing the attention of SAG-AFTRA Fresh off of laying off nine employees at WGN-TV Monday, Nexstar made even more cuts on Wednesday, announcing layoffs at its KTLA Los Angeles and WPIX New York (which it operates through Mission Broadcasting) KTLA laid off five on-air personnel, including longtime meteorologist […]
Sean Lewis and Ray Cortopassi among those cut on the same day four Black lawmakers announced their opposition to Tegna deal Editor’s Note: This story was updated on February 24 at 11:10 a.m. Nexstar-owned WGN-TV announced Monday night it has laid off nine on-air anchors and reporters from its Bradley Place headquarters. The biggest name laid off was WGN evening […]
Rose to fame due to Nippelgate After a three-decade run, the infamous Parents Television Council is no more. Known more recently as The Parents Television and Media Council, the watchdog group that terrorized free speech advocates, television executives, and Hollywood filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy last week, revealing $92,000 in assets and $285,000 in liabilities. The organization’s membership has dwindled […]
But not without a defense of taking the show off the air Sinclair and Nexstar decided to return Jimmy Kimmel Live! to the airwaves Friday, after over a week off the air due to the host’s comments about the person who assassinated Charlie Kirk. Both parties were “engaged in discussions” with the network after ABC reinstated Kimmel on Tuesday night. […]
Sinclair and Nexstar stand their ground; they won’t air show [Editor’s Note: This post was updated at 8:45 p.m. on September 22 and at 1:30 p.m. on September 23.] Disney-owned ABC announced Monday it is returning Jimmy Kimmel Live to its regular late-night time slot on Tuesday night, after the network forced him to sit out a week due to […]
Kimmel dustup showcases a forever battle, one FCC Chairman Carr has taken a side on If one were to understand the decision by ABC to temporarily pull Jimmy Kimmel off the air this past week due to the influence of local stations, one would have to look back to the past. Mirroring the attitude of many Southern network affiliates in […]
Network makes move after Nexstar, Sinclair drops show indefinitely, and comes after FCC chair threatens ABC In a bold move, ABC has put late-night show Jimmy Kimmel Live on hiatus after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr threatened ABC and Disney after Kimmel committed on Charlie Kirk’s assassination Monday night. Kimmel mistakenly said that suspect Tyler Robinson was a Trump supporter (he […]
Short-term extension to last through Friday The Wednesday 4 p.m. (CT) deadline came and went with Fox channels remaining on YouTubeTV as the two parties agreed to a short-term extension that lasts until Friday. Update: We’ve reached a short-term extension with Fox to prevent disruption to our subscribers while we work on a new agreement. We’re committed to advocating on […]
Combined entity would own 265 stations covering 80 percent of country As hinted by the Wall Street Journal last week, WGN-TV and WGN Radio owner Nexstar Media Group has agreed to purchase rival Tegna, Inc. for $3.6 billion in the biggest deal in television history. The new combined entity gives Nexstar 265 stations with nine of the top ten markets […]
Comes after the network agrees to concessions [Editor’s note: This post was updated July 25.] After months of waiting, the FCC has officially approved the Skydance-Paramount merger, which will bring changes to the nation’s most prestigious television network. Technically, the FCC approved the transfer of 28 FCC licenses of CBS stations to Skydance. CBS operates stations in eight of the […]
But don’t look for a similar deal in the U.S. anytime soon, if ever On June 18, a landmark deal was made that brings together an old-school television network and a new-school global streamer. But it wasn’t in the United States—nor anywhere in this part of the globe. This landmark agreement was signed on June 18 in France, […]
Must-run segments parrot Sinclair’s Nexstar Media Group is taking its crusade for deregulation to the streets – and the home viewer. According to a report by The Desk, the broadcaster has instructed its 160-plus local stations to air a brief segment encouraging viewers to contact the FCC regarding potential changes to broadcast regulations that Chairman Brendan Carr is considering. Broadcasters […]
Changes ahead as the sports department is the hardest hit [Editor’s Note: This post was updated on March 19.] A fifth of Sun-Times employees – roughly twenty percent of the workforce, or thirty employees, have elected to take buyouts from the paper. which the paper offered to employees in January. Those exiting are longtime writers and editors, including Richard Roeper, […]
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