With the announcement that Nexstar Broadcasting is acquiring Media General for $4.6 billion, employees working at stations owned by the two groups are now asking, “What does this mean for me?”
When all is said and done, Nexstar Media Group will own, operate, program or provide sales and other services to 171 television stations in 100 markets, reaching 39 percent of all U.S. TV households. This total surpasses Sinclair’s 164 stations in 79 markets. The FCC says an entity can own as many stations as it wants “so long as the station group collectively reaches no more than 39 percent of all U.S. TV households.”
Right now, without deciding whether to sell off a station’s spectrum, shuffle it off to a sidecar or sell it off completely, here are the markets where the new Nexstar will rub up against the FCC rule that says one company can’t own two of the top 4 stations in any market.
Roanoke-Lynchburg, Va. (67)
Media General — WSLS NBC
Nexstar — WFXR Fox
Nexstar — WWCW CW
Green Bay-Appleton, Wisc. (68)
Media General — WBAY ABC
Nexstar — WFRV CBS
Davenport, Iowa – Rock Island – Moline, Illinois (100)
Media General — KWQC NBC
Nexstar — WHBF CBS & CW
Nexstar — KGCW ThisTV & CW
Ft. Wayne, Indiana (111)
Media General — WANE CBS
Nexstar — WFFT Fox
Lafayette, Louisiana (124)
Media General — KLFY CBS
Nexstar — KADN Fox
Nexstar — KLAF NBC
Nexstar — MyAcadianaTV My NetworkTV
Terre Haute, Indiana (155)
Media General — WTHI CBS and Fox
Nexstar — WTWO NBC