FCC Set to Repeal Broadcast Audience Cap Rule Limiting Consolidation

Source: Bloomberg

The Federal Communications Commission is expected to announce the repeal of a nationwide audience cap that in the past has limited the number of TV-viewing households a single broadcaster could reach.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is expected to announce the rule change in a Tuesday morning op-ed in Breitbart, and to discuss it later at a policy summit in Washington, according to people familiar with the matter.

The deregulation is key for Nexstar Media Group Inc.’s acquisition of rival broadcast group Tegna Inc. The combination of the two would reach roughly 80% of US households, well over the historical 39% limit. In approving the transaction earlier this year, the FCC suspended the rule on a case-by-case basis.

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The broadcast industry more widely has been asking for relief from anti-consolidation rules that it says has prevented stations from competing against Big Tech rivals. Broadcasters argue the controls are obsolete, as far more competition is coming from unregulated streamers and social media platforms.



Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-15/fcc-said-to-repeal-broadcast-audience-cap-in-win-for-nexstar?srnd=homepage-americas