Headlines
Broadcast Deregulation May Fail To Come Through. Then What Happens?
Should the Top 4 rule and 39% ownership cap remain amid President Trump’s wavering, TV broadcasters are in for a messy, existential transition.
Broadcasters Warned: Miss FCC Update Deadline And Face Fines
An out of the blue announcement from Wireline Competition Bureau last week is having a quick impact on broadcasters.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Trump Praises Nexstar-Tegna Deal He Once Opposed
“We need more competition against THE ENEMY, the Fake News National TV Networks,” Trump wrote on social media Saturday. “Letting Good Deals get done like Nexstar-Tegna will help knock out the Fake News because there will be more competition. … GET THAT DEAL DONE.”
As Digital M&A Rebounds, TuneIn Sale Stands Out For Audio.
After a year dominated by AI hype and mega-deals in video and marketing technology, one of the clearest signals for the audio business in 2025 came from a quieter corner of the M&A market: the sale of TuneIn.
Television
Versant’s Free TV Networks Concludes New Multi-Platform Distribution Deals
Free TV Networks (FTN) has announced new multi-platform distribution agreements spanning broadcast and streaming. The deals mark the company’s first major expansion since becoming part of Versant in Jan. 2026.
Print Media
With The Washington Post In Freefall, An Awkward Question For Jeff Bezos
Amazon-style innovation still missing at The Washington Post
FCC
This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: February 2, 2026 to February 6, 2026
Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations.
Trusty: Ownership Deregulation Will Boost Broadcast Competition
FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty is defending the agency’s sweeping media ownership reforms, echoing the comments of many broadcasters that outdated regulations prevent stations from competing for ad revenue needed to reinvest in local communities.
Verticals
Midterm Political Ad Spending Tops $2 Billion.
Political ad spending for the 2026 election cycle is projected to reach $10.8 billion, making it the most expensive midterm election in U.S. history.