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A merger between two massive broadcasting companies could impact two different Iowa television markets.
The merger of Nexstar and Tegna has been capturing headlines as of late, and The Des Moines Register had a compelling article related to what changes could potentially be coming to Iowans’ TVs as a result.
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Details About the Nexstar-Tegna Merger:
The proposed merger is designed to give the conjoined companies leverage to compete with “Big Tech,” per Nexstar Chairman and CEO Perry A. Sook. Nexstar is set to acquire Tegna’s shares for a cash transaction worth $6.2 billion, including debt. The transaction is expected to close by the second half of 2026.
The move would vault Nexstar into the stratosphere of being the largest local broadcasting company in America. It would mean that Nexstar would cover nearly 80% of TV households in some way, shape, or form. Nexstar presently owns or partners with over 200 stations. Acquiring Tegna would give them 64 more. This is a lofty move.
How the Merger Impacts Iowa:
Per The Des Moines Register, the merger could make Des Moines’ ABC affiliate (WOI Local 5) a Nexstar station. Nexstar also owns NBC affiliate WHO 13. Meanwhile, Tegna owns KCWI (Des Moines’ CW affiliate) that does not produce its own local news.
Meanwhile, in the Quad Cities, Tegna owns WQAD (Moline’s ABC affiliate), while Nexstar owns WHBF (Rock Island’s CBS affiliate). In contrast, Nexstar owns KCAU (Sioux City’s ABC affiliate), while Tegna doesn’t own any stations in that market.
Under current federal rules, the proposed merger would conflict with federal regulations, which prevent a company from owning two television stations in the same market.
As with most rules, there are exceptions, and the FCC has two, in this case:
- Different stations can be owned by the same company when the service areas of the station don’t overlap.
- Or, when one of the stations is not ranked among the top four rated stations in the market.
What Happens if the Nexstar-Tegna Merger Succeeds?:
The next year will be intriguing because Nexstar could be breaching antitrust regulations. In this case, they would be in violation of FCC laws by being a single company that owns stations reaching more than 39% of all U.S. TV households. That “39% rule” is currently under review.
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The Des Moines Register also notes that the aforementioned “39% rule” blocked Nexstar from owning both WOI and WHO in the past. Upon Nexstar’s acquisition of WOI in 2014, they sold it to Tegna when they purchased Tribune Media.
Read more about how the potential Nexstar-Tegna merger could impact Iowa TV stations on The Des Moines Register‘s website.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” in Davenport Hosted by Nell Campbell
Some photos from Rhythm City Casino’s screening of “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” along with a costume contest and shadow-cast performance, all hosted by (Little) Nell Campbell.
Gallery Credit: Steve Pulaski
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