The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is currently considering raising station cap limits, while station groups are pursuing more mega-mergers, such as Nexstar’s proposed acquisition of Tegna. A newly commissioned report by DirecTV reveals that markets with a Big Four duopoly, triopoly, or quadropoly are experiencing a decrease in newsrooms and a lack of diversity in voices.
DirecTV’s attorneys, Michael Nilsson and Annick M. Banoun, highlighted the trend of broadcasters consolidating news operations when acquiring multiple stations in a local market. This consolidation results in fewer newsrooms and a decline in the quality of local news. The evidence presented in the report, specifically in the context of the Nexstar-Tegna transaction, demonstrates that Nexstar has consolidated news operations in every duopoly or triopoly it owns.
The study conducted by DirecTV examined Nielsen Designated Market Areas (DMAs) with Big Four affiliates under the same management team. It identified 98 duopolies, 15 triopolies, and three quadropolies, where co-managed stations consolidate online news to a single site, share news directors, journalists, and anchors across stations, rather than operating them as distinct entities.
According to DirecTV’s findings, the majority of co-owned stations in duopolies, triopolies, and quadropolies offer essentially the same local news content. The study also revealed that in most cases, news sites, news directors, and news talent were shared across co-owned stations, indicating a high level of consolidation in the industry.
In light of these findings, DirecTV urges the FCC to reject proposals that would lead to more duopolies, triopolies, and quadropolies, as this consolidation reduces competition, output, and quality in local news. The evidence presented in the report emphasizes the negative impact of broadcaster consolidation on the diversity of voices and the overall quality of local news content.
In conclusion, the report commissioned by DirecTV serves as a call to action for regulators to prioritize the preservation of diverse voices and quality journalism in the face of increasing consolidation in the broadcast industry. It is essential to ensure that local news remains vibrant and independent to serve the needs of communities across the country.
