By Frank Macek
The $6.2 billion deal, approved by federal regulators on Thursday, dramatically expands Nexstar’s reach, now touching roughly 80% of U.S. television households. For WKYC, it marks the end of its Tegna era and the beginning of a new corporate structure alongside sister stations already owned by Nexstar in Cleveland including WJW-TV/8 and WBNX-TV/55.
Supporters argue the move strengthens local stations by giving them greater negotiating power and resources in a rapidly evolving media landscape. Critics, however, warn that consolidation could reduce newsroom diversity and local editorial independence.
For viewers in Northeast Ohio, the branding may stay the same—but behind the scenes, the future of WKYC and its sister stations is entering uncharted territory. Stay tuned.
Here was the official announcement made by Nexstar Thursday evening:
IRVING, TX (Mar. 19, 2026)—Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXST), today announced that it has closed its acquisition of TEGNA Inc. following approval of the transaction from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).
Nexstar’s Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer, Perry Sook commented:
“This transaction is essential to sustaining strong local journalism in the communities we serve. By bringing these two outstanding companies together, Nexstar will be a stronger, more dynamic enterprise—better positioned to deliver exceptional journalism and local programming with enhanced assets, capabilities, and talent. We are grateful to President Trump, Chairman Carr, and the DOJ for recognizing the dynamic forces shaping the media landscape and enabling this transaction to move forward.”
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Read the FCC report: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-267A1.pdf