In a move that could deliver a devastating blow to the already fragile world of local journalism, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is considering proposals to relax longstanding ownership rules for broadcast television stations. Major broadcasters, including Nexstar, Fox, and Sinclair, have petitioned the agency to eliminate caps that currently prevent a single company from owning multiple affiliates of the “Big Four” networks—ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC—in the same market. This push comes amid the FCC’s ongoing 2022 Quadrennial Regulatory Review, which seeks to update media ownership regulations in light of evolving industry dynamics. Proponents argue that such changes are necessary for stations to compete with streaming giants like Netflix and YouTube, but opponents contend it will accelerate the decline of independent local news, leaving communities with homogenized coverage and fewer voices.
The proposal targets the so-called Duopoly Rule, which limits common ownership of top-rated stations in a given market to preserve competition and diversity in news programming. If approved, a single entity could consolidate operations across multiple networks, potentially merging newsrooms and slashing staff to cut costs. “This isn’t about innovation; it’s about monopoly,” said Jessica Gonzalez, co-CEO of media advocacy group Free Press. “We’ve seen what happens when conglomerates take over—local stories get sidelined for national narratives, and investigative reporting suffers.”
The timing couldn’t be worse, as local news outlets across the United States are already in freefall. Since 2005, more than 2,500 newspapers have shuttered, with nearly 40% of all local papers vanishing entirely. This has created “news deserts” in thousands of communities, where residents have limited or no access to reliable local reporting. In a stark example, even major cities like Atlanta are affected: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the city’s primary newspaper, ceased print production on December 31, 2025, transitioning to a fully digital format starting January 1, 2026. “We no longer have a daily physical newspaper in Atlanta,” noted media analyst Penny Abernathy of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. “Digital is great, but it doesn’t reach everyone, especially older demographics or those in rural areas with poor internet access.”
Radio, once a staple for quick local updates, is also retreating from news. Public radio stations are grappling with severe funding cuts following the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s announcement in August 2025 that it would begin winding down operations. Stations like those in rural networks such as Allegheny Mountain Radio have trimmed news broadcasts or gone off-air during crises, leaving gaps in emergency information and daily reporting. Commercial stations aren’t faring better; many have shifted to music or syndicated talk shows to save on journalism costs, with NPR itself cutting $5 million from its budget in 2025 amid affiliate struggles. As a result, in many regions—particularly smaller towns and suburbs—television remains the last bastion of local news.
But even TV is under threat. Historical mergers, such as those involving Sinclair Broadcast Group, have shown that consolidation often leads to reduced local content. A 2019 Stanford study found that when conglomerates acquire local stations, news shifts toward national topics, while coverage of community events drops. Recent deals, like the Nexstar-Tegna merger in 2025, have raised similar alarms, with combined entities controlling dozens of stations and prompting shared news production agreements that eliminate redundancy—but also diversity. In markets where this happens, viewers might see the same stories aired across channels, produced by a single team, effectively reducing the number of independent news operations from four to as few as two.
Take Denver, Colorado, as a hypothetical under the new rules: Currently, separate owners run the ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC affiliates, each with dedicated news teams covering city hall, schools, and weather. Post-relaxation, one company could buy them all, merging into a unified newsroom. Layoffs would follow, as seen in past consolidations where staff cuts averaged 20-30%. A Pew Research study from over a decade ago highlighted how shared production diminishes viewer choice, and experts say the effect would be amplified today.
The broader implications are dire for democracy. Without robust local news, civic engagement suffers: Voter turnout drops, government accountability wanes, and misinformation spreads. As one rural editor put it, “If TV news consolidates, who’s left to watch the watchdogs?” The FCC’s decision, expected in the coming months, could reshape how Americans stay informed—or don’t—about their own backyards.
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