Television

FCC Rule Change Would Allow More Broadcast Mergers, but It's Not Clear the FCC Has That Power.

It's not clear if the agency even has the legal authority to make the change. But if it goes through, there's little to worry about.

Joe Lancaster | 8.6.2026 4:30 PM

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This week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to abolish a rule that limited how many broadcast TV stations a single person or company can own.

Some fear the new move will let President Donald Trump's supporters monopolize broadcast TV. It's also not clear if the agency even has the authority to make the change. But if the rule change happens, it's not as big of a problem as it may seem.

"Today, the Federal Communications Commission voted to repeal its 39% national television multiple ownership rule and replace it with a granular, case-by-case review," the agency announced Thursday after its August Open Commission Meeting. "This will empower the FCC to approve deals that promote the public interest while allowing the agency to reject any deals that do not meet that standard."

While the major networks—ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox—create or license content for broadcast, the local affiliate stations actually air it. In 1985, the FCC chose to "prohibit a single entity from owning television stations that collectively exceeded 25 percent of the total nationwide audience." The agency has since raised that level to 39 percent, where it remained until this week.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has long said the cap is outdated. "The broadcast and broader media industry has transformed dramatically in recent years," he wrote last month........

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