Nexstar Media Group
Nexstar Media Group is a United States-based television broadcasting and media company that owns local stations, national television networks, digital media properties, and radio assets.
Last updated October 30, 2026
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Overview
Nexstar Media Group is a major American television broadcasting and media company headquartered in Irving, Texas, with additional operating offices in New York City and Chicago. It began in 1996 as Nexstar Broadcasting Group, founded by Perry A. Sook with financial backing from ABRY Partners. Its first station was WYOU in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and the company initially pursued a strategy of acquiring local television stations in mid-sized American markets, improving their news operations, and generating scale through shared services, advertising, and retransmission-consent revenue. The company grew through a long sequence of station acquisitions. Early transactions included WBRE-TV in Wilkes-Barre, WJET-TV in Erie, and stations purchased from U.S. Broadcast Group and Quorum Broadcasting. Nexstar also developed operating arrangements with separately owned stations, particularly Mission Broadcasting, allowing it to provide programming, news production, technical, and administrative services while complying with Federal Communications Commission ownership limits. These arrangements became a distinctive feature of the company's expansion model, although shared-services and joint-sales structures have periodically attracted regulatory and public scrutiny. Nexstar became a publicly traded company in 2003. Its acquisitions expanded its reach across affiliates of ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, The CW, and MyNetworkTV. A 2011 dispute with Fox over retransmission-consent revenue and reverse compensation resulted in several affiliation changes, illustrating the increasing importance of network affiliation economics to local broadcasters. Nexstar subsequently continued to buy station groups and digital advertising businesses, including assets associated with Newport Television, Communications Corporation of America, Citadel Communications, Grant Broadcasting, West Virginia Media Holdings, and other owners. A decisive transformation came with the acquisition of Media General, announced in 2016 and completed in 2017. The transaction substantially increased Nexstar's station count and national household reach, while requiring divestitures in overlapping markets. Nexstar then acquired Tribune Media in 2019 in a transaction valued at approximately $6.4 billion including assumed debt. The Tribune deal added large-market stations such as WGN-TV in Chicago and WPIX in New York, as well as national and digital media assets. Further station transactions with Fox Television Stations and other parties reshaped the portfolio and helped reduce regulatory overlaps and debt. Nexstar's business is broader than local broadcast television. It owns and operates NewsNation, a national cable news network formerly known as WGN America; The CW television network, acquired jointly with a partner in 2022 and subsequently controlled by Nexstar; The CW Plus distribution service; Antenna TV and Rewind TV, which distribute classic television programming; SportsGrid, a sports-focused streaming and television service; and digital advertising, publishing, and audience-targeting businesses. It also owns radio stations including WGN in Chicago and WBNS and WBNS-FM in Columbus. The company's commercial model combines local advertising, national advertising, retransmission-consent payments from pay-TV distributors, network and digital advertising, content licensing, and distribution revenue. Nexstar describes its local stations as community-oriented outlets with news, weather, sports, and public-affairs programming, while its national networks provide additional scale. Critics and media analysts have characterized Nexstar as politically conservative in parts of its editorial and programming profile, though comparisons commonly distinguish it from the more overtly conservative Sinclair Broadcast Group. Today, Nexstar is one of the largest television station owners in the United States. Its portfolio and operating relationships have made it an important intermediary between nati…
History
Nexstar Media Group was established on June 17, 1996, as Nexstar Broadcasting Group. Backed initially by ABRY Partners and led by Perry A. Sook, the company entered the market by acquiring WYOU in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It soon acquired WBRE-TV in the neighboring Wilkes-Barre market. Because owning both stations directly would have raised regulatory issues, WYOU was transferred to Mission Broadcasting while Nexstar continued to provide operational services. This arrangement became an early example of the shared-services model that later supported Nexstar's growth. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Nexstar assembled a portfolio of local stations in small and medium-sized markets. It acquired WJET-TV, stations from U.S. Broadcast Group, WROC-TV, and the ten-station Quorum Broadcasting group. The company went public in 2003 and continued purchasing stations from owners seeking to exit local television. Its operating model emphasized centralized purchasing, technology, sales support, and news production while retaining local station identities and network affiliations. The economics of broadcast affiliation became more contentious as networks sought a larger share of retransmission-consent revenue. In 2011, Fox and Nexstar disputed the terms of affiliation renewals. Fox moved affiliations in several markets, while Nexstar moved WFXW in Terre Haute to ABC and later regained the Fox affiliation at WFFT-TV in Fort Wayne after litigation and subsequent ownership changes. The episode showed how network relationships, distributor fees, and local station ownership had become closely connected. Nexstar accelerated its expansion from 2012 through 2018. It acquired or operated stations associated with Newport Television, Communications Corporation of America, Citadel Communications, Grant Broadcasting, West Virginia Media Holdings, and other groups. It also bought digital advertising and technology companies, including Internet Broadcasting and Yashi, and consolidated several digital businesses under the Lakana name. Regulatory limits required some stations to be sold, spun off, or placed under arrangements involving other licensees. The acquisition of Media General was the company's first transformative national-scale transaction. After an unsolicited proposal in 2015, the companies reached a definitive agreement in January 2016. The transaction closed in January 2017 after regulatory review and divestitures. It increased Nexstar's reach to a much larger proportion of United States television households and added stations in numerous major and regional markets. The combined company retained the Nexstar Media Group name. In 2019, Nexstar completed its acquisition of Tribune Media. The deal brought a major group of local stations, including WGN-TV in Chicago and WPIX in New York, as well as WGN America, WGN Radio, and other assets. To address ownership limits and market overlaps, Nexstar sold stations to other broadcasters, including Fox Television Stations. The transaction made Nexstar the largest local television station owner in the United States by station count and substantially increased its influence over national retransmission and advertising negotiations. Following the Tribune acquisition, Nexstar expanded its national strategy. WGN America was repositioned as NewsNation, a general-news cable network intended to complement local journalism. Nexstar also owned or distributed classic-programming networks Antenna TV and Rewind TV and operated digital and streaming properties. In 2022, the company acquired a controlling interest in The CW, shifting the network toward a lower-cost programming model that used acquired and syndicated content as well as original programming. The company also maintained radio assets and sports-oriented services such as SportsGrid. Nexstar's history reflects the consolidation of American local broadcasting. Its growth has relied on acquisitions, operating agreements, network affiliation management, retransmission economics, and the creation of centralized infrastructure for local news and advertising. At the same time, its size has brought recurring questions about market concentration, newsroom resources, shared-services arrangements, editorial uniformity, and the regulatory framework governing broadcast ownership. The company remains active, but its long-term development depends on balancing local station operations with national networks, digital distribution, streaming competition, and changing advertising behavior.
- 2022
Nexstar takes control of The CW
[5]Nexstar acquires a controlling interest in The CW and assumes operational responsibility for the network.
- 2021
WGN America becomes NewsNation
[6]Nexstar relaunches the cable network under the NewsNation name and increases its national news programming.
- 2019
Tribune Media acquisition closes
[4]The transaction adds Tribune's local stations and national media assets, including WGN-TV and WGN America.
- 2017
Media General acquisition closes
[3]Nexstar completes its acquisition of Media General after divesting stations in overlapping markets.
- 2011
Fox affiliation dispute
[1]A dispute over retransmission-consent revenue and reverse compensation leads to multiple affiliation changes involving Nexstar-operated stations.
- 2003
Nexstar becomes publicly traded
[1]Nexstar completes its initial public offering and continues expanding its station portfolio.
- 1998
Shared-services model begins with WYOU and WBRE-TV
[1]After acquiring WBRE-TV in the same market, Nexstar places WYOU under Mission Broadcasting while continuing to operate news and production functions.
- 1996
Nexstar Broadcasting Group is founded
[1]The company is established with Perry A. Sook as its leading executive and purchases WYOU in Scranton, Pennsylvania, as its first station.
Products and positioning
A scale-focused owner and operator of local television stations with complementary national networks, digital media, radio, and advertising businesses.
Broadcast television · 1996
Local television stations
Nexstar's principal operating business is a large portfolio of local broadcast stations across the United States. Stations generally carry programming from ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, The CW, or MyNetworkTV, supplemented by locally produced news, weather, sports, public-affairs, and community programming. Station brands remain market-specific, while centralized corporate systems support sales, technology, digital publishing, and some production functions.
Cable news network · 2021
NewsNation
NewsNation is Nexstar's national news network, developed from the former WGN America service. It carries national news, interview, opinion, and public-affairs programming and is positioned as a complement to Nexstar's local television news operations.
Broadcast and streaming television network · 2006
The CW
The CW is a national television network distributed through broadcast affiliates and digital platforms. Nexstar acquired controlling ownership in 2022 and operates the network, which combines original series with acquired, syndicated, and sports-related programming.
Multicast television network · 2011
Antenna TV
Antenna TV is a terrestrial digital network focused on classic television series, films, and archival entertainment programming. It is distributed through local digital subchannels and other television outlets.
Multicast television network · 2021
Rewind TV
Rewind TV is a digital broadcast network offering older scripted television programming. It complements Nexstar's other multicast and classic-content services and is carried through local station subchannels.
Sports television and streaming
SportsGrid
SportsGrid is a sports-focused television and streaming service centered on real-time sports information, analysis, fantasy sports, and betting-related programming.
Digital media and advertising technology
Digital advertising services
Through acquired and internally developed digital businesses, Nexstar provides online publishing, local-station digital services, audience targeting, video advertising, and programmatic advertising capabilities for its own properties and commercial partners.
Controversies
2026
Nexstar reaches agreement with FCC over violations
Nexstar Media Group reached an agreement with the FCC to settle several violations involving children's programming advertising, political advertising files, and station modification filings. Under the agreement, Nexstar will pay $80,500 and adopt compliance measures.
2021
Nexstar sues Comcast over WPIX retransmission fees
Nexstar filed a lawsuit against Comcast, alleging that Comcast breached their retransmission consent agreement by refusing to pay fees for WPIX, and seeking damages.
Marketing campaigns
- 2019Border Report
United States · Mexico border region
Nexstar launched Border Report as a digital news initiative focused on stories and issues affecting the Mexico–United States border. The project used Nexstar's local-news infrastructure to develop a topic-focused national and regional reporting service.
Outcome. Active digital news initiative at launch; later operating status is not specified in the supplied sources.
Brand decisions
2022
Acquire controlling interest in The CWM&ABackground
Nexstar sought to add a national broadcast network and a platform for distributing entertainment, sports, and acquired programming.
Action taken
Nexstar acquired majority control of The CW and assumed responsibility for operating the network.
Aftermath
The CW became a core national network asset within Nexstar's broader local-station and digital distribution strategy.
2021
Launch NewsNationProduct launchBackground
After acquiring Tribune Media and WGN America, Nexstar sought to create a national news service that could use the company's local journalism infrastructure.
Action taken
Nexstar rebranded WGN America as NewsNation and expanded its national news programming.
Aftermath
NewsNation became a central national-media component of Nexstar's portfolio alongside its local stations and The CW.
2019
Acquire Tribune MediaM&ABackground
Nexstar pursued Tribune Media to add major-market television stations and national media assets to its rapidly expanding local broadcast group.
Action taken
Nexstar completed the acquisition after regulatory review and sold selected stations and assets to address ownership restrictions and market overlaps.
Aftermath
Nexstar became the largest U.S. television station owner by station count and gained control of WGN America, later renamed NewsNation.
Transaction value. Approximately $6.4 billion including assumed debt (Announced 2018; completed September 2019)
2016
Acquire Media GeneralM&ABackground
Nexstar sought to expand its local television footprint and create operating scale. Media General was itself involved in a proposed transaction with Meredith before accepting Nexstar's offer.
Action taken
Nexstar agreed to acquire Media General for approximately $4.6 billion plus assumed debt and completed the transaction in 2017 after required divestitures.
Aftermath
The combined company became one of the largest U.S. television station groups, with increased national household reach and a larger network-affiliate portfolio.
Transaction value. Approximately $4.6 billion plus approximately $2.3 billion of assumed debt (Announced January 2016; completed January 2017)
2011
Contest Fox's retransmission-compensation termsStrategyBackground
Fox sought a larger share of retransmission-consent revenue generated by its affiliated local stations. Nexstar and Fox disagreed over the economics and affiliation-renewal terms.
Action taken
Nexstar allowed several Fox affiliations to move, shifted WFXW in Terre Haute to ABC, and continued negotiations and litigation concerning other markets.
Aftermath
The dispute produced affiliation changes in multiple markets and highlighted the importance of retransmission revenue to station groups.
- Fox — Fox moved affiliations in several markets and pursued a greater share of retransmission economics.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Nexstar reaches agreement with FCC over violations[8]
Reported:
Nexstar reached an agreement with the FCC to settle several violations involving children’s programming advertising, political advertising files, and station modification filings. The agreement will cost Nexstar $80,500 and includes compliance measures.
Nexstar sues Comcast over WPIX retransmission fees[9]
Reported:
Nexstar filed a lawsuit against Comcast, alleging that Comcast breached their retransmission consent agreement by refusing to pay fees for WPIX, and seeking damages.
Tribune Publishing closes sale of its majority stake in BestReviews[10]
Reported:
Tribune Publishing announced that it had closed the sale of its majority stake in BestReviews to Nexstar Media Group. BestReviews LLC was 60% owned by Tribune and 40% by its founders.
VENN and Nexstar secure local television partnership[11]
Reported:
Nexstar Media Group secured content and sales category exclusivity for local television broadcasting with VENN as part of the funding announcement.
Comscore launches QuickScore local TV ratings service[12]
Reported:
Comscore began providing local television clients with ratings data within 48 hours or less of a broadcast through its new QuickScore product. Nexstar Media Group helped develop the product and was among its first clients.
Fox Corporation completes acquisition of Seattle-area stations[13]
Reported:
Fox Corporation completed its acquisition of Q13 FOX and JOEtv from Nexstar Media Group; Nexstar also sold WITI in Milwaukee to FOX as part of the acquisition.
Nexstar reports fourth-quarter earnings[14]
Reported:
Nexstar Media Group reported fourth-quarter net income of $113.2 million, down 26% from a year earlier, while net revenue rose 37.9% to $1.1 billion.
Nexstar prices additional senior notes offering[15]
Reported:
Nexstar Media Group announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Nexstar Broadcasting, priced an additional $665 million offering of 5.625% senior notes due 2027 at 104.875%. The sale was expected to be completed on or about November 22, 2019, subject to customary closing conditions.
Sources15 sources
- 1Nexstar Media Groupen.wikipedia.org
- 2Nexstar Media Group leadershipnexstar.tv
- 3Nexstar completes acquisition of Media Generalnexstar.tv
- 4Nexstar completes acquisition of Tribune Media Companynexstar.tv
- 5Nexstar completes acquisition of majority stake in The CWnexstar.tv
- 6NewsNation about pagenewsnationnow.com
- 7Nexstar Media Group SEC filingssec.gov
- 8Nexstar reaches agreement with FCC over violationstvtechnology.com
- 9Nexstar sues Comcast over WPIX retransmission feestvtechnology.com
- 10Tribune Publishing完成出售其持有的BestReviews多数股权finance.yahoo.com
- 11VENN与Nexstar达成地方电视合作gamesindustry.biz
- 12Comscore推出QuickScore本地电视收视率服务nexttv.com
- 13Fox Corporation完成对西雅图地区电视台的收购fox13seattle.com
- 14Nexstar公布第四季度业绩nexttv.com
- 15Nexstar为额外发行的高级票据定价benzinga.com
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