*We’re making it easier than ever to take action with us: If we already have your information in our records, you just need to click one of the links or buttons below to instantly sign the petition.* |
Tell the FCC: Reject the Nexstar-Tegna Merger
Friend,
Some huge news broke late last night: Reporting suggests that, after the government shutdown, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr will testify before the Senate Commerce Committee about his role in taking Jimmy Kimmel off the air.
If we’ve learned anything from the temporary censorship of Kimmel, it’s the dangers of handing control of our media to a few corporations.
Even after Disney/ABC agreed to put the late-night comedian back on the schedule, Nexstar and Sinclair refused to air the show on their stations — continuing to cave to FCC pressure to silence the comedian. Days later, Nexstar relented and returned Jimmy Kimmel Live! to the air, but it held out as long as it could: Even the right-wing Sinclair listened to the will of the people before Nexstar did.
You’d be right to wonder why. Here’s a series of true statements that Brendan Carr and Nexstar leadership insist are entirely unrelated (🙄):
- Broadcast-media conglomerates are currently not allowed to own enough local stations to reach more than 39 percent of the national audience.
- Nexstar has its eyes on acquiring Tegna, another big broadcaster, and expanding its reach to 81 percent of the national audience. This would give the company more money and more influence over the public.
- 81 is bigger than 39.
- The FCC has signaled that it could intervene to raise the broadcast-ownership cap and greenlight the Nexstar/Tegna merger. Nexstar needs to keep Brendan Carr happy for this to happen.
- Brendan Carr is an eager-to-please Trump lackey who will do anything to make the president happy.
- Jimmy Kimmel makes Trump unhappy.
- Brendan Carr went on a right-wing podcast and signalled to broadcasters that he wanted Kimmel off the air, adding that they could do this “the easy way or the hard way.”
- Nexstar took Kimmel off the air shortly thereafter.
- Brendan Carr tweeted out a few GIFs bragging about this censorship (weird).
- Trump loudly praised Nexstar, Sinclair and Disney/ABC for suspending Kimmel.
How interesting. All coincidence, or so they’d have you believe. But I know you’re not falling for it.
We all saw the coercion and censorship with our own eyes, but your pressure made Nexstar and Sinclair back down. They’re still pushing for deals that will let them get bigger and swallow up more stations. And don’t let them rewrite the history of what happened either.
We’re submitting comments to the FCC opposing this massive media-consolidation scheme — add your name if you’re with us. *One click on the link or button will instantly add your name to our petition if we have your details on file.*
To the Federal Communications Commission:
Media consolidation often leads to newsroom layoffs, which in turn lead to less local news and information, worse coverage, and less viewpoint and ownership diversity. Deals like these harm the public interest, despite what the broadcasters claim.
You must uphold the FCC’s mandate to promote diversity, localism and competition in broadcasting. Do not approve the disastrous and unlawful Nexstar-Tegna merger.
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Brendan Carr’s FCC is trying to rewrite the rules so that a Trump-friendly broadcasting empire can enrich itself by peddling the president’s propaganda.
Keep the pressure going. Oppose the Nexstar-Tegna merger.
Heather and the rest of us at Free Press
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