US removes 39% cap on local television station ownership
The United States ended a rule limiting local television station owners to 39% national reach, prompting renewed concerns about media consolidation.
In short
- The United States ended a rule limiting local television station owners to 39% national reach, prompting renewed concerns about media consolidation.
The United States has ended the 39% national audience-reach cap applied to owners of local television stations, Al Jazeera reported on August 6, 2026.
Critics of the change said the limit had served as a safeguard against excessive concentration in American media ownership. Removing it could allow station groups to expand their national footprint through additional acquisitions.
The available source record did not specify the implementation date, the legal mechanism used to remove the cap or any pending transactions that may rely on the change. Those details require further official confirmation.
