The concern is not abstract. Nexstar already owns FOX 5 San Diego (KSWB) and KUSI-TV. Tegna owns CBS 8 (KFMB-TV). The CW affiliate in San Diego is not a standalone station but operates as a secondary digital subchannel of KFMB-TV, branded as CW San Diego on Channel 8.2. If Nexstar’s Tegna acquisition closes without major divestitures, one Texas-based corporation would effectively control FOX 5, KUSI, CBS 8, and CW San Diego, three primary newsroom brands and four major broadcast signals in one of the largest cities in the United States.
That possibility lands at the same moment Nexstar is trimming staff in other cities. This week, veteran reporters and anchors at stations including WGN-TV in Chicago and KTLA in Los Angeles were laid off. SAG-AFTRA, the union representing many broadcast journalists, publicly condemned the cuts, stating that newsroom reductions erode the resources communities rely on for trusted local reporting. Nexstar declined to comment on specific personnel matters, saying only that the company is taking steps necessary to compete in a period of unprecedented industry change.
To understand why this matters in San Diego, it helps to understand Nexstar’s scale. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Nexstar is already the largest owner of local television stations in the country, operating 201 stations in 116 markets and reaching roughly 70 percent of U.S. households. The proposed Tegna deal would expand that footprint to 265 stations across 44 states and the District of Columbia, representing approximately 80 percent of American TV households.
That number is significant because it exceeds the long-standing 39 percent national ownership cap that has governed broadcast consolidation since the 1990s. Nexstar CEO Perry Sook has argued that the cap is outdated in an era dominated by streaming platforms and digital distribution. Former President Donald Trump publicly endorsed the merger earlier this year, urging regulators to approve the deal and framing it as a way to increase competition against national networks. The transaction remains subject to review by the Federal Communications Commission and federal antitrust regulators.
San Diego sits squarely in the middle of this consolidation debate. Nexstar entered the local market through its 2019 acquisition of Tribune Media, which included KSWB-TV. In 2023, the company purchased KUSI-TV for $35 million, creating a powerful duopoly operating out of shared facilities in Kearny Mesa. Tegna acquired CBS 8 in 2018 for $325 million. If Nexstar absorbs Tegna, it would take control of CBS 8 and its CW San Diego subchannel, adding yet another major newsroom brand to its portfolio here.
On paper, ownership does not automatically mean merged newsrooms. There has been no public confirmation of staffing cuts at San Diego stations tied to the merger, and no official announcement that editorial operations would be consolidated locally. But media analysts and journalism veterans note that consolidation often brings “synergies” — a corporate term that can include shared anchors, centralized digital production, combined investigative units, and fewer reporters covering the same city.
Nexstar’s own financial picture adds context. The company recently reported lower overall revenue following a post-election political advertising decline and carries billions in debt, including transaction-related expenses tied to the pending Tegna acquisition. While the company remains profitable on an annual basis, profit margins have tightened, and executives have emphasized cost optimization heading into 2026. In past broadcast mergers nationwide, newsroom staffing has frequently been among the first areas scrutinized for savings.
For San Diego viewers, the stakes extend beyond corporate restructuring. Local television remains a primary source of breaking news, wildfire coverage, public safety alerts, and city hall reporting. During emergencies, broadcast signals often become the most immediate and accessible source of verified information. Fewer reporters or consolidated operations could reduce the number of independent editorial voices deciding what leads the nightly news and how aggressively powerful institutions are scrutinized.
There are also economic implications. Consolidation can strengthen a station owner’s leverage in negotiating retransmission fees with cable and streaming providers, costs that can ultimately be passed on to subscribers. Local businesses purchasing advertising time may find themselves negotiating with a single dominant seller controlling multiple high-visibility broadcast outlets in the same market.
None of this is predetermined. Regulators could require divestitures. Structural safeguards could be imposed. The merger could face additional scrutiny before closing. For now, there are no confirmed layoffs in San Diego tied to the transaction.
But the structural reality is clear. If Nexstar’s acquisition of Tegna proceeds without major conditions, one company would control a commanding share of San Diego’s English-language broadcast news landscape. In a city of nearly 1.4 million people, and a region of more than 3 million, that would represent a profound shift in media power.
SanDiegoVille has reached out to Nexstar for comment regarding potential impacts on San Diego stations and will update this story if a response is received. As federal regulators weigh one of the largest broadcast mergers in modern history, local viewers may soon see whether consolidation remains a boardroom headline or becomes a change on their own screens.
Originally published on February 26, 2026.
