Broadcasting industry faces an urgent crisis due to ownership restrictions, according to NAB.
Broadcasters Urge FCC to Lift TV Ownership Cap
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to eliminate the 39% national cap on broadcast TV ownership, arguing that the outdated rule is harming broadcasters' ability to compete in the digital media era.
In a filing made in response to the regulator's request for public comments on current ownership rules, the NAB contends that the national ownership cap imposed on broadcast TV does not promote the public interest but hurts it. The association argues that the rule, established decades ago and unchanged since 2004, unfairly restricts broadcast TV while other video and advertising platforms face no such limits.
The NAB's filing includes scores of research studies and more than 20 articles from TV Tech, a professional video industry news source. The association argues that the revolution brought about by the internet and digital technologies has significantly altered the media and advertising landscape. In this new landscape, television station owners are unable to compete with streaming and tech platforms due to the national ownership cap and the consolidation of pay TV/broadband providers.
The NAB claims that the need for TV broadcasters to gain scale has become an emergency due to the dominance of streaming platforms and digital advertising platforms. The association argues that the record shows that the fall in real (inflation-adjusted) advertising revenues for television stations from 2000-2024 is detrimental to broadcasters.
The debate over the national ownership cap is ongoing, with major broadcasters supporting cap elimination and some stakeholders warning about potential harms from increased consolidation. The FCC has not made a final decision but is actively considering the comments and the rulemaking on the national ownership cap as part of its agenda to modernize broadcast regulation.
Meanwhile, pay-TV providers and public interest groups have expressed concerns about media diversity and local journalism. The NAB, however, argues that outdated ownership caps are hurting broadcasters and that the FCC has the statutory authority to revise or eliminate this cap.
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[1] NAB Filing on TV Ownership Cap (August 4, 2025) - Available online [2] NAB Urges FCC to Eliminate National Cap on Broadcast Station Ownership (August 4, 2025) - Available online [3] FCC Considers Eliminating National Cap on Broadcast TV Ownership (August 4, 2025) - Available online [4] FCC Opens Public Comment Period on Current Ownership Rules (July 20, 2025) - Available online [5] Opposition to Eliminating National Cap on Broadcast TV Ownership (August 10, 2025) - Available online
- The NAB has requested the FCC to abolish the 39% national cap on broadcast TV ownership, claiming it hinders broadcasters' competition in the digital media era.
- The FCC is currently reviewing public comments on current ownership rules, including the NAB's filing that includes research studies and articles from TV Tech, a professional video industry news source.
- The NAB argues that the revolution in internet and digital technologies has changed the media and advertising landscape, making it difficult for television station owners to compete with streaming and tech platforms.
- The association contends that the national ownership cap and pay TV/broadband provider consolidation are major hurdles for television broadcasters, particularly in the face of streaming platforms' dominance.
- Some stakeholders have expressed concerns about media diversity and local journalism regarding the potential elimination of the national cap on broadcast TV ownership.
- TV Tech Newsletter is available for those interested in staying updated on the latest news, trends, and product and tech information in the video industry.
- The ongoing debate over the national ownership cap includes major broadcasters supporting cap elimination, while the FCC considers the comments and rulemaking as part of its broadcast regulation modernization agenda.
