Nexstar ownership
On September 16, 2013, Citadel Communications announced the sale of WHBF-TV, WOI-DT in Des Moines, and KCAU-TV in Sioux City to the Irving, Texas–based Nexstar Broadcasting Group for $88 million. Nexstar assumed control of the stations immediately via a time brokerage agreement.[6] The sale followed Citadel founder Phil Lombardo's decision to reduce his involvement and Lynch Entertainment's desire to divest its stakes in WHBF-TV and WOI.[7]
Six weeks later, on November 6, Nexstar announced its acquisition of Grant Broadcasting's stations—including Fox affiliate KLJB (channel 18) and CW affiliate KGCW (channel 26)—for $87.5 million. Nexstar directly purchased KGCW, as FCC regulations permitted duopolies in the Davenport–Moline–Rock Island market due to its eight independent full-power station owners. However, to comply with prohibitions on owning multiple top-four-rated stations, Nexstar transferred KLJB to Pluria Marshall Jr.'s minority-owned Marshall Broadcasting Group while maintaining operational control through a shared services agreement (SSA). This created a virtual triopoly with WHBF and KGCW.[8] The WHBF-TV sale closed on March 13, 2014.[9]
On January 27, 2016, Nexstar agreed to purchase Media General—owner of NBC affiliate KWQC-TV since 2013—for $4.6 billion. The deal required Nexstar to divest either WHBF-TV (and its SSA with KLJB) or KWQC to comply with FCC "top-four" duopoly rules. KGCW could remain under Nexstar's ownership, as it fell outside the market's top-four ratings threshold.[10][11][12][13][14]
On June 3, 2016, Nexstar opted to retain WHBF-TV and Green Bay CBS affiliate WFRV-TV, while Media General sold KWQC and ABC affiliate WBAY-TV to Gray Television for $270 million.[15][16] The FCC approved the transaction on January 11, 2017, finalizing the sale on January 17. Nexstar subsequently rebranded as Nexstar Media Group, incorporating its retained stations and former Media General properties.[17][18][19][20]
On December 3, 2018, Nexstar announced its acquisition of Tribune Media—owner of ABC affiliate WQAD-TV since 2013—for $6.4 billion. FCC rules barred Nexstar from owning WQAD alongside WHBF-TV and KLJB, as the Quad Cities market prohibits ownership of more than two stations or multiple top-four-rated outlets. To resolve the conflict, Nexstar was required to sell either WQAD or both WHBF-TV and KLJB. KGCW could remain with Nexstar or be sold separately, as it did not rank among the market's top-four stations.[21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]
On March 20, 2019, Nexstar confirmed it would retain WHBF-TV, KGCW, and its KLJB SSA, while selling WQAD to Tegna Inc. for $1.32 billion as part of a broader divestiture of 19 stations to Tegna and E. W. Scripps Company. The sale marked Tegna's first Iowa television property and its return to Illinois since selling Rockford's WREX in 1969.[31][32] The FCC approved the transaction on September 16, 2019, and it concluded on September 19.
In August 2025, Nexstar agreed to acquire Tegna for $6.2 billion.[33] The deal was completed on March 19, 2026, and included approval for Nexstar to own three full-power station licenses in markets such as the Quad Cities.[34]
