COMMENTARY
Hard Lessons From the Marshall-Nexstar Suit
The case represents a tragic failure of FCC policy. The FCC is supposed to increase pluralism and diversity among broadcast license holders. Instead, it looks to have acted to advance the political views of then-Chairman Tom Wheeler.
A black-owned TV company sued Nexstar Media Group on Wednesday, accusing the company of sabotaging its efforts to operate independently. Marshall Broadcasting Group owns three Fox affiliates in Odessa, Texas; Shreveport, La.; and Davenport, Iowa. The company, owned by Pluria Marshall Jr., bought the stations from Nexstar in 2014, as Nexstar was looking to divest in order to win FCC approval for a series of acquisitions.
