Why It Matters

Senate Hearing on Media Ownership in the Digital Age

February 10, 2026 | Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee

The Senate Commerce Committee hearing on media ownership on Feb 10 will determine whether broadcast stations can consolidate to survive digital disruption, or whether consolidation further erodes local journalism and viewpoint diversity.

Who’s affected:

Streaming services now command 46 percent of television viewing while broadcast captures just 18.5 percent. Broadcasters argue consolidation is "now an emergency for TV broadcasting" to compete with unregulated tech giants. Yet Democrats worry consolidation enables political capture, citing the controversial Paramount-Skydance merger where Paramount settled with President Trump for $16 million before FCC approval.

FCC Chairman Carr has eliminated 98 broadcast rules and a federal appeals court vacated the "top-four prohibition" on station ownership. Station owners filed petitions in August 2025 to eliminate the 39 percent national audience reach cap.

Broader Context

The FCC’s July 2025 approval of the Paramount-Skydance merger has raised serious concerns about regulatory independence. Democratic senators called the approval "the worst form of corruption" after the transaction came following Paramount’s Trump lawsuit settlement.

More than 1,000 counties now lack coverage of even one full-time local journalist, reflecting a 75 percent decline since 2002. Meanwhile, a Roosevelt Institute report documents how media deregulation has contributed to extreme consolidation, collapsed local news, and declining public trust.

The Agenda

The committee will examine consolidation’s effects on competition, viewpoint diversity, and consumer choice. The chair is Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and the ranking member is Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA)

Witnesses and Their Backgrounds

Ranking Member Cantwell has formally called on FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to testify regarding recent merger approvals. Major stakeholders include Sinclair Broadcast Group, the National Association of Broadcasters, and DirecTV.

Between The Lines

Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) has emerged as the leading Democratic critic, arguing that unchecked consolidation threatens diverse voices and local journalism. She has demanded FCC Chairman Brendan Carr testify.

Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) leads Republican calls for regulatory modernization, arguing current rules are "outdated" and harm broadcasters competing against streaming giants.

Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) have condemned the Paramount merger approval, with Markey calling the Trump settlement "a blow to journalistic independence."

The partisan divide is stark: Republicans push deregulation to aid struggling broadcasters, while Democrats fear consolidation will silence diverse voices and enable political capture.

Competitive Landscape

Major media corporations have mounted sustained lobbying efforts throughout 2025. Sinclair Broadcast Group consistently lobbied on "media ownership and ownership caps," while Fox Corp. covered "media ownership issues" and "antitrust enforcement."

DirecTV pursued extensive advocacy on "retransmission consent reform," reflecting concerns that consolidated broadcasters demand higher fees from video providers—costs typically passed to consumers.

The Bottom Line

The February 10 hearing reflects a fundamental clash between industry survival and democratic accountability. Broadcasters argue ownership caps are obsolete in a streaming-dominated market, while Democrats contend that the controversial Paramount merger—approved after the company settled Trump’s lawsuit for $16 million—demonstrates dangerous regulatory capture. The outcome could reshape how the FCC balances industry competitiveness against public interest protections.

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