Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The latest media mega merger will have an impact on Western New York, as Nexstar, which owns WIVB and WNLO, has agreed to buy Tegna, which owns WGRZ, for $3.5 billion.
SUNY Fredonia's Mike Igoe, a former Channel 2 reporter, says it's possible Nexstar may not have to spin off one of the three stations.
"Technically speaking, the FCC rules say that you can't own more than two stations in a market. But there's a lot of exceptions to rule, depending upon what the ratings are," said Igoe in an interview with WBEN. "Also, the rule is that, technically speaking, you can't own 39% or more of the country's TV households, and that's percentage of the country, not TV stations. So in theory, they would have to get rid of stations. But I think under the current climate of the FCC, under the Trump administration, I think it's definitely more pro business. Case in point, the recent acquisition of Paramount by Skydance, that deal, probably years ago, would not be approved, but it was approved."
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Igoe feels there's a possibility of the local newsrooms merging.
"We've seen that already in other parts of the country, as shared newscasts are done all the time. It depends on what the network affiliation is, but absolutely staff is shared, resources shared, and also with other stations around the country. If they have news reports they've done, like a feature story or something of interest in any market, those stories will also be shared all around the country," Igoe said.
Former Channel 4 general manager Chris Musial, now at the same post at WBBZ-TV, says this is a big merger.
"It's going to be bigger than big, that's for sure," said Musial with WBEN.
He says there are two sides to this merger.
"One side says it's too much in too few hands in terms of programming decisions and opinions, and then there's the other side that says facing from the online broadband giants Google and others, it's necessary for the health and continued operation of television stations," Musial added.
Musial witnessed Channel 4 being bought by a bigger group each time.
"It creates greater sharing opportunities amongst the stations," he said. "One quick example would be sports. When Channel 4 is playing in Kansas City or Dallas or another market where there's a Nexstar station, they're able to send fewer people on the technical side and take advantage of the sister station relationship, as they call it, and get their transmission for their live shots in their but it also means sometimes that fewer people are retained after a sale."
He adds the employment population at a station goes down because it's all about performing for shareholders, stockholders and the people who invest in these companies.
Igoe says he's received phone calls from former colleagues.
"[They've] worked in some of the areas that are owned by either company over the years, and they've said to me, quite point blank, they're happy they're not working in the media anymore," Igoe added.