Media News Daily: Top Stories for 11/20/2025

Sinclair Eyes E.W. Scripps Takeover with $15.6M Stake Purchase

Sinclair Broadcasting has purchased an 8% stake in E.W. Scripps, valued at $15.6 million, in what appears to be a strategic move toward a full takeover. The purchase coincides with anticipated changes to FCC ownership caps, which currently limit how many stations a single company can own. While Sinclair has been in discussions with Scripps for months, Scripps’ board signaled resistance, emphasizing it would protect shareholder interests. Both companies have struggled with declining advertising revenues and are counting on FCC deregulation to enable expansion ahead of the 2026 election and major sports programming. Read More (Poynter Rating)

NPR Secures Funding Amid Legal Challenge to Trump’s Public Broadcasting Ban

NPR reached a temporary settlement allowing it to access federal funds while it continues a lawsuit against the Trump administration’s executive order that cut public broadcasting support. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting agreed not to enforce the order unless required by court ruling, permitting NPR to sustain operations while litigation proceeds. The suit, backed by three Colorado stations, argues the funding ban violates the First Amendment and congressional authority, and oral arguments are scheduled for December. Meanwhile, the House has voted to reduce CPB’s budget by $9.4 billion, escalating the stakes. Read More (Scripps News Rating)

Meta Defeats FTC in Landmark Antitrust Case Over Instagram, WhatsApp

Meta has won a significant legal battle against the Federal Trade Commission, which sought to force divestment of Instagram and WhatsApp, arguing the acquisitions were anticompetitive. A federal judge dismissed the claim, saying the FTC failed to prove Meta stifled competition, especially given the success of rivals like TikTok and YouTube. The case, originally filed in 2020 and revised in 2021, posed a serious threat to Meta’s structure but ultimately failed to show monopoly behavior under current antitrust law. The ruling allows Meta to continue operating without forced divestitures. Read More (Social Media Today Rating)