Media News Daily: Top Stories for 03/30/2026

FCC Approves Partial Sale of Allen Media Stations to Gray Media

The Federal Communications Commission has approved the transfer of three television station licenses from Allen Media Group to Gray Media, part of a broader deal involving 10 stations announced in 2025. The approved stations include WTVA (Mississippi), WTHI (Indiana), and WLFI (Indiana), while the remaining transfers are still pending. Allen Media is divesting stations to address debt obligations after investing heavily in local TV. Meanwhile, Gray Media is also engaged in a carriage dispute with Dish Network, which has led to the removal of its stations from Dish’s platform amid disagreements over retransmission fees. Read More (The Desk Rating)

FCC Chairman Warns Broadcasters Over “Public Interest” Obligations

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr warned that broadcasters could risk losing their licenses if they fail to meet “public interest” standards, aligning with broader efforts tied to Donald Trump’s criticism of legacy media. Carr suggested stricter enforcement of rules like equal airtime for political candidates and raised concerns about alleged “news distortion.” His remarks come amid controversy over the FCC’s approval of the $6.2 billion Nexstar-Tegna merger, which critics argue could increase media consolidation and reduce viewpoint diversity. The policy stance has drawn bipartisan concern, with some Republicans warning it could backfire politically. Read More (Washington Examiner Rating)

Print Circulation Plunge Continues Across Major U.S. Newspapers

A new report from Press Gazette and the Alliance for Audited Media shows that 24 of the top 25 U.S. newspapers experienced declining print circulation, with an average drop of 12.5%. The Washington Post saw the steepest decline at 21.2%, followed by the Los Angeles Times at 19.8%. Even leading outlets like The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times reported notable declines. The only publication to see growth was Florida’s Villages Daily Sun. The trend reflects the industry’s continued shift toward digital platforms, with many publishers prioritizing online revenue despite shrinking print readership. Read More (Mediapost Rating)