Fact check: How many television stations does Nexstar Media own in total?

1. Summary of the results

The total number of television stations owned by Nexstar Media is a subject of varying reports across different sources. According to ^[1], Nexstar owns more than 200 stations in 116 U.S. markets ^[1]. Additionally, ^[1] mentions that Nexstar owns America’s largest local television broadcasting group ^[1]. However, ^[2] provides a more specific figure, stating that once the transaction with Tegna closes, Nexstar will have 265 full-power television stations in 44 states and the District of Columbia, covering about 80% of U.S. TV households ^[2]. On the other hand, ^[3] and ^[4] report that Nexstar currently owns 197 television stations nationwide ^{[3] [4]}, with ^[3] adding that these stations serve 39% of U.S. households ^[3]. It's also worth noting that ^[5] mentions the Nexstar stations directory, which lists individual stations by market but does not provide an overall total ^[5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

A key piece of missing context is the distinction between the current number of stations owned by Nexstar and the projected number after the acquisition of Tegna. ^[2] provides insight into the post-acquisition total, which will be 265 stations ^[2], while ^[3] and ^[4] offer the pre-acquisition count of 197 stations ^{[3] [4]}. Another alternative viewpoint comes from ^[1], which highlights Nexstar's position as the largest local television broadcasting group without providing a specific number of stations ^[1]. The sources also vary in their description of the markets and households covered by Nexstar's stations, with ^[2] stating 80% of U.S. TV households ^[2] and ^[3] stating 39% ^[3].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement asks for the total number of television stations owned by Nexstar Media without specifying whether it's referring to the current number or the number after the Tegna acquisition. This lack of clarity could lead to misinformation, as the answer depends on the timeframe considered. ^[2] benefits from this framing by highlighting the significant expansion of Nexstar's holdings after the acquisition ^[2], while ^[3] and ^[4] provide a more conservative estimate based on the current number of stations ^{[3] [4]}. The bias in the original statement may stem from not accounting for the pending acquisition and its impact on Nexstar's total station count, potentially leading to an underestimation or overestimation of the company's reach ^{[1] [2]}.