 | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Broadcasting arm of theGannett Company |
| Founded | June 29, 2015; 10 years ago (2015-06-29) |
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
Key people | |
| Products |
|
| Revenue |  US$3.10 billion (2024) |
| US$785 million (2024) | |
| US$599 million (2024) | |
| Total assets | US$7.33 billion (2024) |
| Total equity | US$3.00 billion (2024) |
Number of employees | 5,900 (2024) |
| Subsidiaries | King Broadcasting Company |
| Website | tegna |
| Footnotes / references [2][3] | |
Tegna Inc. (stylized inall caps asTEGNA) is an American publicly traded broadcast, digital media and marketing services company headquartered inTysons, Virginia.[4][5] It was created on June 29, 2015, when theGannett Company split into two publicly traded companies. Tegna comprised the more profitablebroadcast television and digital media divisions of the old Gannett, while Gannett's publishing interests were spun off as a "new" company which retained the Gannett name. Tegna owns or operates 68 television stations in 54 markets, and holds properties in digital media.
In terms of audience reach, Tegna is the largest group owner ofNBC-affiliated stations, ahead ofHearst Television andSinclair Broadcast Group. Tegna is the fourth-largest group owner ofABC affiliates, behind Hearst, theE. W. Scripps Company, and Sinclair. Tegna also owns twodigital multicast networks (True Crime Network andQuest).
In June 2015, Gannett spun off its broadcasting division. Robert Dickey–who led Gannett's newspaper group–continued to be the CEO of the company as a sole newspaper publisher, leaving the former broadcasting and digital operations under the leadership ofGracia Martore. In a statement, Martore explained that the split plans were "significant next steps in our ongoing initiatives to increase shareholder value by building scale, increasing cash flow, sharpening management focus, and strengthening all of our businesses to compete effectively in today's increasingly digital landscape". Additionally, the company announced that it would buy out the remainder ofClassified Ventures (a joint venture between Tegna and several other media companies) for $1.8 billion, giving it full ownership of properties includingCars.com.[6][7]
As part of the separation, the company announced that the broadcasting and digital company would be named Tegna—a partialanagram of "Gannett".[8] The spin-out was structured so that "old" Gannett changed its name to Tegna, Inc., then spun off its newspaper holdings into a "new" company, Gannett. The split was completed on June 29, 2015. Tegna retained "old" Gannett's stock price history, although it trades under a new ticker symbol, TGNA. The "new" Gannett inherited old Gannett's longtime ticker symbol, GCI.[9] The two companies, however, continued to share a headquarters complex.
Tegna also retained G/O Digital, a digital marketing services brand which it launched in August 2013, and the 20 broadcast stations it acquired fromBelo Corporation in December 2013 and the six stations it acquired fromLondon Broadcasting Company in July 2014.[5][10][11] In September 2016, Tegna announced plans to spin off Cars.com to create two independent publicly traded companies. Tegna shareholders approved an initial public offering of Cars.com as a publicly traded spin-off in May 2017.[12][13] Shortly after, Tegna completed the spin-off of Cars.com, which trades under a new ticker symbol, CARS.[14] After the completion of the spin-off, Dave Lougee, president of Tegna Media, was named president and CEO of Tegna and joined the company's board of directors. Gracia Martore, president and CEO of Tegna, retired and stepped down from the board.[15]
Prior to the company's completion of the spin-off of Cars.com, it was reported by DealReporter thatNexstar Media Group may be considering a bid to acquire Tegna.[16] In June 2017, Tegna announced it had entered into a definitive agreement, together with the other owners ofCareerBuilder, to sell CareerBuilder to an investor group led by investments funds managed by affiliates ofApollo Global Management and the board of theOntario Teachers’ Pension Plan.[17]
Tegna and Cooper Media, parent corporation of theJustice Network, announced on November 7, 2017, a new multicast network,Quest.[18] Tegna, the charter station group, would receive a minority stake in the network, which launched in January 2018.[19] The range of programming on the network would be engineering and science, human achievements, military history, and natural history.[20] On December 18, 2017, Tegna announced it would acquireKFMB-AM-FM-TV inSan Diego, California from Midwest Television, Inc. for $325 million, pending approval from theFederal Communications Commission.[21] The acquisition was completed on February 15, 2018.[22] On August 20, 2018, Tegna agreed to purchase two stations spun off from theGray Television-Raycom Media merger,CBS affiliateWTOL-TV inToledo, Ohio (the sale likely includes rights to an existing shared services agreement withAmerican Spirit Media-owned Fox affiliateWUPW) andNBC affiliateKWES-TV inOdessa, Texas in order to alleviate ownership conflicts involving Gray's ownership of ABC affiliateWTVG in the Toledo market and CBS affiliateKOSA-TV in the Odessa market.[23][24]
In March 2019, Tegna announced its formation of VAULT Studios, its first, in-house digital content studio. The studio's first content would be true crime podcasts, drawing on its station news content.[25] On March 20, 2019, Tegna entered an agreement withNexstar Media Group to acquire eleven stations for $740 million in order to reduce Nexstar's national ownership reach under the federally imposed 39% cap and alleviate ownership conflicts with existing Nexstar properties once it completes a merger withTribune Media. Included are stationsWOI-DT–KCWI-DT inDes Moines, Iowa andWQAD-TV, based inMoline, Illinois but also serving neighboringDavenport, Iowa andPennsylvania (WPMT/Harrisburg andWNEP-TV/Scranton–Wilkes-Barre). Other Nexstar/Tribune stations going to Tegna areWZDX/Huntsville,KFSM-TV/Fort Smith–Fayetteville,WTIC-TV–WCCT-TV/Hartford, andWATN-TV–WLMT/Memphis.[26][27] The FCC approved the sale on September 16.[28]
On May 6, 2019, it was reported that Tegna would acquire the 85% of the Justice Network and Quest from Cooper Media that it did not own already for $77 million to close by the end of the second quarter. Cooper Media's president and general manager Brian Weiss transferred to Tegna and continued managing the two networks.[29] On June 11, 2019, it was reported Tegna Inc. purchased theDispatch Broadcast Group's television and radio assets, subject to regulatory approval, for $535 million. The purchase includes the WBNS television (CBS affiliateWBNS-TV) and radio (WBNS (AM) andWBNS-FM) stations in Columbus, theOhio News Network, and NBC affiliateWTHR television inIndianapolis, Indiana.[30] The sale was approved by the FCC on July 29, 2019,[31] and was completed on August 8.[32] In December 2019, Tegna agreed to sell KFMB-AM-FM to Local Media San Diego for $5 million;[33] the sale was completed on March 17, 2020.[34]
A carriage dispute withDirecTV, beginning at 7 p.m. ET on December 1, 2020, resulted in the removal of at least 60 Tegna stations in 51 markets, covering about 39% of TV homes, from the DirecTV,AT&T U-verse andAT&T TV services.[35][36] The dispute was resolved on December 20, 2020.[37]
A carriage dispute withDish Network, beginning on October 6, 2021, resulted in the removal of at least 64 Tegna stations in 53 markets, covering about nearly 3 million customers.[38] On October 18, Dish Network filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission against Tegna.[39] However, on February 4, 2022, Dish Network reached an agreement with Tegna, resulting in all Tegna owned stations returning.[40] Another carriage dispute with DirecTV in late 2023 resulted in the removal of 66 Tegna stations from the DirecTV, AT&TU-verse, AT&T TV andDirecTV Stream services at 8 p.m. ET on November 30.[41][42] The dispute was resolved on January 13, 2024.[43] In February 2024, TEGNA affirmed the dispute with DirecTV caused it to have less subscribers and overall revenue during 2023.[44] On February 3, 2025, it was reported by multiple outlets that TEGNA eliminated its “Verify” fact-checking team, as well as the jobs of roughly 20 journalists.[45]
In 2020,activist shareholder Soo Kim, owner ofStandard General, began to pursue control over Tegna, citing its "pattern of passivity" on the market.[46] In March 2020, Tegna said that it had turned down two acquisition offers by Gray Television and Apollo Global Management, saying that "these two parties made their proposals shortly before the recent market dislocation due to the COVID-19 pandemic and both subsequently informed Tegna that they were ceasing discussions". In regards to other rumored offers fromByron Allen and religious broadcasterTBN (the latter in partnership withJahm Najafi), the company stated that "the other two parties have not signed confidentiality agreements to enable due diligence and have not delivered any information on financing sources".[47]
Kim began to engage in aproxy fight, with Standard General proposing four nominations to Tegna's board of directors at its next shareholders' meeting in April.[48] Tegna's shareholders chose to re-elect all 12 current board members. Kim accepted the result of the vote, stating that the actions had helped to "[challenge] management's narrative about the Company's performance and seeking greater transparency about Tegna's numbers, acquisition metrics, and engagement with third parties".[49][50][51] In 2021, Standard General once again put forward nominees to Tegna's board of directors, alleging that the company was underperforming and had issues withdiversity, equity, and inclusion; the latter came after a Black nominee put forward by Standard General withdrew, citing a previous incident involving CEO Dave Lougee in 2014.[48][52][53][54] The company stated that Lougee "immediately acknowledged the incident and has stated that he made a mistake, for which he had apologized immediately at the time".[54]
On February 22, 2022, Tegna announced that it had agreed to be taken private by a group led by Standard General and Apollo Global Management for $24 per-share, valuing the company at $5.4 billion. The company would retain the Tegna name and be controlled by an affiliate of Standard General, withStandard Media CEO Deb McDermott (who previously ledYoung Broadcasting andMedia General) becoming CEO. Affiliates of AGM, as well asCox Media Group (which is principally owned by AGM, withCox Enterprises as a minority shareholder) and other investors, would have held non-voting shares in the company. Tegna's digital advertising subsidiary Premion would be held as a standalone business between Standard and CMG. The sale included a clause that would slowly increase the per-share price if the sale takes longer than nine months to close.[46][55][56]
As part of the sale, Standard planned to divestWDKA,WLNE,KBSI, andKLKN to Cox Media Group. Cox would have then sold itsBoston stationWFXT to an affiliate of Standard General, and acquireWFAA/KMPX,KHOU/KTBU, andKVUE from Tegna.[46][55][56] The sale was approved by Standard General and Apollo Global Management on May 17, 2022.[57] On October 6, 2022, Chair of theHouse Energy and Commerce CommitteeFrank Pallone andSpeaker of the HouseNancy Pelosi issued a letter to the FCC expressing concerns for the transaction, arguing that it "would violate the FCC's mandate by restricting access to local news coverage, cutting jobs at local television stations, and raising prices on consumers". They specifically cited statements by Standard General regarding plans for a Washington, D.C. bureau to produce content for local newscasts, and arguing that Tegna's stations had "too many employees".[58] Standard General responded to the letter, denying that they planned to cut jobs or hub content, and promoting that Tegna would become the largest female-run and minority-owned broadcaster in the United States. They also responded to objections byNewsGuild-CWA describing Standard General as "backed by anonymous investors located in the Cayman Islands", stating that the entirety of its board is represented by U.S. interests.[58]
On February 24, 2023, it was confirmed that FCC staff had referred the deal to anadministrative law judge, effectively killing the deal since the hearing process would necessarily run longer than the merger agreement's deadline to close the deal.[59] The deal was terminated on May 22, 2023.[60]
On August 19, 2025, Tegna announced that it had agreed to be acquired byNexstar Media Group, in an agreement that would expand its reach to 80% of television households. Nexstar would purchase the company for $22 per-share, valuing it at $6.2 billion.[61] The completion of the deal would be contingent on shareholder and regulatory approval, including a proposed loosening of ownership caps for broadcast television stations by thesecond Trump administration; the FCC had recently launched a public comment period on changes to the caps, which Nexstar CEOPerry Sook has long opposed. In the markets where this would create a duopoly, Sook stated that Nexstar did not plan to consolidate local station operations such as news departments, comparing it to cities that have multiple newspapers "operating off the same printing press".[62]
On November 18, 2025, Tegna's shareholders have approved the company's merger with Nexstar Media Group. The transaction is expected to close by between July 1, 2026 and December 31, 2026 (median average - October 1, 2026), subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Upon closing, Tegna will become a subsidiary of Nexstar Media Group.[63]
Tegna owns or operates 68 television stations located in 54 markets (including fourteenduopolies); it also owns two radio stations in Columbus, Ohio.[64][22] Twenty-two of the company's stations are affiliated with NBC (including one digital subchannel ofKBMT and twosemi-satellites ofKCEN-TV andWCSH), fifteen are affiliated with CBS, thirteen are affiliated with ABC, and six are affiliated withFox. In addition, the company owns eightCW affiliates (including three digital subchannels ofKFMB-TV,KYTX, andWMAZ-TV), tenMyNetworkTV affiliates (including six digital subchannels of KFMB-TV,KIDY,KTTU-TV,KXVA,WQAD-TV, andWZDX), fourindependent stations (including two digital subchannels ofKTVB and its satellite of KTFT-LD), alow-poweredMeTV affiliate, and aQuestowned-and-operated station. It also provides operational services to another Fox affiliate,WUPW in Toledo, through ashared services agreement with that station's ownerAmerican Spirit Media (agreements that were carried over from WTOL's previous ownership; ASM had acted in a similar capacity with several stations).
Stations are listed alphabetically by state andcity of license.
| AM Station | FM Station |
|---|
| City of license / Market | Station | Owned since | Current format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | WBNS 1460 | 2019[F] | Sports radio |
| WBNS-FM 97.1 | 2019[F] | Sports radio |
In 2015, Tegna Media test-ran a limited-run informative talk show hosted by Dallas-based bishopT. D. Jakes on its owned stations in Dallas, Atlanta, Minneapolis and Cleveland. The show, titledT.D. Jakes, was co-produced byDebmar-Mercury, Tegna Media, 44 Blue Productions, Jakes' own production company (TDJ Enterprises), and EnLight Productions. It ran from August 17, 2016, to September 8, 2017.[66]
On December 9, Tegnagreenlit the series for an entire run for the 2016–2017 broadcast season. The series debuted on September 12 on most, if not all Tegna-owned stations, as well as several large markets, including Baltimore (WMAR-TV), Detroit (WMYD), Orlando (WFTV/WRDQ), Chicago (WCIU-TV), San Antonio (KSAT-TV), and San Diego (KGTV). Debmar-Mercury, however, is not participating in the production run, being replaced by independent company Flow Media Partners.[67]
T.D. Jakes ended in September 2017 and was replaced with news and entertainment showDaily Blast Live, which premiered on September 11, 2017.[68] Other shows Tegna Media has on first-run syndication across most of its stations areSister Circle (also shown on cable networkTV One),[69] and reality competitionSing Like A Star.[70]Sister Circle ended its run in Spring 2020.
In January 2018, Tegna announced a partnership withSony Pictures Television to handle syndication distribution and advertising sales for its original programs.[71]Daily Blast Live concluded its run on September 6, 2024.
Gannett Company spun-off most of its internet media properties to Tegna.[72] When the entire l internet media division was part of the Gannett Company, it managed the websites forUSA Today, as well as Gannett's newspaper and broadcast properties throughout the United States. It owns:
Stations are arranged in alphabetical order by state andcity of license. The list includes stations owned by Tegna, Inc. during its former existence as the Gannett Company subsidiary Gannett Broadcasting, Inc.
| City of license /market | Station | Channel TV (RF) | Years owned | Current status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile, AL–Pensacola, FL | WALA-TV | 10 (9) | 1986[h] | Fox affiliate owned byGray Media |
| Kingman, AZ | KMOH-TV | 6 (19) | 1997–2004 | MeTV affiliate,KMEE-TV, owned byWeigel Broadcasting |
| Phoenix–Mesa, AZ | KTVK | 3 (24) | 2013–2014[C]1, 2 | Independent station owned by Gray Media |
| KASW | 61 (49) | 2013–2014[C]1, 2 | Independent station owned by theE. W. Scripps Company | |
| Tucson, AZ | KOLD-TV | 13 (32) | 1986[h] | CBS affiliate owned by Gray Media |
| Little Rock, AR | KARK-TV | 4 (32) | 1979–1983[B] | NBC affiliate owned byNexstar Media Group |
| Sacramento–Stockton–Modesto, CA | KOVR | 13 (25) | 1958–1959 | CBSowned-and-operated station (O&O) |
| Danville–Champaign–Urbana, IL | WDAN-TV ** | 24 | 1953–1960[i] | ABC affiliate,WICD, owned bySinclair Broadcast Group |
| Rockford, IL | WREX-TV | 13 (13) | 1963–1969 | NBC affiliate owned byAllen Media Broadcasting |
| Fort Wayne, IN | WPTA | 21 (24) | 1979–1983[B] | ABC affiliate owned by Gray Media |
| Louisville, KY | WLKY-TV | 32 (26) | 1979–1983[B] | CBS affiliate owned byHearst Television |
| Cambridge–Boston, MA | WLVI | 56 (41) | 1983–1994 | The CW affiliate owned bySunbeam Television |
| St. Louis, MO | KMOV | 4 (24) | 2013–2014[C]1, 2 | CBS affiliate owned by Gray Media |
| Binghamton, NY | WINR-TV ** | 40 (8) | 1957–1971[j] | Fox affiliate,WICZ-TV, owned byDeltavision Media |
| Rochester, NY | WHEC-TV ** | 10 (10) | 1953–1979[k] | NBC affiliate owned byHubbard Broadcasting |
| Cincinnati, OH | WLWT | 5 (35) | 1995–1997[E][G] | NBC affiliate owned by Hearst Television |
| Oklahoma City, OK | KOCO-TV | 5 (7) | 1979–1997[B][G] | ABC affiliate owned by Hearst Television |
| KTVY | 4 (27) | 1986[h] | NBC affiliate,KFOR-TV, owned by Nexstar Media Group |
These cable networks were owned by Belo prior to acquisition by Gannett/Tegna:
(a partial listing)
 | This list related to film, television, or video isincomplete; you can help byadding missing items.(October 2021) |
| AM Station | FM Station |
|---|
| City of license / Market | Station | Years owned | Current status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | KPRZ/KIIS 1150 | 1979–1997 | KEIB, owned byiHeartMedia |
| KIIS-FM 102.7 | 1979–1997 | Owned by iHeartMedia | |
| San Diego, CA | KSDO 1130 | 1979–1997 | Owned by Hi-Favor Broadcasting |
| KFMB 760 | 2018–2020 | KGB, owned by iHeartMedia | |
| KFMB-FM 100.7 | 2018–2020 | KFBG, owned byLotus Communications | |
| 1979–1997 | KLQV, owned byUnivision Communications | |
| Hartford, CT | WTHT 1230 ** | 1936–1954 | Defunct, went silent in 1954, frequency now used byWNEZ |
| Cocoa–Melbourne, FL | WEZY 1350 | 1966–1970 | WMMV, owned by iHeartMedia |
| WEZY-FM 99.3 | 1966–1970 | WLRQ-FM, owned by iHeartMedia | |
| Tampa–St. Petersburg, FL | WDAE 1250 | 1987–1997 | WHNZ, owned by iHeartMedia |
| WJYW/WUSA-FM 100.7 | 1980–1997 | WMTX, owned by iHeartMedia | |
| Macon, GA | WMAZ 940 | 1995–1996 | WMAC, owned byCumulus Media |
| WMAZ-FM/WAYS 99.1 | 1995–1996 | WDEN-FM, owned by Cumulus Media | |
| Chicago, IL | WVON/WGCI 1390 | 1979–1997 | WGRB, owned by iHeartMedia |
| WGCI-FM 107.5 | 1979–1997 | Owned by iHeartMedia | |
| Detroit, MI | WLQV 1500 | 1979–1986 | Owned bySalem Media Group |
| WCZY-FM 95.5 | 1979–1986 | WKQI, owned by iHeartMedia | |
| Kansas City, MO | KCMO 810 | 1986–1993 | WHB, owned by Union Broadcasting |
| KCMO-FM 94.9 | 1986–1993 | Owned by Cumulus Media | |
| St. Louis, MO | KSD/KUSA 550 | 1979–1993 | KTRS, owned by iHeartMedia |
| KCFM/KSD 93.7 | 1979–1993 | Owned by iHeartMedia | |
| Danville, IL | WDAN 1490 | sold in 1971 | Owned by Neuhoff Communications |
| WDAN-FM 102.1 ** | 1967–1971 | WDNL, owned by Neuhoff Communications | |
| Albany, NY | WABY 1400 | 1934-1982 | WAMC, owned by WAMC, Inc. |
| Binghamton, NY | WINR 680 | 1957–1971 | Owned by iHeartMedia |
| Elmira, NY | WENY 1230 ** | sold in 1969 | WMAJ, owned by Seven Mountains Media |
| WENY-FM 92.7 ** | 1965–1969 | WCBF 96.1, owned by Seven Mountains Media | |
| Olean, NY | WHDL 1450 (minority interest) | 1934-late 1950s | WOLY, owned by Seven Mountains Media |
| WHDL-FM 95.7 ** | 1949–late 1950s | WPIG, owned by Seven Mountains Media | |
| Rochester, NY | WHEC 1460 | 1936–1972 | WHIC, owned byHoly Family Communications |
| Cleveland, OH | WWWE 1100 | 1979–1985 | WTAM, owned by iHeartMedia |
| WDOK 102.1 | 1979–1985 | Owned byAudacy, Inc. | |
| Marietta, OH | WBRJ 910 | 1974–1979 | WLTP, owned by iHeartMedia |
| Wilmington, OH | WKFI 1090 | 1974–early 1980s | Owned by Town and Country Broadcasting |
| Denton–Dallas–Fort Worth, TX | KOAI/KHKS 106.1 | 1986–1997 | Owned by iHeartMedia |
| Houston–Pasadena, TX | KKBQ 790 | 1984–1997 | KBME, owned by iHeartMedia |
| KKBQ-FM 92.9 | 1984–1997 | Owned byCox Media Group | |
| Bremerton–Seattle–Tacoma, WA | KNUA 106.9 | 1986–1990 | KRWM, owned byHubbard Broadcasting |
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