Nexstar is a large American media company best known as the biggest owner of local TV stations in the United States and the parent of several TV networks and digital properties.

Quick Scoop: Who is Nexstar?

  • Nexstar Media Group, Inc. is a publicly traded U.S. media company (ticker: NXST) headquartered in Irving, Texas, with additional offices in Midtown Manhattan and Chicago.
  • It was founded in 1996 by Perry A. Sook, who has been a central figure in its growth from a single station into a national media group.
  • Nexstar owns the largest group of local television stations in the U.S., with around 200 owned or partner stations in roughly 116 markets, reaching close to 70% of U.S. TV households.
  • The company produces and distributes local and national news, sports, and entertainment content across TV, websites, and mobile apps, totaling more than 300,000 hours of programming per year.
  • Nexstar is also a major digital player, operating over 100 local websites and more than 200 local mobile apps tied to its stations and brands.

What does Nexstar own and run?

  • Local TV stations: Nexstar owns or operates nearly 200 full‑power TV stations, most affiliated with major U.S. networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and MyNetworkTV) across large and small markets.
  • Networks and channels:
    • Majority owner and operator of The CW television network and The CW Plus.
* Owns classic‑TV diginets Antenna TV and Rewind TV.

* Controls the cable news network NewsNation.

* Has involvement in a free ad‑supported sports channel (SportsGrid).
  • Radio: Nexstar owns at least one notable radio station, WGN in Chicago.
  • Digital: The company operates a large portfolio of station websites and mobile apps to deliver local news, weather, and sports, plus advertising solutions for businesses.

Snapshot table

[1][7] [5][7] [3][5][7] [3][7] [1][5][3][7] [7] [5][3] [1][5][3]
Aspect Details
Company name Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
Founded 1996 by Perry A. Sook in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Headquarters Irving, Texas, with offices in New York City and Chicago.
Business type Publicly traded media company (local TV, networks, digital).
TV footprint ~200 TV stations in ~116 markets, reaching about 70% of U.S. TV households.
Key brands The CW, NewsNation, Antenna TV, Rewind TV, WGN, SportsGrid (stake/control).
Employees Roughly 11,000–13,000 employees across the U.S., depending on the year referenced.
Focus Local news, weather, sports, and entertainment plus advertising and digital media services.

Why is Nexstar often discussed?

  • Local influence: Because its stations dominate many local markets, Nexstar plays a big role in shaping local news agendas and political coverage in those areas.
  • Network ownership: Its majority stake in The CW and control of NewsNation give it national‑level influence beyond local stations.
  • Acquisitions and growth: Deals like acquiring Media General (2016) and Tribune Media (2019) turned Nexstar into the largest local TV owner in the country, which frequently appears in business and media‑industry news.
  • Political and editorial perception: Analysts and observers have at times described Nexstar’s overall tilt as somewhat conservative, though generally less so than some competitors, which can spark debate on forums and social media.

“Latest news” and forum chatter

  • In recent years, online discussions about Nexstar often focus on:
    • Carriage disputes with cable or satellite providers that lead to temporary channel blackouts for viewers.
    • Changes to The CW and NewsNation lineups, strategy, or political positioning.
    • Concerns about media consolidation and what it means for local journalism quality and diversity of viewpoints.
  • Industry interviews with Nexstar leadership emphasize commitments to local service, fact‑checked reporting, and adapting to digital platforms (mobile apps, streaming, alerts for weather and breaking news).

In forum and social discussions, “who is Nexstar?” usually comes up when someone suddenly loses a local channel, notices changes in CW or NewsNation programming, or is digging into who owns their “local” station.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.