Nexstar CEO Says FCC Can’t “Unilaterally” Revoke Broadcast Licenses Despite Donald Trump Threats

deadline.com:

News Nation and CW parent Nexstar itself hasn’t drawn the ire of the incoming president, but its CEO Perry Sook says Donald Trump’s threats against big broadcasters, that the FCC could pull their licenses, is not really in the cards. “I think there is some animus or frustration with some of the networks for some of their content decisions, and things that have happened.

I’d say that’s primarily with the big three,” he said during a Q&A at a UBS Media Conference in NYC. “But I’m old enough to remember when President Nixon threatened to do the same thing and did not have success there — found out that the FCC chairman can’t really, unilaterally … revoke licenses.” “Now, you can use your pulpit to commence hearings and to designate hearings and things like that, make people’s life more expensive and more difficult.

But to unilaterally revoke licenses is not really within cards.” President Trump has in recent months taken issue with, sued and threatened major networks.

Two key flashpoints have been a Trump interview on ABC, and a Kamala Harris interview on CBS‘ 60 Minutes. Separately, Sook sees bright days ahead for Nexstar as the nation’s biggest owner to television stations in an administration that’s declared itself open to deregulation.