FCC Upends Local TV: What Happens When the Ownership Cap Disappears?

The FCC has voted to eliminate the decades-old national TV broadcast ownership cap, opening the door to a new wave of consolidation across local television. But will bigger station groups actually strengthen local journalism—or simply centralize it? In Episode 21 of In the Vicinity, Tim Hanlon sits down with TVND founder and former news executive Kirk Varner to unpack one of the most consequential moments in modern broadcasting. Together, they explore what the FCC's decision could mean for newsroom investment, local ownership, editorial independence, and the future of trusted local news.