Nexstar agrees to FCC settlement in KidVid investigation
Details
Michelle Clancy
| 07 September 2019

An investigation into whether two local Nexstar TV stations in the US violated FCC requirements has resulted in a $109,076 fine for the broadcaster.

The FCC was investigating whether KARK-TV Little Rock (Ark) and KFDX-TV Wichita (Kan) had filed the requisite quarterly reports to meet KidVid requirements. Its regulations require stations to file quarterly reports on their efforts "to serve the educational and informational needs of children."

The FCC concluded that Nexstar had indeed failed to follow the commission's processing guidelines.

The investigation came in the context of Nexstar seeking licence renewal for the two stations from the US regulator. The FCC found that, given the monetary settlement, and a pledge be Nexstar to adopt a compliance plan going forward, the stations could renew their licences.

“There are no substantial or material questions of fact as to Nexstar’s qualifications to remain a Commission licensee,” the FCC said in its order.

The news comes just after AT&T and Nexstar said they reached a multi-year retransmission consent agreement for the latter’s 120 TV stations in 97 US markets. The deal ended a blackout that began in July.