# Nexstar Q3 Revenue Nearly Doubles Due To Political Ad Boom; Execs Talk Tegna Appeal, CW Profit Outlook

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/nexstar-q3-revenue-nearly-doubles-due-to-political-ad-boom-execs-talk-tegna-appeal-cw-profit-outlook/
- Published: 2026-11-05T17:33:33+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-05T19:12:52+00:00
- Original publisher: Deadline
- Original article: https://deadline.com/2026/11/nexstar-q3-2026-earnings-revenue-political-ad-boom-tegna-appeal-cw-1237214369/
- Topics: Business, Companies, Elections, Politics

## Key points

- Nexstar revenue reached $2.1 billion in the third quarter.
- Political ads generated a record $1.1 billion in 2026.
- The CW expects its first quarterly profit in the fourth quarter.

## Summary

Nexstar’s third-quarter revenue rose by three-quarters, from $1.2 billion to $2.1 billion, as political advertising surged. The record haul highlights the importance of election spending to local television, while the company also faces uncertainty over its blocked Tegna merger and the future profitability of The CW.

Political advertising brought in $1.1 billion during 2026, 31% more than in the 2022 midterm cycle; the figure includes Tegna’s results, though a court order has prevented Nexstar from integrating the business. An appeals court is due to hear the merger case on 17 November, with a decision expected in early 2027. The CW, whose ratings rose 9% in the quarter, drew nearly 2 million viewers for a college football game and is still forecast to make its first quarterly profit in the fourth quarter, but executives said full-year profitability in 2027 is uncertain.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.