What is the impact of a TV station owning two of the top four ranked stations in a market?

When a TV station owns two of the top four ranked stations in a market, it is considered a duopoly, which is generally not allowed under the regulations set forth by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC has rules in place to prevent any single entity from holding too much control over the market, as this can limit competition and diversity of viewpoints.

Ownership of multiple top-ranked stations can lead to reduced competition, which can adversely affect programming options for viewers and influence the information landscape within the market. As such, regulatory bodies aim to maintain a competitive environment that allows for a variety of viewpoints and programming.

In some cases, such ownership may be permitted in smaller markets where fewer stations exist, but the general principle remains that owning two of the top four stations in a larger market would typically violate established ownership rules aimed at promoting diversity and competition in broadcasting.