Tegna

What Tegna does

Tegna operates a multi-platform local media and advertising business centered on 64 local television stations across 51 U.S. markets. The company produces and distributes local news, weather, sports, and original programming while monetizing audiences through broadcast advertising, digital advertising on 64 local news websites and mobile apps (78M monthly users), connected TV/OTT via the PREMION platform (covering all 210 U.S. markets with 125+ media brand partnerships), podcast content through the Locked On Podcast Network (275 daily sports podcasts generating 90M+ monthly engagements), and retransmission consent fees from cable, satellite, and telecom distributors. Tegna reaches 100+ million people monthly across its combined platforms, serving over 17,000 active advertisers with multi-channel campaigns.

The company's core technology stack includes the TEGNA Attribution platform (delivering 7K attribution reports, measuring 17B OTT impressions, and tracking 18M exposed OTT website visits), TEGNA AudienceOne (a first-party data advertising solution positioned against third-party cookie deprecation), and proprietary AI tools for digital transformation across broadcast, streaming, mobile, and digital platforms. Distribution is supported by streaming applications on Roku and FireTV, while the Locked On Podcast Network (acquired in 2021) and subsidiaries Quest and True Crime Network extend content reach into OTT and podcast ecosystems. Geographic footprint includes corporate headquarters in McLean, Virginia, a streaming operations center in Charlotte, North Carolina, the TANK creative agency in Denver, Colorado, and engineering and technology hubs in Bengaluru and Chennai, India.

Tegna's revenue model is predominantly advertising-based across five streams: broadcast television advertising, streaming/OTT advertising via PREMION, digital advertising across web and mobile, podcast content monetization, and licensing/royalties from distribution fees. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, varying by market, time slot, programming, audience reach, and platform, with multi-year contracts as the typical billing cadence. Customer segments span local advertisers (SMEs, healthcare, automotive, retail, financial institutions), national advertisers (brand campaigns, political, sports), and streaming/CTV advertisers (regional and local campaigns via PREMION). Tegna was acquired by Nexstar Media Group for $6.2 billion in March 2026, with operations currently subject to a Hold Separate Order issued by a federal court in April 2026 pending antitrust litigation.

Name

Tegna

Legal name

TEGNA Inc.

Website

https://tegna.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Tegna operates 64 local television stations across 51 U.S. markets, providing broadcast, digital, streaming, podcast, and CTV advertising solutions to over 17,000 advertisers and reaching 100+ million people monthly.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Broadcast Television Advertising

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (51612), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Cable & Other Pay Television Services (4841)

akta.pro primary industry

Network-Affiliated Local TV Stations (ABC/CBS/NBC/FOX/CW/Telemundo/Univision, etc.) (MPABACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Network/Studio Streaming Channels (MPABAHAG), Connected TV (CTV) & OTT Performance Advertising (BPAFACAG), Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Sports Streaming Platforms (MPAKAOAA), Video/CTV/OTT Media Buying (MPAAABAE)

Keywords

• Local broadcast television
• Multi-platform advertising solutions
• Streaming OTT advertising
• Digital advertising inventory
• Podcast advertising network

Headquarters

HQ city

Mclean

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Broadcast Television Advertising: Revenue from advertising airtime sold across 64 local television stations in 51 U.S. markets, including local news, sports, weather, and original programming content.
2. Streaming/OTT Advertising: Revenue from connected TV and over-the-top advertising through the PREMION platform, reaching viewers on Roku, FireTV, and other streaming platforms with local and national ad inventory.
3. Digital Advertising: Revenue from digital advertising across local websites, mobile apps, and streaming apps, including display ads, video ads, native ads, and high impact units. TEGNA reaches 78M web/app users per month.
4. Podcast Content: Revenue from the Locked On Podcast Network, acquired in 2021, which produces 275 daily podcasts covering professional and college sports teams, generating over 90 million combined engagements per month.
5. Distribution Fees: Retransmission consent fees received from cable operators, satellite providers, and telecommunications companies for the right to broadcast TEGNA station signals.
6. Political Advertising: Revenue surge from political advertising, particularly during election cycles, contributing to Q1 2026 revenue growth of 19.1% increase in advertising sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

TEGNA operates 64 local television stations across 51 U.S. markets, producing and distributing local news, weather, sports, and original programming content. It monetizes this audience reach through advertising sales across broadcast TV, connected TV/streaming (via the PREMION platform), digital websites and mobile apps, and the Locked On Podcast Network, complemented by attribution and first-party data tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Premion: Industry-leading premium CTV/OTT advertising platform serving regional and local advertisers across all 210 U.S. markets.
• Locked On Podcast Network
• Quest
• True Crime Network

Products and services

• Broadcast TV Advertising Airtime sold across TEGNA's 64 local television stations in 51 U.S. markets, including local news, sports, weather, and original programming, reaching 34 million TV households monthly. Targeted at local, regional, and national advertisers seeking trusted brand-safe inventory.
• PREMION CTV/OTT Advertising Platform Premium connected TV and over-the-top advertising platform that delivers brand-safe, fraud-free ads across streaming services on Roku, FireTV, and other CTV/OTT devices. Serves regional and local advertisers targeting cord-cutters and streaming audiences across all 210 U.S. markets.
• Digital Advertising (Websites and Mobile Apps) Display, video, native, and high-impact advertising units across TEGNA's 64 local news websites and mobile apps, including properties like 9NEWS.com with 3.8M monthly visitors and 25M monthly pageviews. Reaches 78 million web/app users monthly.
• Locked On Podcast Network Advertising Podcast advertising including pre-roll, episode, and series sponsorships across 275 daily sports podcasts distributed on major audio and video platforms. The network is on track for 1 billion combined listens, views, and social engagements by end of 2026.
• Live Sports Advertising Sponsorship and advertising inventory tied to live sports content on TEGNA stations, including NHL games through the Seattle Kraken partnership and other sports properties, providing advertisers a dynamic platform to connect with engaged sports audiences.
• Streaming TV Advertising (Station Apps) Brand-safe, fraud-free streaming TV advertising through TEGNA's local station apps available on Roku and FireTV, giving advertisers 24/7 access to live and on-demand breaking news, weather, sports, and original programming audiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reaches 100+ million people monthly across broadcast, digital, streaming, and linear television
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Seattle KrakencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2026Multi-year partnership extension to deliver free over-the-air Seattle Kraken games across the Pacific Northwest. TEGNA stations broadcast NHL games to local audiences, providing fans access to live sports content while creating advertising and sponsorship opportunities.
• Locked On Podcast NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Sports podcast network acquired by TEGNA in 2021. Started as a single show in 2016 and grew to 275 daily podcasts covering all major professional and college sports teams. Generating 515M streams in 2025 and on track for 1B combined listens, views, and engagements in 2026.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Nexstar Media Group: Nexstar is the parent company of TEGNA following the $6.2B acquisition in March 2026. It is the largest U.S. local television broadcaster, operating ~265 stations, and directly comparable as the dominant player in local broadcast advertising with similar station holdings, retransmission revenue, and political ad exposure.
• Fox Corporation: Fox owns FOX Television Stations (TEGNA's new CEO Patrick Paolini's prior employer) and operates both network and station-level advertising. Comparable in local broadcast reach, sports content (including NFL), and streaming/OTT strategy through Tubi.
• iHeartMedia: iHeartMedia is the largest U.S. radio broadcaster and a major podcast publisher, comparable to TEGNA's broadcast and podcast (Locked On) operations. Competes for similar local and national ad budgets across audio and video channels.
• CBS / Paramount Global: Paramount operates CBS network-affiliated stations and Paramount+ streaming, with comparable local broadcast advertising, network retransmission fees, and political ad exposure. Many TEGNA stations are CBS affiliates, making Paramount a direct upstream network peer.

Direct peers

• Sinclair Broadcast Group: Sinclair is one of the largest U.S. television station operators, providing directly comparable local broadcast advertising, network affiliation, and sports content (including regional sports networks). Highly comparable in scale, revenue mix (advertising + retransmission), and multi-platform distribution strategy.
• Gray Television: Gray Television operates a similar portfolio of mid-sized market local TV stations with comparable reliance on advertising and retransmission revenue. Recent acquisitions (Raycom, Quincy) have positioned Gray as a close competitor in the local broadcast space with similar political ad exposure.
• The E.W. Scripps Company: Scripps operates a portfolio of local TV stations and national networks (ION, Court TV, Bounce) with comparable local broadcast advertising revenue model and retransmission fees. Direct competitor in local news and network-affiliated broadcasting.
• Hearst Television: Hearst Television is a private operator of local TV stations in mid- and large-size markets with similar news focus, network affiliations, and digital/streaming extensions. Comparable in broadcast model and audience composition.
• Cox Media Group: Cox Media Group operates local TV stations and radio stations with comparable advertising-led revenue model. Overlap in local broadcast advertising sales, audience targeting, and political ad capabilities makes it a direct peer.
• Tegna Stations Group (legacy): As TEGNA's own station portfolio operates under Hold Separate, it effectively functions as a standalone entity for comparison purposes. Other broadcast station groups (Cox, Hearst, Sinclair) are direct peers as competitors in the same local markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tegna
• Facebookfacebook.com/tegnainc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tegna

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments8 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tegna