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What is Nexstar founder Perry A. Sook’s political affiliations?

While Perry A. Sook’s personal loyalty leans Republican, reflected in substantial donations to GOP figures and support for deregulation benefiting Nexstar under Republican administrations, he has also donated to some Democrats, indicating a pragmatic focus on policies beneficial to his media company rather than strict party loyalty.

He actively supports business-friendly, deregulatory efforts, especially from Republican leadership like Donald Trump, to help Nexstar grow.

Evidence of Republican Leanings & Business

Focus:

Donations: Sook has given significantly more to top-level Republicans than Democrats over the years, notes GoLocalProv.

Trump Administration Support: He expressed hope for a second Trump term to help Nexstar expand and praised initiatives that level the playing field for local broadcasters against big tech, according to Forbes.

Deregulation Priority: Sook views deregulation as a top priority for both Nexstar and the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters).

Cross-Party Support (Pragmatism):
Sook has also donated to Democrats, including Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

In essence, Sook’s political engagement appears driven by a strategic effort to support politicians and policies (especially deregulation) that benefit his media empire, Nexstar Media Group, rather than a deep-seated loyalty to one party.

Other:

Key Facts:

Sook, an alumnus of Ohio University in 1980, founded Nexstar in 1996 after he purchased Scranton, Pennsylvania, broadcaster WYOU, in a deal ranging between $20 million and $28 million.

Nexstar expanded over the next several years, acquiring broadcasters across small- and mid-market stations in the Northeast and Midwest, before the company went public on the Nasdaq in 2003 after acquiring Quorum Broadcasting, which owned about 10 stations in New York, Louisiana and Texas, among other states.

The media firm continued expanding until 2019, when Nexstar acquired Tribune Media in a deal valued at $4.1 billion, increasing its portfolio to more than 200 broadcast stations across 116 markets.

About: (Nexstar.tv)

A recent significant moment in Perry A. Sook’s career is the extension of his contract as CEO through March 2029.

Mr. Sook has over 43 years of professional experience in the television and radio broadcasting industries, covering all facets of the business, including ownership and M&A, management, sales, on-air talent, and news. He founded Nexstar in 1996 with one local television station in Scranton, PA, and began building the foundation of what became one of the world’s leading local marketing and content companies, leveraging localism to bring new services and value to consumers and advertisers across its traditional media, digital and mobile media platforms. Based in Irving, TX, Nexstar trades on NASDAQ under the symbol “NXST”.

Following its $7.1 billion acquisition of Tribune Media in 2019 and the $4.6 billion acquisition of Media General in 2017, Nexstar Media Group, Inc., became the largest local broadcast television operator in the United States, with more than 200 stations reaching 116 markets, reaching more than 220 million people, with annual revenue of nearly $5 billion.

The company owns NewsNation, the fastest-growing national cable news network in prime time, a 75% controlling interest in The CW Network, and 31% of The Food Network. As one of the nation’s leading providers of local news, entertainment, sports, lifestyle, and network programming, Nexstar produces and distributes more than 317,000 hours of original video content each year. The company’s portfolio of digital assets, including its local TV station websites, The Hill and NewsNationNow.com, are collectively a Top 10 U.S. digital news and information property.

Prior to Nexstar, Mr. Sook was one of the principals of Superior Communication Group, Inc., which was sold in 1995 to Sinclair Broadcast Group. Before Superior, Mr. Sook was President/CEO of Seaway Communication, Inc., owner of network affiliated stations in Bangor, ME and Wausau, WI. Before being recruited to run Seaway, he worked in the television industry as a General Sales Manager, acting General Manager and National Sales Manager. Mr. Sook previously spent five years with Cox Broadcasting, first in local sales in Pittsburgh, then at Telerep, Inc., as a National Account Executive. Early in his career, Mr. Sook was involved in local TV sales and radio sales. Mr. Sook also worked briefly as a television news anchor at the CBS affiliate in Clarksburg, WV.

From June 2023 to June 2025, Mr. Sook served as Chairman of the Joint Board of Directors of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). Previously, he was the Television Board chair for the NAB beginning June 2021.

He serves on the Board of Directors of Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), the Board of the Broadcasters Foundation of America. Mr. Sook was previously a member of the Board of Directors of the Television Bureau of Advertising (TVB), where he also served as Chairman. He is past Chairman of the CBS Affiliate Board.

Mr. Sook was named the 2009 Broadcaster of the Year by Broadcasting and Cable (B&C) and was among the honorees inducted into the B&C Hall of Fame in 2014. He was inducted to The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation’s 2016 Giants of Broadcasting and Electronic Arts and received The Media Institute’s 2016 American Horizon Award, recognizing his leadership, promoting the vitality and independence of American media.