An Inside-the-Beltway media and telecommunications industry advocate who most recently served as the founding partner of an advocacy and consulting firm specializing in the representation of clients in the telecommunications, health care, and defense industries in matters before the Congress and the executive branch of the federal government is joining the D.C. advocacy team of the largest single owner of broadcast TV stations in the U.S.
Scott Weaver, known in Washington for his time at HSA Strategies (HSA) and, before that, as Chairman of the Public Policy practice at Wiley, has become the SVP/Government Relations for Nexstar Media Group.
Weaver reports directly to Nexstar Chairman/CEO Perry Sook and begins his new duties on September 5.
It’s a newly created role for Nexstar, owner of broadcast TV stations, WGN Radio, NewsNation and is the controlling interest holder in The CW Network.
Specifically, Weaver will work with Sook to set the company’s legislative and regulatory
priorities, represent Nexstar’s interests to the executive branch of the federal government, Congress, and a variety of regulatory bodies, and establish Nexstar’s first-ever Office of Government Affairs in Washington, D.C.
The move is likely a strategic one that seeks to push a loosening of local TV ownership caps and national ownership percentage restrictions, particularly in the wake of the Rosenworcel Commission’s FCC actions pertaining to Nexstar and its cozy relationship with variable interest partner Mission Broadcasting.
Explaining the creation of a D.C.-based government affairs team to be led by Weaver, Sook said, “Nexstar’s business has grown substantially over the last several years as we became the largest local broadcaster in the United States; launched our national cable news network, NewsNation; acquired majority ownership of The CW Network, and deepened our relationships with our network and distribution partners. We have a unique business model with legislative and regulatory goals that are unlike other media companies. Scott’s experience, leadership, and reputation for getting things done, along with the respect he has earned across the political landscape, make him the ideal person to represent Nexstar in the nation’s capital.”
Weaver was at Wiley Law from 2009-2022, and managed all related staff and budget, political giving, client growth and new business generation in this area.
Earlier in his career, he served as Vice President of Government and Political Affairs for the
Airports Council International/North America and as Chief of Staff in the Office of U.S. Representative Katherine Harris (R-Fla.).
