Media & Entertainment Divestitures in 2026

Spectrum Networks, a division of Charter Communications, agreed to acquire substantially all assets of New England Cable News (NECN) from NECN and NBCUniversal. The deal will fold NECN into Spectrum News, expand Spectrum's regional footprint across New England, and consolidate NECN's distribution agreements under Spectrum News NECN based in Massachusetts.

Fargo-based Forum Communications Co. has acquired seven newspapers from Wick Communications, including the Pierre Capital-Journal and the Madison Daily Leader, expanding Forum's footprint across the Upper Midwest. The deal adds publications in South Dakota, Minnesota, North Dakota and Montana and continues Forum's strategy of investing in local news and regional sports coverage.

Entrepreneur and investor Rob Gough purchased the Fireballs professional jai‑alai team from the World Jai‑Alai League (WJAL) in what the league described as the first perpetual (in‑perpetuity) franchise sale. WJAL said the move shifts its business model toward long‑term franchise ownership to attract sustained investment, deepen team brand equity, and support modernization of the sport and new revenue streams around live events and digital distribution.

ByteDance has finalized a deal establishing TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, a majority American-owned entity that will secure U.S. user data, apps and the recommendation algorithm to avoid a nationwide ban. The joint venture is led by Oracle, private equity firm Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi-based MGX (each with 15%), with other U.S. and global investors participating while ByteDance retains a 19.9% stake.