On December 3, 2018, Irving, Texas-based Nexstar Media Group announced it would acquire Tribune's assets for $6.4 billion in cash and debt. The deal—which would make Nexstar the largest television station operator by total number of stations upon its expected closure late in the third quarter of 2019—would give WPHL-TV additional sister stations in Hagerstown, Maryland (independent station/Heroes & Icons affiliate WDVM-TV, presuming Nexstar opts to create a duopoly with Tribune-owned CW affiliate WDCW in the co-located Washington, D.C. market) and Scranton–Wilkes-Barre (the virtual duopoly of NBC affiliate WBRE-TV and CBS affiliate WYOU, which were Nexstar's first two television properties). Nexstar would also be present in every market serving Pennsylvania except for Pittsburgh if the deal is closed. The acquisition was completed on September 19, 2019.