• by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, 2 hours ago

What’s the end game?

-- Massive layoffs are coming to Paramount Skydance in the wake of the news that it will buy Warner Bros. Discovery for $110 billion.

-- Nexstar Media Group, which has a $6.2 billion planned deal to buy Tegna later this year, is expected to lay off workers at some of its major market TV stations.

Expect more of the same as Sinclair Inc, Scripps, Grey and other remaining major TV stations owners continue to fight for survival.

These billion-dollar deals look to upset the employment picture of the legacy TV-media ecosystem. TV stations continue to be left in the lurch when earthquakes industry moves affect network affiliation deals all the while local digital-first competition gets stronger.

Now TV Watch has talked up the issue of syndicated daytime talk programming becoming much weaker with the ranks of mainstay shows disappearing or having its producers/distributors mulling perhaps non-TV station efforts.

But what real alternatives remains for TV stations? Doing more local newscasts, already at multi-hours a day? Weary and loyal local TV news viewers -- typically older audiences need a break.

There has been a lot of discussion around the growth of video podcasts. But YouTube-like podcasts-- plain-looking, underwhelming production attributes -- may not seem as total replacements for daytime talk or perhaps general local TV news shows.

Expanding local TV news content has well passed its saturation point. All major TV station groups -- Nexstar, Sinclair, Grey and Scripps -- now see airing video podcasts as part of its core programming.

Where does this go from here? What remains of its “premium” newscast content?

Nexstar Media says one piece of the puzzle comes to standardize local CTV (connected TV apps) for all its 100 plus markets where its stations and newscasts air.

Nexstar is already in the national news business with its NewsNation cable TV channel.

Do all local TV station groups need to do the same -- just for survival? Where else can they cut costs -- while at the same time not alienating long time viewers?

Those viewers may increasingly now see local TV station content as being only slightly better than what’s on YouTube or via their favorite social media outlet.

For TV stations, that can’t be a good place to be in. The answers aren’t easy.