The FCC on Thursday approved Nexstar Media Group’s $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna, clearing the way for one of the largest local television mergers in U.S. history — even as two lawsuits were filed the same day seeking to block the deal.
The merger will create a broadcast giant with 265 television stations across 44 states and Washington, D.C., primarily affiliated with major networks including ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC. As a condition of approval, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said Nexstar agreed to divest six stations to comply with ownership limits.
The deal required regulatory clearance because it exceeds federal caps on how many local stations a single company can own. Nexstar said it has also received approval from the Justice Department, though that could not be independently confirmed Thursday.
Opposition to the merger emerged immediately in court. Attorneys general from eight states — California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Oregon and Virginia — joined DirecTV in filing lawsuits in U.S. District Court in Sacramento, arguing the deal would raise prices for consumers and harm local journalism.
New York Attorney General Letitia James said the merger could drive up cable costs nationwide, while the states contend it violates federal antitrust laws. DirecTV similarly warned that Nexstar would gain leverage to demand higher fees from distributors, costs that would likely be passed on to subscribers.
Critics also raised concerns about the impact on local news. The lawsuits point to Nexstar’s history of consolidating operations in markets where it owns multiple stations, arguing the merger could further weaken already strained local newsrooms. According to the states, Nexstar and Tegna currently overlap in 31 markets.
FCC leadership and Nexstar executives defended the deal as necessary for the industry’s future. Carr said stronger station groups are needed to sustain local broadcasting, while Nexstar CEO Perry Sook said the combined company would be better positioned to invest in journalism and local programming.