Five additional states have joined a federal antitrust lawsuit seeking to block or unwind Nexstar Media Group’s $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna Inc., expanding the challenge to a bipartisan coalition of 13 states and intensifying legal pressure on the deal that has already closed.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Thursday that Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Vermont have joined the suit, which was originally filed last month by eight states.
The amended complaint argues the merger violates federal antitrust laws by creating an overly concentrated local television market, potentially leading to higher advertising and consumer prices, reduced competition, job cuts in newsrooms, and diminished local programming.
The coalition now includes attorneys general from: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Virginia.
Background and Current Status
Nexstar completed the acquisition of Tegna in March 2026 after receiving approvals from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The deal created the nation’s largest owner of local TV stations, combining hundreds of outlets across dozens of markets.
Despite federal clearance, a federal judge in California issued a preliminary injunction in April temporarily blocking full integration of the companies while the antitrust litigation proceeds. Nexstar has appealed the ruling and maintains the transaction is lawful.
States’ Key Arguments
- The merger would put too much broadcast power in fewer hands, reducing competition in local media markets.
- It could raise prices for advertisers and consumers while leading to cuts in journalism jobs and local news coverage.
- The combined entity would reach a significant portion of U.S. households, raising concerns about media consolidation.
Nexstar has defended the deal as necessary for the survival of local broadcasting in a challenging economic environment dominated by streaming services. The company has not yet issued a detailed public response to the addition of the new states.
The case, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, continues to unfold. It highlights growing state-level pushback against media consolidation even after federal regulators sign off, testing the limits of antitrust enforcement in the local TV industry.
No trial date has been set.