Eight states move to block Nexstar-Tegna $6.2B media merger
Eight states led by California and New York filed a federal antitrust lawsuit in the Eastern District of California to block Nexstar’s $6.2 billion takeover of Tegna, arguing the deal would lessen competition in local TV markets and harm consumers by reducing voices and potentially raising prices. The merger would combine hundreds of TV stations under one owner and would reach about 60% of U.S. households, well over the current 39% cap that would require regulatory changes. The states contended the deal would hurt local journalism in markets like Sacramento, San Diego, and Buffalo. The FCC has signaled support for the deal but has not decided whether to change ownership rules; Nexstar and Tegna had not commented at press time. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California and adds to a broader regulatory scrutiny of media consolidation.
