Five states—Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, and Mississippi—joined a federal antitrust lawsuit on April 30, 2026 that challenges Nexstar Media Group’s $6.2 billion purchase of Tegna Inc. The lawsuit, filed under Section 7 of the Clayton Act, argues that the merger would create the largest local television station owner in the United States and could reduce local news diversity and increase retransmission fees for consumers.
The acquisition was announced on August 19, 2025, with a per‑share price of $22.00, and Nexstar closed the deal on March 19, 2026. A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction on April 17, 2026 that halted the merger’s integration and progress while the lawsuit proceeds. Nexstar has appealed the injunction, seeking to resume the transaction, but the court has not yet ruled on the appeal.
The lawsuit’s expansion to include states with Republican attorneys general marks a bipartisan effort to curb media consolidation. Plaintiffs contend that the merger would concentrate market power, potentially leading to higher consumer costs and a homogenization of local news coverage. The added states reinforce the argument that the deal threatens local journalism and could erode competition in key markets.
Nexstar CEO Perry A. Sook has defended the transaction, stating that it is “essential to sustaining strong local journalism” and that the merger will allow the company to compete more effectively in a rapidly changing media landscape. Tegna’s management has indicated it will continue to pursue the transaction, emphasizing the strategic fit and the potential for operational synergies, while acknowledging the legal challenges ahead.
The merger received clearance from the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice, but the judge noted the FCC’s approval process was “unusual” and the DOJ’s early termination of its review was noteworthy. Separately, Ohio reached an agreement with Nexstar to protect newsroom independence at two stations if the merger proceeds, underscoring the broader concern over editorial autonomy in consolidated media ownership.
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