A federal judge has temporarily blocked the $6.2 billion merger between local television giants Nexstar Media Group and Tegna, citing significant antitrust concerns. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley, halts the integration of Tegna’s stations into Nexstar’s operations pending a full trial.
U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley ruled late Friday that the merger is “presumed likely to violate antitrust laws,” a significant blow to Nexstar’s acquisition plans. The lawsuit, filed by eight Democratic state attorneys general and satellite TV distributor DirecTV, argued that the consolidation would lead to higher prices for consumers, stifle local journalism, and concentrate too much power in one company.
Nunley’s decision means that Nexstar cannot integrate Tegna’s stations or influence their management while the legal battle continues. The judge found that the plaintiffs had demonstrated a strong chance of prevailing, noting that the merger could give Nexstar increased leverage in negotiations with distributors and potentially lead to reduced local news coverage.
The deal had garnered unusual attention, including a public endorsement from President Donald Trump in February, who claimed it would “more competition against THE ENEMY, the Fake News National TV Networks.” The Trump administration’s FCC and Justice Department subsequently approved the merger, a move that created a stark divide between federal regulators and state-level antitrust enforcers.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a leading plaintiff, hailed the ruling as a “critical win,” stating, “The federal government may have thrown in the towel, but we’ll keep fighting for consumers, for workers, for affordability, and for our local news.”
Nexstar has maintained that the Tegna deal is a “pro-competitive transaction” that will strengthen local stations and support investment in local journalism. The company announced its intention to appeal the judge’s decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
“We will appeal today’s decision and look forward to presenting our case on its merits before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals,” Nexstar said in a statement. However, for the time being, the merger remains frozen, with the two companies operating separately.