Eight state attorneys general file suit to block TV station group merger

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A coalition of state attorneys general is suing to stop Nexstar Media Group from buying Tegna’s television stations for $6.2 billion. They argue the purchase would likely raise cable costs for viewers and harm local news coverage.

A lawsuit filed Wednesday in Sacramento federal court argues that a proposed agreement involving eight state attorneys general, including California’s Rob Bonta, would give Nexstar Media Group excessive control over local television stations. The lawsuit claims this would harm consumers by reducing the variety of news options available in their communities.

Bonta stated the agreement would severely damage local news and harm people who depend on it for important information. Those challenging the deal also include the state attorneys general from Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, and Virginia.

Nexstar, a television company based in Irving, Texas, currently owns more stations than any other company in the U.S., with a total of 164, including KTLA in Los Angeles. If its deal to acquire Tegna goes through, Nexstar would own 265 stations, reaching approximately 80% of American households, and operate multiple stations in many cities.

The lawsuit argues that the merger would allow Nexstar to unfairly control negotiations with cable and satellite companies over fees for its channels. These increased costs would likely be passed on to viewers through higher cable and satellite bills.

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The extensive television coverage of the Watergate hearings in 1973 captivated a large audience and encouraged viewers to participate. This ultimately paved the way for the development of what is now known as “PBS NewsHour.”

As a huge football fan, I rely on being able to watch NFL games, and most of the local stations – the ones connected to ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox – are how I do that. Unfortunately, these stations and the cable/satellite companies that carry them are always arguing over money. It’s super frustrating because these disagreements often lead to the games being blacked out, and I end up missing parts of the season. It’s the most-watched stuff on TV, so you’d think they’d figure it out!

DirecTV, with approximately 11 million U.S. customers, also filed a lawsuit on Thursday making similar claims. They argue the Nexstar agreement will permanently raise prices for viewers, limit competition among local channels, potentially close down local news stations, and lead to more frequent and longer TV blackouts of local sports and popular network shows.

A Nexstar representative did not respond to a request to comment.

President Trump supports Nexstar’s planned acquisition. However, all major television station groups argue that merging is essential for their survival, as they struggle to compete with the growing popularity of streaming services which have reduced their viewership.

These companies argue they’re hampered in their competition with larger tech firms because they’re restricted to owning stations in only 39% of the country – a limit established back in 2003.

Nexstar recently laid off experienced news anchors and reporters in major cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. If Nexstar buys Tegna, even more local newsrooms could be downsized, especially in areas where Nexstar already owns multiple stations, likely leading to newsrooms being combined.

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2026-03-19 20:32