Nexstar finalizes acquisition of Tegna’s TV stations, despite opposition

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Nexstar Media Group, the parent company of KTLA, has finalized its purchase of Tegna’s television stations, even though eight state attorneys general sued to prevent the deal.

Great news for us TV fans! Nexstar, the company based in Irving, Texas, just got the green light from both the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department to move forward with their deal. It’s official now, which means we’ll likely see some changes in what’s on our screens soon.

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A lawsuit is challenging Nexstar’s plan to buy Tegna for $6.2 billion. If the deal goes through, the combined company would cover 80% of the United States.

Nexstar founder and CEO Perry Sook explained that this deal is vital for supporting quality local news in the areas they cover. He believes combining these two companies will create a more robust and innovative organization, allowing them to provide even better local news and programming thanks to increased resources and skilled staff.

In a statement, Sook also thanked President Trump and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr for approving the deal, noting their understanding of changes in the media industry. President Trump had previously voiced his support for it.

The unexpected news arrived just one day after eight state attorneys general, including California’s Rob Bonta, filed a lawsuit to block the deal. They argued it would give Nexstar too much power over local television stations. Bonta stated at the time that combining the companies would seriously harm local news and the people who depend on it for important information.

Nexstar currently owns the most TV stations in the United States, operating 164 stations including KTLA in Los Angeles. If their deal to buy Tegna goes through, Nexstar would control a total of 265 stations, reaching 80% of American households and having multiple stations in many cities.

The lawsuit argued that the merger would give the new company excessive power when negotiating fees with cable and satellite TV providers, potentially leading to higher prices for viewers.

The lawsuit also involves attorneys general from the states of Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, and Virginia.

FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez stated that the merger breaks the current federal rule limiting ownership to 39%. She also pointed out that the full commission didn’t vote on the acquisition. The FCC allowed the deal to proceed by granting waivers, which essentially permit the company to exceed the ownership limit.

Gomez stated that a deal of this size, especially with new and complex issues before the FCC, requires a public discussion by the entire Commission, not a secretive approval designed to avoid public attention. She added that, considering the growing trend of rapid media consolidation, the public has a right to understand the reasoning behind this decision.

The FCC did not respond to an immediate request for comment.

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2026-03-20 04:01