US EditionFCC approves $6.2 billion Nexstar-Tegna merger day after CA lawsuit was filed
The deal expands Nexstar's reach to 80% of U.S. homes with 265 stations but faces antitrust lawsuits from eight state attorneys general and DirecTV over competition concerns.
- On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission and Justice Department approved Nexstar Media Group, Inc.'s $6.2 billion acquisition of TEGNA Inc., and the transaction closed the same day.
- FCC Chairman Brendan Carr waived the 39% ownership cap, and Nexstar agreed to divest six stations after the DOJ granted early review termination.
- Owning 265 stations, the combined group will reach roughly 80% of U.S. households across 44 states and Washington, D.C., with the company owning 200 stations and TEGNA 64.
- The legal challenges — brought by eight states and DirecTV — remain pending in federal court after California Attorney General Rob Bonta and others sued Thursday to block the merger, saying it would reduce competition.
- Critics, including FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, called the approval opaque and warned it could harm local news, while Sook said it is essential to sustain local journalism.
126 Articles
126 Articles
FCC approves Nexstar's $6.2 billion merger with Tegna
(NBC, KYMA) - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved of Nexstar's $6.2 billion deal to acquire rival TV station Tegna. The Thursday announcement from the FCC comes less than a day after eight state attorneys general sued to block it, with the lawsuit claiming the merger violates federal antitrust law. The merging of the two TV broadcast companies would create the largest operator of local television stations in the country, coverin…
In unprecedented overreach, FCC allows merger consolidating local media ownership
Washington, D.C., March 20, 2026—A decision by the US broadcast regulator to approve the merger of Tegna and Nexstar broadcasting companies — in clear violation of its own norms and regulations — is a concerning sign of government sponsored media concentration in the United States, the Committee to Protect Journalists warned on Friday. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Justice Department on Thursday approved the sale of Tegna, whic…
Federal regulators approve Nexstar-Tegna deal; WFMY, WGHP affected by $6.2 billion purchase
“Nexstar wants to buy one of its biggest competitors, gain more control over local news stations and Sunday afternoon NFL broadcasts, and charge millions of North Carolina families more for television," N.C. Attorney General Jeff Jackson said in a news…
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