broadcasting

Federal Judge Blocks Nexstar-Tegna TV Station Merger Until Antitrust Lawsuit is Settled

The merger would create a company owning 265 TV stations across 44 states. Attorneys general in 8 states and DirecTV had sued.

Associated Press

Apr 17, 2026 — 2 min read

Photo of Perry Sook, CEO of Nexstar Broadcasting Group attending the 24th Annual Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame Awards in New York in Oct. 2014 by Evan Agostini/AP

April 17, 2026 (AP) – A federal judge has blocked a $6.2 billion merger of local television giants Nexstar Media Group and rival Tegna until an antitrust lawsuit is resolved.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Troy L. Nunley in Sacramento, California, made the ruling late Friday afternoon, finding that eight attorneys general and DirecTV were likely to prevail in their legal bid to stop the merger. The attorneys general, all Democrats, and DirecTV contend the merger will lead to higher prices for consumers, stifle local journalism and that the deal runs afoul of federal laws designed to protect against monopolies.

The deal, announced last year and approved by the Federal Communications Commission, would create a company that owns 265 television stations in 44 states and the District of Columbia, most of them local affiliates of one of the “Big Four” national networks: ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC.

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broadcasting Troy Nunley AP Nexstar TEGNA FCC ABC NBC Fox DirecTV Brendan Carr Justice Department Letitia James

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