Judge blocks Nexstar's huge TV merger in major setback

Just weeks aft closing 1 of the largest media acquisitions successful caller years, Nexstar Media Group has been dealt a important ineligible blow.

Nexstar, 1 of the nation’s largest owners and operators of section tv stations, archetypal announced its program to get Tegna successful August 2025.

The $6.2 cardinal woody was expected to fortify Nexstar’s scope successful large markets. Once afloat combined, the institution volition operate 265 tv stations successful 44 states and the District of Columbia, importantly expanding Nexstar’s beingness nationwide.

The merger was officially completed successful March aft receiving required approvals from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the US Department of Justice.

But past week, a US District Court justice halted further proceedings, creating a question of caller uncertainty connected what could beryllium 1 of the media industry’s biggest caller deals.

Even earlier the announcement of the Tegna-Nexstar merger's finalization, the woody faced nonstop threats from respective antitrust lawsuits.

In March, California Attorney General Rob Bonta led a conjugation of 8 attorneys wide to petition an exigency bid to halt the merger.

In the request, Bonta asked to artifact the merger proceedings portion the lawsuit is ongoing.

“The merger is illegal, plain and simple. The national authorities whitethorn person thrown successful the towel, but we’ll support warring for consumers, for workers, for affordability, and for our section news,” said Bonta.

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DirecTV besides challenged the merger connected antitrust grounds, arguing that it would make a monopolistic marketplace and rise costs for consumers.

The states’ suit and DirecTV’s situation were aboriginal consolidated by the court.

Opponents argued the combination, if allowed to proceed would make a “titan covering 80% of U.S. tv households.”

Further noting that successful California, the combined Nexstar-Tegna institution would extremity up owning fractional of the Big Four (FOX, NBC,ABC, and CBS) web affiliated presumption successful Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto, and San Diego areas.

The merger reports besides followed the firing of journalists successful Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York.

And adding to the worries, past week, US District Court Chief Judge Troy L. Nunley successful Sacramento, California, issued a preliminary injunction blocking the merger portion the lawsuit proceeds.

The ruling does not mean that it volition turnover the acquisition, it conscionable prevents Nexstar from afloat commbining with Tegan portion the ineligible combat ensues.