Five additional state attorneys general have joined an existing antitrust challenge to Nexstar Media Group's purchase of rival broadcaster Tegna, California's attorney general announced on Thursday.
Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat whose office had earlier joined seven other states in contesting the $6.2 billion transaction in March, said the new participants are Massachusetts and Vermont, along with the Republican attorneys general of Indiana, Kansas, and Pennsylvania. The announcement expands the roster of states pressing legal objections to the merger.
The state attorneys general did not provide immediate comment beyond the filing and their offices did not immediately respond to requests for further statement.
The litigation follows a federal court ruling that temporarily blocked Nexstar from consolidating its operations with Tegna. U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley in Sacramento ruled on April 17 that the plaintiffs had shown they were likely to prevail on claims the deal would substantially lessen competition in dozens of local television markets. The order restrains Nexstar from integrating Tegna's operations while the case proceeds, but it does not unwind the transaction itself.
Nexstar and Tegna completed the acquisition after receiving approvals from the Justice Department and the Federal Communications Commission on March 19. Nexstar cited those regulatory clearances when it announced an appeal of Judge Nunley’s decision following the court order.
If consummated as planned, the transaction would create the largest broadcast station group in the United States, with a combined reach that the parties say would cover about 80% of U.S. households. State lawyers argue the deal could lead to lost jobs, higher cable bills for consumers, and a material change to how news and other media content are delivered nationwide. Nexstar, for its part, maintains that the acquisition will bolster local stations and enable greater investment in local journalism.
Legal posture and next steps
The court order currently prevents Nexstar from consolidating operations with Tegna while the antitrust case proceeds through litigation. Nexstar has appealed the ruling; the appeals process and continued litigation will determine whether the court's temporary restraint is lifted, sustained, or converted into a permanent injunction.
Market and public interest considerations
The expansion of state participation in the suit underscores heightened public and governmental scrutiny of large media consolidations. The additional state filings broaden the geographic and political footprint of opposition, bringing both Democratic and Republican attorneys general into the same legal challenge.
Note: This article reflects information presented by the parties and the court; it does not attempt to predict the outcome of ongoing litigation.