Eight states asked a US judge on Friday to issue a temporary restraining order to stop a $3.5bn merger of Nexstar Media Group and Tegna. On Thursday, the local broadcast station owners received merger approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the US Department of Justice and said they had closed the transaction two hours after approval. US district judge Troy Nunley in Sacramento, California, said he would consider the issue based on court papers. The FCC said it is waiving a rule that allows broadcast television station owners to reach no more than 39% of US television audience households as part of its approval. Nexstar is the largest US local television broadcasting group, controlling more than 200 stations in 116 US markets reaching 220 million people, while Tegna owns 64 television stations in 51 media markets.

Source: The Guardian March 22, 2026 14:02 UTC