A federal judge appears willing to block a $6.2-billion merger of two large TV station groups as he evaluates whether Nexstar Media Group’s takeover of a rival violates U.S. antitrust laws. If the acquisition is finalized , Nexstar stations would cover 80% of the U.S. population, exceeding a 39% ownership cap set by Congress. Representatives of Nexstar, DirecTV and Bonta’s office declined to comment after Tuesday’s hearing. Nexstar contends the deal would strengthen TV station economics, allowing stations to bolster their news gathering and expand the number of newscasts. The judge, who was elevated to the federal bench by President Obama, had already expressed concerns about the merger.

Source: Los Angeles Times April 08, 2026 14:28 UTC