Five additional states have joined a federal antitrust lawsuit aimed at halting the merger between Nexstar and Tegna. This merger, if completed, would result in the largest operator of local television stations in the United States, raising significant concerns about media ownership concentration.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who is leading the legal challenge, announced on Thursday that Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Vermont have signed on as plaintiffs. This move has created a bipartisan coalition against the proposed merger. Bonta asserted that the merger is unlawful, stating it could empower Nexstar and Tegna to manipulate prices, reduce journalistic staff, and monopolise the media environment.
Nexstar responded by describing the state attorneys general as “misguided” and accused them of undermining local journalism with their actions. The company also argued that local broadcasters need to consolidate to effectively compete against major technological platforms. Nexstar claimed that rejecting the merger would not lead to more independent outlets but rather the decline of local broadcasting.
Tegna did not provide comments in response to this development.
The new plaintiffs join an existing group of state attorneys general from Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, and Virginia, bringing the total to thirteen. The attorneys general from Indiana, Kansas, and Pennsylvania are Republicans, while the rest are Democrats.
U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley recently issued a preliminary injunction to pause the merger while the case continues. Previously, Bonta’s office hailed this ruling as a crucial victory.
Despite this legal setback, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Justice Department approved the merger last month, with the FCC waiving a rule that limits any single company’s ownership of stations reaching more than 39% of U.S. households. The combined entity is projected to own 264 TV stations, reaching up to 80% of households nationwide. The FCC’s decision faces its own legal challenges from a diverse group of plaintiffs, including the conservative channel Newsmax and various progressive advocacy organisations.
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