Nexstar-Tegna Antitrust Lawsuit Turns Bipartisan as More States Join

State officials from Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Vermont formally entered the federal lawsuit, bringing the total number of participating states to 13. The latest additions also shifted the political makeup of the case, with Republican attorneys general from Kansas, Indiana and Pennsylvania joining the legal effort, according to a statement from the participating offices.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach framed the issue as one that goes beyond party politics.

“These aren’t Republican or Democratic issues. They are American issues,” Kobach said in a statement announcing Kansas’ involvement in the federal action.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Sacramento, argues the merger would further concentrate control of local television broadcasting in the hands of a single company. State officials contend the deal could reduce competition across multiple media markets, affect employment in local newsrooms, and ultimately lead to higher costs for viewers, according to a statement tied to the case.

Kobach’s office also warned the transaction could result in “putting more broadcast programming in the hands of fewer people, cutting local jobs, increasing cable bills, and significantly impacting the delivery of news and other media content to Americans nationwide.”

One of the markets closely watching the case is Denver, where Nexstar’s ownership structure could change if the acquisition is approved. Media analysts have pointed to possible station combinations in major cities as one of the central competitive concerns raised in court filings.

Related: Federal Judge Halts Nexstar–Tegna Merger Pending Antitrust Case

The legal battle has already produced a significant setback for the deal. On April 17, Chief U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley issued a preliminary injunction that temporarily prevents the merger from moving forward while the antitrust proceedings continue.

At the regulatory level, the Federal Communications Commission has taken a different stance. FCC Chairman Brandon Carr approved a waiver related to national broadcast ownership limits, a move that would otherwise have posed a regulatory obstacle to the transaction, according to a statement from the agency.

The original lawsuit was launched in March by attorneys general from eight states, including Phil Weiser. Their complaint alleges the proposed merger would weaken competition in local broadcasting and could undermine the long-term stability of local journalism, per court filings. The states’ case was later linked with a separate legal challenge brought by DirecTV.

Nexstar responded publicly Friday, posting a statement on X that accused state officials of misunderstanding the pressures facing local broadcasters in the digital era.

“The real drivers of the decline of local news: the unchecked rise of Big Tech platforms, the spread of misinformation on social media, and the economic pressures that have already led to widespread newsroom closures,” the company wrote.

Nexstar’s message concluded with a broader warning about the industry’s future.

“The alternative to this deal is not more independently owned outlets – it’s the demise of your local broadcast station.”

The company has continued to argue that the acquisition would strengthen local journalism rather than weaken it, and said it has reached at least one agreement with a state regulator, including an arrangement with Dave Yost, according to a statement from the company.

Source: Colorado Sun