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Court Backs Kansas in Nexstar-Tegna Antitrust Fight

By  |  August 17, 2026
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A federal court ordered Nexstar Media Group Inc. to unwind board-level ties with Tegna Inc. after finding the broadcaster violated a preliminary injunction in an antitrust dispute brought by Kansas and a bipartisan coalition of states, according to KWCH.

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    The US District Court for the Eastern District of California determined that Nexstar breached the injunction by placing current or former company executives on Tegna’s board of directors, KWCH reported. The court directed Nexstar to remove those individuals and ordered both broadcasters to submit regular reports to the states involved in the litigation.

    The judge also called for the appointment of a special master to oversee compliance with the preliminary injunction, adding another layer of judicial supervision as the antitrust case proceeds, according to the station.

    The ruling represents a victory for Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach and other state attorneys general challenging Nexstar’s acquisition of Tegna. The states contend that combining the television-station operators could weaken competition in local broadcasting markets, KWCH reported.

    Read more: Federal Judge Allows DirecTV Antitrust Case Against Nexstar to Proceed

    The acquisition was completed in March after receiving clearance from the Federal Communications Commission and the US Department of Justice, according to KWCH. The states’ lawsuit nevertheless keeps the transaction under antitrust scrutiny and focuses on its potential impact on competition in local television markets.

    The latest court action doesn’t resolve the broader challenge to the deal. Instead, it tightens enforcement of restrictions already imposed while the states pursue their case, with the special master and reporting requirements giving the court and plaintiffs additional mechanisms to track the companies’ compliance.

    Nexstar and Tegna are among the largest operators of local television stations in the US, making the litigation part of a wider debate over consolidation in local media. In this case, the states’ central allegation is that the combination will reduce competition in local TV markets, according to KWCH.

    Source: KWCH