Federal Judge Blocks Nexstar From Integrating Tegna Stations in Antitrust Ruling

A U.S. District Court judge has issued a preliminary injunction preventing Nexstar Media Group from integrating 64 television stations acquired from Tegna. Judge Troy Nunley of the Eastern District of California ruled on Friday, April 18, 2026, that the integration would cause irreparable harm to competition and potentially lead to newsroom shutdowns. The decision comes despite the merger having received prior approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Department of Justice.

The Details

The 52-page ruling strengthens a temporary restraining order previously granted on March 27, 2026, which required the two companies to keep their assets separate. Judge Nunley noted that Nexstar's efforts to integrate the stations would make it significantly harder to divest them in the future, while simultaneously eliminating competition and risking layoffs within local newsrooms.\n\nNexstar finalized the $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna on March 19, 2026, but the court found that the company could have delayed the closing by seven days to await the ruling on the temporary restraining order. The combined entity would own approximately 265 television stations across 44 states and the District of Columbia, the majority of which are affiliates of the Big Four networks: ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC.\n\nAs part of the deal, Nexstar agreed to divest six stations, which would bring the total combined count down to 259. However, the scale of the merger required the FCC to waive existing rules regarding local station ownership limits. The court found that the private benefits Nexstar would gain from the acquisition were outweighed by the harm to the plaintiffs.\n\nIn 16 specific market areas where the companies hold duopolies or triopolies, the current practice involves appointing a single news director to oversee a single newsroom and sharing on-air talent across all Big Four channels owned by the firm. The judge identified these integration efforts as a primary driver for the injunction.\n\nWhile the injunction blocks operational integration, Judge Nunley has allowed Nexstar to maintain essential business functions. This includes managing debt service and repayment obligations, meeting SEC reporting requirements, and making necessary appointments to keep Tegna operational. Crucially, however, Nexstar remains prohibited from installing its own company employees or officers into Tegna's leadership structure.

Context

Nexstar is currently the largest owner of television stations in the United States, with nearly 200 outlets. Tegna holds significant positions in major and medium-sized markets, including Houston, Dallas, Seattle, Denver, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C.\n\nThe merger was approved by the FCC under the Trump administration, necessitating a waiver of ownership limits. Nexstar proceeded with the purchase in what analysts described as a gamble that the FCC would eventually change its ownership limit rules, a process that is currently under active review by the commission.\n\nOpposing the merger is a coalition of eight state attorneys general\u2014representing California, New York, Colorado, Illinois, Oregon, North Carolina, Connecticut, and Virginia\u2014alongside DirecTV. California Attorney General Rob Bonta described the merger as 'illegal, plain and simple,' arguing that the federal government effectively 'threw in the towel' by approving the deal.

What's Next

Nexstar has vowed to appeal the ruling and plans to bring its case before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The company maintains that the transaction is pro-competitive and will ultimately strengthen local journalism and investment in fact-based news.\n\nMeanwhile, DirecTV continues to argue that the consolidated power of the merged firm will diminish its bargaining leverage during retransmission consent negotiations. The company warns that this could increase the danger and frequency of station blackouts, which may lead to higher costs for consumers.\n\nThe legal battle now centers on whether the Ninth Circuit will uphold the preliminary injunction or allow Nexstar to proceed with the integration of Tegna's assets while the broader antitrust case continues.