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FCC approves combination of Nexstar and Tegna TV stations. March 19 (Reuters) - The Federal Communications Commission said on Thursday it has approved the sale of some local broadcast TV stations from Tegna to Nexstar. "By approving this transaction, which allows Nexstar to own less than 15% of television stations, the FCC acts mindful of the media marketplace that exits today - not the one from decades past," FCC chair Brendan Carr said in a statement. The approval comes a day after a group of eight states filed a suit in the U.S. District Court in Sacramento, California, to block the merger that would make the combined entity the largest U.S. broadcast station group. Streaming and satellite TV provider DirecTV also filed a separate suit, seeking to prevent the deal, late on Wednesday. "This transaction is essential to sustaining strong local journalism in the communities we serve," Nexstar's CEO Perry Sook said in a statement. (Reporting by Bhargav Acharya in Toronto and Juby Babu in Mexico City; editing by Michelle Nichols and Alan Barona)

8 states, including California and New York, sue to block $6.2B Nexstar-Tegna merger. If the blockbuster deal is allowed to go forward, the combined television station group would reach nearly 60% of U.S. households. March 19, 2026, 6:48 AM PDT / Updated March 19, 2026, 9:22 AM PDT 00:00 03:56 California, New York and six other states filed a lawsuit late Wednesday seeking to block television station owner Nexstar's proposed $6.2 billion takeover of rival company Tegna, arguing the tie-up violates federal antitrust laws. "When broadcast media is owned by a handful of companies, we get fewer voices, less competition, and communities lose the critical check on power that local journalism delivers," California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a news release. In filing the suit, Bonta and New York Attorney General Letitia James were joined by the attorneys general of Colorado, Illinois, Oregon, North Carolina, Connecticut and Virginia. Nexstar and Tegna did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the legal coalition's filing. Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr has said he supports the proposed deal. "Let's get it done," Carr wrote in a Feb. 7 post on X. But completing the merger would require changing a federal rule that bars a single company from reaching more than 39% of U.S. households. The combined entity would reach nearly 60% of U.S. households. The FCC has not publicly announced whether it plans to hold a vote on changing the national ownership cap. The agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In recent months, state attorneys general have asserted themselves on other issues at the nexus of antitrust and the media industry. More than two dozen Republican and Democratic state attorneys general filed a motion for a mistrial in a federal antitrust case that aimed to break up Live Nation and Ticketmaster. (Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster, ultimately settled with the Justice Department.) Bonta's office is also investigating Paramount Skydance's deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, a merger that would unite two historic Hollywood movie studios and potentially put CNN under the same corporate roof as CBS News. The lawsuit over the Nexstar-Tegna deal was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. It argues that the deal violates Section 7 of the Clayton Antitrust Act, which bars acquisitions that would "substantially lessen competition." Bonta's office has argued that the merger would reduce healthy competition in the Sacramento and San Diego media markets, while James' office has said it is concerned about the effects of consolidation in the Buffalo media market. Nexstar oversees more than 200 owned and partner stations in 116 markets across the country. The company's assets also include the broadcast network The CW and the cable news channel NewsNation. Tegna has 64 stations across 51 markets. "This illegal merger threatens local news and could raise fees for consumers by combining hundreds of TV stations under the same owner. I'm suing to stop Nexstar's illegal merger with Tegna to keep cable bills down and ensure New Yorkers can access the independent local news options they count on," James said in a statement. Anna M. Gomez, the lone Democratic commissioner on FCC panel, reacted to the states' suit in a post on X, saying in part that the agency's review should be "transparent." "The FCC must not rubber-stamp this unlawful merger behind closed doors. This would unleash a new broadcast behemoth that could gut local news and lead to higher prices," Gomez said. "Consumers deserve an open and transparent process, not a backroom deal. The full Commission must weigh in." California and New York's plans to challenge the Nexstar-Tegna deal were first reported earlier this month by The Wall Street Journal. Daniel Arkin is a senior reporter at NBC News.

Nexstar launches "investing in America" Nationwide Reporting Initiative to Celebrate Investment in American Enterprise in Advance of Nation's 250th Anniversary Multi-platform Series Will Deliver More Than 100 Local News Stories Each Month and Quarterly Streaming Specials IRVING, TX (Mar. 9, 2026) - As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXST), is launching "Investing in America," a national news initiative examining the major investments shaping the country's future. The series will highlight communities across the nation that are driving growth through infrastructure modernization, workforce development, housing, education, small business expansion, and emerging technologies. The series is another element of Nexstar's companywide, cross-platform, year-long celebration of America at 250 years old, announced in December 2025. "As the nation's largest local television station group, Nexstar has the unique ability to spotlight the stories of investing, innovation, and economic growth happening in communities across the country," said Andrew Alford, President of Nexstar's broadcast division. "'Investing in America' will bring viewers an in-depth look at the projects and leaders helping to shape a brighter future as the nation approaches its 250th birthday." The initiative launched on Nexstar television stations March 2 with a five-part weekday series and continues with weekly stories beginning today across Nexstar's local broadcast, digital, and social media platforms. Nexstar will also produce quarterly one-hour specials designed for digital and streaming platforms featuring development projects and interviews with leaders advancing economic reinvestment nationwide. Additionally, Nexstar's local TV stations will contribute more than 100 stories each month, with select reporting shared across its broadcast group and featured in a monthly CTV program titled "Building for the Next 250." About Nexstar Media Group Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST) is a leading diversified media company that produces and distributes engaging local and national news, sports and entertainment content across its television and digital platforms, including more than 317,000 hours of programming produced annually by its business units. Nexstar owns America's largest local television broadcasting group comprised of top network affiliates, with more than 200 owned or partner stations in 116 U.S. markets reaching 220 million people. Nexstar's national television properties include The CW, America's fifth major broadcast network, NewsNation, its national news network providing "News for All Americans," popular entertainment multicast networks Antenna TV and Rewind TV, and a 31.3% ownership stake in TV Food Network. The Company's portfolio of digital assets, including its local TV station websites, The Hill and NewsNationNow.com, are collectively a Top 10 U.S. digital news and information property. For more information, please visit nexstar.tv. Media Contact Gary Weitman EVP and Chief Communications Officer 972/373-8800 [email protected]