Federal Judge Blocks Nexstar-Tegna Merger

A federal judge in Sacramento, California, issued a preliminary injunction on Friday blocking the $6.2 billion merger between Nexstar Media Group and Tegna Inc., halting the combination of the nation's two largest local television station owners until an antitrust lawsuit is resolved.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Troy L. Nunley ruled that plaintiffs, including attorneys general from eight states and satellite provider DirecTV, are likely to succeed in their claims that the deal violates federal antitrust laws. The injunction, detailed in a 52-page order, takes effect on April 21, 2026, at 5 p.m. PDT. In the interim, Nunley extended a prior temporary restraining order, which had paused integration efforts since late March, to maintain the status quo through April 21 at 6 p.m. PDT. Under the order, Nexstar must treat Tegna as a separate, independently managed entity, preserving its operations, personnel decisions, and negotiations with pay-TV providers.

The merger, announced in 2025, would have created a broadcaster with 265 stations across 44 states and the District of Columbia, reaching about 80 percent of U.S. television households. Many of these are local affiliates of ABC,...