California Attorney General Seeks Judicial Intervention to Halt Nexstar-Tegna Media Merger

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has requested a federal judge to issue a temporary restraining order against the recently completed $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna by Nexstar Media Group. This legal action follows a lawsuit filed by Bonta and seven other Democratic state attorneys general in the U.S. District Court in Sacramento, alleging that the merger violates antitrust regulations and federal broadcast ownership limits. The lawsuit was submitted on Wednesday, March 19, 2026, just before Nexstar finalized the deal late Thursday. The Federal Communications Commission's Media Bureau approved the transaction hours after the lawsuit was filed, enabling Nexstar to become the largest television station group owner in the United States by absorbing the third-largest group. The merged entity would control 265 stations, reaching approximately 80% of U.S. households, which exceeds the 39% ownership cap established by Congress in 2003. Bonta stated that the merger is not finalized and vowed to challenge the corporate consolidation. The Department of Justice also approved the deal, while the FCC commissioners did not vote on it, despite objections from the panel's sole Democrat. Former President Donald Trump endorsed the merger on February 7, 2026, advocating for increased competition against major news networks. Nexstar's CEO expressed gratitude for the support from Trump and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. Concurrently, Bonta is investigating the proposed $111 billion merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery, though no decision to block it has been made. The outcome of the restraining order request remains pending.