California AG files lawsuit to block $6.2 billion merger between Nexstar, Tegna

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a lawsuit in an attempt to block a merger between two large broadcast companies, Tegna and Nexstar Media Group, according to the state’s justice department. The lawsuit was filed in Sacramento on Wednesday against both companies, each of which own several local news stations across the country, including Sacramento. KXTL FOX 40 is owned by Nexstar and KXTV ABC10 is owned by Tegna. In 2025, it was announced that Nexstar intended to purchase Tegna for $6.2 billion. If the transaction is approved, Nexstar will pay $22 in cash for each share of Tegna’s outstanding stock. And the regulatory greenlight could be likely under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has long-advocated for loosening industry restrictions.”If allowed to proceed, the deal would create the largest broadcast station group in the United States, putting more broadcast programming in the hands of fewer people, removing control from the communities they report to, cutting local jobs, and significantly impacting the delivery of news and other media content to Americans nationwide,” the California Department of Justice said in a statement. “Due to the considerable increase in consolidation, the deal is also expected to raise prices and harm consumers.”The release from the California DOJ also mentioned the impact the merger would have on media in the state. “In California, the combined entity would own half of the Big Four (FOX, NBC, ABC, and CBS) network-affiliated stations, including the local FOX and ABC stations in the Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto area and the local FOX and CBS stations in the San Diego area,” the statement reads. Click here for the full complaint from the California DOJ Nexstar oversees more than 200 owned and partner stations in 116 markets nationwide today and also runs networks like The CW and NewsNation. Meanwhile, Tegna owns 64 news stations across 51 markets.Bonta called the merger between the two broadcast entities “illegal” and said it runs “contrary to federal antitrust laws that protect consumers.” The lawsuit itself cites the Clayton Act, antitrust legislation signed in 1914 to prevent companies from creating a monopoly, “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,” Bonta said. The California DOJ is calling on the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to halt the merger. The Associated Press contributed to this report. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a lawsuit in an attempt to block a merger between two large broadcast companies, Tegna and Nexstar Media Group, according to the state’s justice department.

The lawsuit was filed in Sacramento on Wednesday against both companies, each of which own several local news stations across the country, including Sacramento. KXTL FOX 40 is owned by Nexstar and KXTV ABC10 is owned by Tegna.

In 2025, it was announced that Nexstar intended to purchase Tegna for $6.2 billion.

If the transaction is approved, Nexstar will pay $22 in cash for each share of Tegna’s outstanding stock. And the regulatory greenlight could be likely under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has long-advocated for loosening industry restrictions.

“If allowed to proceed, the deal would create the largest broadcast station group in the United States, putting more broadcast programming in the hands of fewer people, removing control from the communities they report to, cutting local jobs, and significantly impacting the delivery of news and other media content to Americans nationwide,” the California Department of Justice said in a statement. “Due to the considerable increase in consolidation, the deal is also expected to raise prices and harm consumers.”

The release from the California DOJ also mentioned the impact the merger would have on media in the state.

“In California, the combined entity would own half of the Big Four (FOX, NBC, ABC, and CBS) network-affiliated stations, including the local FOX and ABC stations in the Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto area and the local FOX and CBS stations in the San Diego area,” the statement reads.

Nexstar oversees more than 200 owned and partner stations in 116 markets nationwide today and also runs networks like The CW and NewsNation. Meanwhile, Tegna owns 64 news stations across 51 markets.

Bonta called the merger between the two broadcast entities “illegal” and said it runs “contrary to federal antitrust laws that protect consumers.”

The lawsuit itself cites the Clayton Act, antitrust legislation signed in 1914 to prevent companies from creating a monopoly,

“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,” Bonta said.

The California DOJ is calling on the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to halt the merger.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel