Federal Court Temporarily Blocks Nexstar-Tegna Merger

Judge says the two TV companies must remain separate during antitrust lawsuit.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 2:51am

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a stack of legal documents, a gavel, and a pair of eyeglasses arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background, conceptually representing the abstract corporate strategy and legal battles surrounding the Nexstar-Tegna merger.The legal battle over the Nexstar-Tegna merger continues, with a federal judge temporarily blocking the companies from combining operations.Today in Sacramento

A federal judge in Sacramento has issued an injunction temporarily preventing the television giant Nexstar from combining operations with station group Tegna, the latest development in an ongoing legal battle over the $6.2 billion merger. The judge ruled that Nexstar must allow Tegna to continue operating as a separate and independent business unit while the antitrust lawsuit proceeds.

Why it matters

The Nexstar-Tegna merger would create one of the largest local TV station groups in the U.S., raising concerns from competitors and regulators about reduced competition and higher consumer costs in local media markets.

The details

The injunction from Judge Troy L. Nunley of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California requires Nexstar to maintain Tegna as a separate and viable competitor during the ongoing antitrust lawsuit filed by DirecTV and a coalition of states. Nexstar has stated that the merger was completed four weeks ago after receiving regulatory approvals, but the judge said the companies must remain separate pending further court proceedings.

  • The injunction was issued on Friday, April 17, 2026.
  • The Nexstar-Tegna merger agreement was announced in 2025.

The players

Nexstar Media Group

One of the largest local television broadcasting companies in the United States, owning and operating over 200 television stations.

Tegna

A major television station group that owns and operates dozens of local TV stations across the country.

Troy L. Nunley

A judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California who issued the injunction temporarily blocking the Nexstar-Tegna merger.

DirecTV

A major satellite television provider that filed a lawsuit to block the Nexstar-Tegna merger, citing concerns over reduced competition and higher consumer costs.

California, Colorado, and Oregon

A coalition of states that also sued to block the Nexstar-Tegna merger on similar antitrust grounds.

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What they’re saying

“Nexstar must permit Tegna to continue operating as a separate and distinct, independently managed business unit from Nexstar, and Nexstar must put measures in place to maintain Tegna as an ongoing, economically viable, and active competitor.”

— Troy L. Nunley, U.S. District Court Judge

“Nexstar Media Group now owns Tegna.”

— Nexstar

What’s next

The judge has given DirecTV and the coalition of states until the end of the month to revise their antitrust complaints, as the broader legal battle over the merger continues.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between media consolidation and preserving local competition, as regulators and competitors seek to block major mergers that could reduce choices for consumers in local TV markets.