Nexstar Tells Tegna Stations to Share News Stories Despite Legal Hurdle

A judge has issued a temporary restraining order on the Nexstar-Tegna merger, but the companies are still moving forward with integration plans.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 5:07am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a stack of business documents, a pen, and a calculator on a clean, monochromatic background, symbolizing the abstract corporate strategy and financial implications of the Nexstar-Tegna merger.The Nexstar-Tegna merger faces legal hurdles, but the companies continue to push forward with integration efforts that raise concerns about journalistic independence.Buffalo Today

Nexstar held a town hall meeting for all employees, including those from the newly acquired Tegna stations. During the meeting, Nexstar CEO Perry Sook told employees to integrate and reach out to each other. On Friday, both Tegna and Nexstar newsrooms were instructed to immediately share news stories with each other, even in markets where the two stations are competitors. However, a judge has issued a temporary restraining order on the Nexstar-Tegna deal, and the companies have not provided any updates on whether they will halt the integration efforts.

Why it matters

The Nexstar-Tegna merger is a major consolidation in the local TV news industry, and the judge's temporary restraining order has created uncertainty around the deal's future. The directive for Tegna and Nexstar stations to share news content despite being competitors raises questions about how the companies plan to maintain journalistic independence and serve their local communities.

The details

During the town hall, Sook told employees that all emails between Tegna and Nexstar were integrated and that people from the two companies should reach out to each other. On Friday, both Tegna and Nexstar newsrooms were instructed to immediately share news stories with each other, even in markets like Buffalo where WGRZ (a former Tegna station) was told to share its stories with WIVB (a Nexstar station), which have been competing for decades. However, a judge has issued a temporary restraining order on the Nexstar-Tegna deal, and the companies have not provided any updates on whether they will stop the integration efforts.

  • On Thursday, Nexstar held a town hall for all employees, including the newly acquired Tegna folks.
  • On Friday, both Tegna and Nexstar newsrooms were told to share news stories with each other immediately.
  • Over the weekend, a judge issued a Temporary Restraining Order on the Nexstar/Tegna deal.

The players

Perry Sook

The CEO of Nexstar Media Group.

WGRZ

A former Tegna television station in Buffalo, New York.

WIVB

A Nexstar television station in Buffalo, New York that has been competing with WGRZ for decades.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“'GM's haven't heard from Perry since the deal closed,'”

— a company insider

What’s next

Most expect the Nexstar/Tegna deal will ultimately stand (with maybe a few more spinoffs), but the lack of direction right now is really bad. Hopefully, Nexstar can get their act together.

The takeaway

The Nexstar-Tegna merger is facing legal challenges, but the companies are moving forward with integration efforts that raise concerns about journalistic independence and local news coverage. The situation highlights the broader consolidation trends in the local TV news industry and the need for careful oversight to ensure that mergers serve the public interest.