economy

Judge blocks Nexstar's acquisition of Tegna until antitrust suit resolved

A federal judge has blocked a $6.2 billion merger of local television giants Nexstar Media Group and rival Tegna until an antitrust lawsuit is resolved.

Judge blocks Nexstar's acquisition of Tegna until antitrust suit resolved

TL;DR

  • A federal judge has blocked the $6.2 billion merger of Nexstar Media Group and Tegna.
  • The decision stems from an antitrust lawsuit filed by eight attorneys general and DirecTV.
  • Concerns include potential higher prices for consumers, reduced local journalism, and monopolistic practices.
  • The merger would create a company owning 265 television stations in 44 states.
  • Nexstar plans to appeal the ruling, asserting prior FCC and Justice Department approval.
  • The judge noted the merger could lead to higher broadcast fees for distributors like DirecTV.