Federal judge blocks $6.2B Nexstar-Tegna merger as antitrust violation

Chief Judge Troy L. Nunley of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California issued a preliminary injunction on April 20, 2026, halting the $6.2 billion Nexstar-Tegna merger until an antitrust lawsuit was resolved. Nunley ruled the combined company's market share alone was sufficient to presume the merger would violate antitrust law, and found that Nexstar's control over NFL broadcast rights in key markets would give it leverage to force price increases on pay-TV providers like DirecTV. Nexstar announced plans to appeal to the Ninth Circuit.