New York Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition of seven other attorneys general secured a court order on April 17 halting the proposed merger between Nexstar Media Group and Tegna, Inc. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of California granted a preliminary injunction that prevents both companies from combining their assets while legal proceedings continue.
The case is significant because it addresses concerns about media consolidation and its impact on competition, consumer prices, and local news coverage. According to James, “Consolidating hundreds of local TV stations under one corporate owner would mean higher prices and lower quality programming for consumers.” She said the court’s decision represents “a critical victory in our effort to enforce the law and stop this merger from moving forward. We will keep fighting our case to ensure fair competition among local TV stations that serve communities across the country.”
Nexstar currently operates more than 200 television stations in 116 U.S. markets, reaching approximately 220 million people, while Tegna controls 64 stations in 51 markets. If merged, they would form the largest broadcast station group in the country with over 250 local TV stations covering roughly 80 percent of Americans. The lawsuit argues that this consolidation would eliminate competition among affiliates of major networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX in at least 31 media markets where both companies own competing stations—including Buffalo, New York.
James and her colleagues allege that Nexstar could use its expanded reach to raise retransmission fees charged to cable providers—costs likely passed on to consumers—and potentially black out channels if providers refuse higher fees. The complaint also claims newsroom consolidation could lead to less diverse perspectives for viewers as identical programming replaces independent reporting across multiple outlets.
The New York Attorney General operates as a public law enforcement agency providing legal advocacy for residents according to its official website. It promotes social justice through civil rights enforcement and consumer advocacy according to the official website, protects New Yorkers by ensuring public safety and defending civil rights according to the official website, provides services such as consumer fraud investigations and tenant dispute mediation according to the official website, works through regional offices statewide according to the official website, and is headed by Letitia James according to the official website.
Joining James in filing this lawsuit are attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, North Carolina, Oregon, and Virginia. As legal proceedings continue following this preliminary injunction ruling—which follows an earlier temporary restraining order—the outcome may set important precedents regarding future media mergers.
