FCC Approves $6.2 Billion Nexstar–Tegna Merger After Waiving Ownership Limits as Eight States and DirecTV Sue
The FCC approved Nexstar’s $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna after waiving national TV ownership limits, saying the combined company — which will own 265 stations in 44 states and D.C. after divesting six outlets — will help local broadcasters and accepting conditions on divestitures, localism and affordability; Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez denounced the deal as a “broadcast behemoth” approved “behind closed doors” that risks newsroom consolidation. On the same day eight Democratic state attorneys general filed an antitrust lawsuit in federal court in Sacramento and DirecTV sued separately, arguing the merger will let Nexstar use Tegna to drive up retransmission fees and consumer bills; Nexstar says it has DOJ clearance (not independently verified) and critics point to past moves, like ordering stations to pull national programming, as evidence of its leverage.
📌 Key Facts
- The FCC approved Nexstar’s $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna, saying the combined group will own less than 15% of U.S. TV stations and framing the deal as helping local broadcasters counter national programmers.
- The FCC, chaired by Brendan Carr, granted waivers of rules limiting how many local stations one company can own to permit the merger and said Nexstar agreed to "concrete conditions," including divesting some stations and taking steps on localism and affordability.
- Nexstar will own 265 television stations in 44 states and Washington, D.C., after divesting six stations; most of those stations are affiliates of ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC.
- Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez denounced the approval as creating a "broadcast behemoth," said it violated the FCC’s National Television Ownership rule, called the deal approval "behind closed doors" without a full Commission vote, and warned of newsroom consolidation.
- On the same day as the FCC approval, eight Democratic state attorneys general filed an antitrust lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Sacramento to block the merger, and DirecTV filed a separate lawsuit in the same court arguing Nexstar will use Tegna to drive up retransmission fees and consumer bills.
- There are 31 markets where Nexstar and Tegna each currently own at least one station, a cited source of local-concentration concerns.
- News reports include on-the-record quotes from FCC Chair Brendan Carr defending the deal, Commissioner Anna Gomez criticizing the process and outcome, and New York Attorney General Letitia James warning of potential cable price spikes.
- Nexstar says it has DOJ approval (which AP/NPR could not immediately verify) and President Trump publicly endorsed the merger on social media; critics point to past Nexstar actions showing leverage over content—e.g., its order last fall for its ABC stations to pull Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show.
📊 Relevant Data
As of 2025, racial minorities hold majority stakes in only 5% of commercial television stations in the United States, compared to Whites who hold majority stakes in 74% of such stations, while the U.S. population is approximately 41% non-White according to 2023 Census data.
FCC: Women Have Majority Stakes in 10% of Commercial Stations — TV Technology
Black ownership of broadcast stations has declined since the passage of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, which allowed for widespread consolidation in the industry, contributing to ongoing low levels of minority ownership.
The Case For Status Quo: NABOB, Public-Interest Groups Urge FCC To Keep Ownership Limits — Inside Radio
Broadcast station groups derive anywhere from 33% to 50% of their annual revenue from retransmission fees, which are payments from distributors like cable providers and are often passed on to consumers through higher bills.
Broadcast station owners want to consolidate. They're struggling to get deals done — CNBC
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms that the FCC, chaired by Brendan Carr under the Trump administration, granted waivers of rules limiting how many local stations one company can own in order to approve the merger.
- Specifies that Nexstar will own 265 television stations in 44 states and D.C. after divesting six stations, and that most are affiliates of ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC.
- Details that the state and DirecTV lawsuits were filed in U.S. District Court in Sacramento, California, and that there are 31 markets where Nexstar and Tegna each currently own at least one station.
- Provides new, on-the-record quotes: from FCC Chairman Carr defending the deal as necessary to sustain local broadcasters; from Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez blasting the approval as done 'behind closed doors' without a formal vote and warning of newsroom consolidation; and from New York AG Letitia James predicting cable price spikes.
- Notes that Nexstar claims to have DOJ approval, which AP/NPR says it could not independently verify immediately, and that President Trump personally endorsed the merger in February on social media, framing it as needed 'competition' against 'Fake News National TV Networks.'
- Adds a concrete example of Nexstar’s past leverage over content: its decision last fall to order its ABC stations to pull Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show.
- The FCC has formally approved Nexstar’s $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna, saying the combined group will still own less than 15% of U.S. TV stations and help counter the power of national programmers.
- FCC Chair Brendan Carr says Nexstar agreed to 'concrete conditions,' including divesting some stations and taking 'localism' and 'affordability' steps, as part of the approval.
- Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez publicly denounced the approval as creating a 'broadcast behemoth' that violates the FCC’s National Television Ownership rule and said the deal was approved 'behind closed doors' with no full Commission vote.
- On the same day as the FCC’s approval, eight Democratic state attorneys general filed an antitrust lawsuit in federal court in Sacramento to block the merger, and DirecTV filed a separate case arguing Nexstar will use Tegna to drive up retransmission fees and thus consumer bills.
- The FCC statement frames the merger as enabling local broadcasters to counter 'national programmers,' while Nexstar claims the deal is 'essential' to sustaining strong local journalism in its communities.