Eight US states ask judge to temporarily stop $3.5bn Nexstar and Tegna merger

Eight states filed an emergency motion Friday seeking a temporary restraining order to halt Nexstar Media Group's $3.5 billion acquisition of Tegna, a deal the companies closed just two hours after receiving FCC and Department of Justice approval. The states argue the merger would create the largest broadcast station group in the U.S., result in job cuts, and drive up cable bills for consumers. The timing is significant: the states filed their lawsuit Thursday, but Nexstar and Tegna moved swiftly to complete the transaction the following day after federal regulators greenlit the deal, narrowing the window for legal intervention. The case now hinges on whether the judge will grant the emergency order before the merger's effects become irreversible through operational integration.