{"id":2582096,"date":"2026-03-20T08:56:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T12:56:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fcc-quickly-approves-nexstar-tegna-merger-after-states-sought-to-block-it\/"},"modified":"2026-03-20T08:59:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T12:59:35","slug":"fcc-quickly-approves-nexstar-tegna-merger-after-states-sought-to-block-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fcc-quickly-approves-nexstar-tegna-merger-after-states-sought-to-block-it\/","title":{"rendered":"FCC quickly approves Nexstar-Tegna merger after states sought to block it"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffcc-quickly-approves-nexstar-tegna-merger-after-states-sought-to-block-it%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2582096&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Federal Communications Commission approved the $6.2 billion Nexstar-Tegna merger, despite eight <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >blue-state attorneys general seeking<\/a> too block it in federal antitrust litigation. The deal would create the largest operator of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wheres-fauci\/\" title=\"Where\u2019s Fauci?\">local television stations<\/a> in the United States by combining nexstar\u2019s more than 200 stations with Tegna\u2019s 64; the merged group would still own less than 15% of U.S. TV stations, even as its reach would cover more than half of households. The FCC, led by Chairman Brendan Carr, waived the existing rule that caps broadcasters at 39% of households, saying the merger would promote competition, localism, and diversity and help sustain local news coverage. President Donald Trump had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cheney-facing-leadership-threat-says-gop-at-turning-point-in-op-ed\/\" title=\"Cheney, Facing Leadership Threat, Says GOP At \u2018Turning Point\u2019 In Op-Ed\">publicly endorsed<\/a> the deal, and the Department of Justice joined the FCC in approving it; Nexstar chief Perry Sook welcomed the closing. Notably, FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez opposed the approval, arguing the process lacked clarity and could reduce competition and raise consumer costs.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">FCC quickly approves Tegna-Nexstar merger after states sought to block it<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2537835\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/federal-communications-commission\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1637\">Federal Communications Commission<\/a> gave its blessing to the $6.2 billion Nexstar-Tegna <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mergers-and-acquisitions\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"616\">merger<\/a> on Thursday, shortly after eight attorneys general from blue states sought to block the deal in a federal <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/antitrust\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1187\">antitrust<\/a> lawsuit.<\/p>\n<p>The now-finalized merger is set to create the largest operator of local television stations in the nation.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4496854\/advantages-drawbacks-trump-backed-data-center-expansion\/\">Advantages and drawbacks emerge from Trump-backed US data center expansion<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4496611\/iran-war-effect-interest-rates-looming-unknown\/\">Iran war&#8217;s effect on interest remains a looming unknown<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4497006\/an-american-sandwich-in-london-tommys\/\">An American sandwich in London<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Nexstar owns more than 200 local television stations, more than any other broadcaster in that space. Tegna owns only 64 stations, meeting the federal rule that broadcasters reach no more than 39% of U.S. households. The FCC, led by Trump-appointed chairman Brendan Carr, waived that rule in approving the merger.<\/p>\n<p>Nexstar will now own less than 15% of U.S. television stations despite having a massive portfolio that reaches more than half of U.S. households.<\/p>\n<p>The commission says the merger helps promote the FCC&rsquo;s media policy goals of competition, localism, and diversity.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;For too long, the FCC stood by while newspapers closed by the dozen in communities all across the country,&rdquo; Carr <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.fcc.gov\/public\/attachments\/DOC-419971A1.pdf\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/docs.fcc.gov\/public\/attachments\/DOC-419971A1.pdf\">said in a statement<\/a>. &ldquo;Those trusted sources of local news and information shuttered while the FCC dithered. If you care about local news, you should care about the future of local broadcast TV stations. Often, they are the ones in a market doing the gumshoe reporting that citizens value and need.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;By approving this transaction &hellip; the FCC acts mindful of the media marketplace that exists today&mdash;not the one from decades past&mdash;and the agency ensures that these broadcasters have the resources to continue investing in their local news operations,&rdquo; he added.<\/p>\n<p>President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> publicly endorsed the merger in February, backtracking on his previous skepticism. In a Truth Social post, he framed the deal as a possible tool to compete against the &ldquo;Fake News National TV Networks&rdquo; and told the parties involved to &ldquo;GET THAT DEAL DONE!&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"438\">Department of Justice<\/a> joined the FCC in approving the merger, according to Nexstar.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We are grateful to President Trump, Chairman Carr, and the DOJ for recognizing the dynamic forces shaping the media landscape and enabling this transaction to move forward,&rdquo; Nexstar CEO Perry Sook <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nexstar.tv\/ntam\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.nexstar.tv\/ntam\/\">said in a press release<\/a> announcing his company&rsquo;s acquisition of Tegna had been closed.<\/p>\n<p>Before the announcements, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"60\">California<\/a> led a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/oag.ca.gov\/system\/files\/attachments\/press-docs\/2026.03.18%20Complaint%20for%20Permanent%20Injunction%20Redacted.pdf\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/oag.ca.gov\/system\/files\/attachments\/press-docs\/2026.03.18%20Complaint%20for%20Permanent%20Injunction%20Redacted.pdf\">multistate lawsuit<\/a> in an effort to halt the Nexstar-Tegna merger based on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tx-gov-greg-abbott-boycotting-major-league-baseball-over-georgia-wont-throw-rangers-opening-pitch\/\" title=\"TX Gov. Greg Abbott Boycotting Major League Baseball Over Georgia, Won\u2019t Throw Rangers\u2019 Opening Pitch\">federal antitrust law<\/a>. The argument was that the then-proposed merger would lead to higher pay-television prices and reduce newsroom jobs by combining both broadcasters. Separately, DirecTV filed a similar complaint.<\/p>\n<p>California was joined by New York, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, North Carolina, Oregon, and Virginia in the litigation.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4453108\/bipartisan-unease-nexstar-tegna-merger-senate-hearing\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4453108\/bipartisan-unease-nexstar-tegna-merger-senate-hearing\/\">BIPARTISAN UNEASE SURFACES AT SENATE HEARING ON NEXSTAR-TEGNA MERGER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, the sole Democrat on the agency panel, voiced her opposition to the now-approved merger.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This merger was approved behind closed doors with no open process, no full Commission vote, and no transparency for the consumers and communities who will bear the consequences,&rdquo; she <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AGomezFCC\/status\/2034765802092601646\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AGomezFCC\/status\/2034765802092601646\">said<\/a>. &ldquo;The consequences of this rubber stamp approval will be felt in living rooms and newsrooms across the country, resulting in fewer voices, less competition, and higher costs for consumers.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FCC approves Tegna-Nexstar merger after states challenge<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2582097,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP25265595226498.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[5509,16609,16353,63910,73518],"class_list":["post-2582096","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-antitrust","tag-fcc","tag-merger","tag-nexstar","tag-tegna"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP25265595226498.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582096","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2582096"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582096\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2582100,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582096\/revisions\/2582100"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2582097"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2582096"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2582096"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2582096"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}