D.C. Circuit Dismisses Challenge to Nexstar-Tegna $6.2 Billion Merger as FCC Review Is Pending
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jul 9
D.C. Circuit Dismisses Challenge to Nexstar-Tegna $6.2 Billion Merger as FCC Review Is Pending
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jul 9
Summary
The D.C. Circuit threw out consolidated appeals against the FCC’s approval of Nexstar’s $6.2 billion purchase of Tegna, ruling Thursday that the court lacks jurisdiction at this stage.
Judges said Newsmax, DirecTV, public-interest groups and other challengers sued too early because the approval came from the FCC’s Media Bureau and has not yet been reviewed by the full commission.
The dismissal does not bar a renewed challenge once FCC commissioners act on the application, a step expected later this year.
Nexstar and Tegna still face a separate antitrust lawsuit over the deal in California federal court, leaving the merger under legal pressure beyond the FCC process.
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Nexstar’s $6.2 Billion Tegna Takeover Blocked: Antitrust Lawsuit Sets New Precedent for Media Mergers
Overview
The acquisition of Tegna by Nexstar Media Group, Inc., which officially closed in March 2026 after approvals from the FCC and DOJ, is now at the center of a major legal battle. A preliminary injunction from Chief Judge Troy Nunley has blocked Nexstar’s full takeover until an antitrust trial is held, following a challenge led by New York Attorney General Letitia James and other attorneys general. Their main concern is that the merger could harm market competition and consumers. This legal fight highlights the growing scrutiny of large media mergers, even after federal approval.