California Attorney General Rob Bonta, joined by attorneys general from seven other states, filed a lawsuit to block the $6.2 billion merger between Nexstar Media Group and Tegna Inc. The lawsuit alleges the merger violates Section 7 of the Clayton Act by reducing competition in local TV markets, leading to higher prices, less local news, and job losses.
The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction to prevent the merger from proceeding.
In-house legal teams should review all merger and acquisition agreements, including the definitive merger agreement between Nexstar and Tegna, as well as any related shareholder agreements or financing documents. Key clauses to scrutinize include antitrust compliance representations and warranties, regulatory approval conditions (particularly those referencing Section 7 of the Clayton Act), termination rights tied to failure to obtain government clearance, material adverse change (MAC) clauses, and any divestiture or remedy provisions. Given the lawsuit's focus on market concentration and consumer harm, teams must assess whether existing covenants adequately address potential antitrust enforcement actions and consider negotiating amendments to strengthen compliance obligations, adjust termination fees, or incorporate specific divestiture commitments if required by regulators. Additionally, review any clauses related to operational integration that might impact local news staffing or market-level competition, as these could be relevant to ongoing litigation risk.
Entity
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. and Tegna Inc.
Also known as: Nexstar Media Group and Tegna
Industry
Media & EntertainmentOfficial Press Release
https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-files-lawsuit-seeking-block-62-billion-nexstartegna
2026.03.18 Complaint for Permanent Injunction Redacted
https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/2026.03.18%20Complaint%20for%20Permanent%20Injunction%20Redacted.pdf
California Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://oag.ca.gov/privacy/privacy-enforcement-actions
"the acquisition of Tegna Inc. (Tegna) by Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (Nexstar)"
"Section 7 of the Clayton Act"
"mergers that substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly are illegal"
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones joined a bipartisan coalition of 13 attorneys general alleging that Nexstar and Tegna are violating a court's hold-separate order by allowing Nexstar personnel to remain on Tegna's Board of Directors during the merger litigation. The coalition seeks clarification of the order to ensure the companies operate independently while the antitrust case proceeds.
Antitrust enforcement action where Oregon AG filed a lawsuit to block the $6.2 billion merger of Nexstar and Tegna, alleging it violates Clayton Act Section 7 by substantially lessening competition in broadcasting, which could harm local news and raise consumer prices.
Governor Newsom signed the Expanding Privacy Rights Act (SB 923), expanding CCPA deletion rights to cover personal information obtained from third parties and requiring online-only businesses to offer an online method for submitting privacy requests. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and allows businesses to maintain suppression lists to help keep deleted information from being reacquired.
The California Privacy Protection Agency announced that the California State Legislature approved the Expanding Privacy Rights Act (SB 923), which expands the CCPA's right to delete to cover all non-exempt personal information a business holds about a consumer, including data originally collected from third parties. The bill also requires online-only businesses with a direct relationship to consumers to provide online methods, such as webforms, for submitting access, deletion, and correction requests, and expressly permits businesses to retain suppression lists so deleted information stays deleted. The bill, authored by Senator Becker and sponsored by CalPrivacy, now goes to the Governor for consideration.
A bipartisan coalition of 33 state attorneys general, led by Minnesota AG Keith Ellison, began trial against Meta Platforms, Inc., alleging the company knowingly designed and deployed harmful features on Facebook and Instagram that drive children and teens to use the platforms compulsively, while falsely assuring parents and the public that its platforms were safe for young users. The states also allege Meta illegally collected personal information from children under 13 without parental consent, violating COPPA. The trial opened before Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, with the states seeking monetary penalties and injunctive relief.
A coalition of 12 state attorneys general, led by Colorado AG Phil Weiser, obtained a temporary restraining order from a federal court in California to halt the proposed $110 billion merger of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. by Paramount Skydance Corporation. The lawsuit alleges the merger violates Section 7 of the Clayton Act by substantially lessening competition in film distribution, anticipated blockbuster film distribution, and licensing cable TV channels.