Overview
- Federal regulators cleared the merger and Nexstar announced closing, creating a broadcaster with about 265 stations reaching roughly 80% of U.S. television households.
- The FCC waived its 39% national ownership cap for the transaction, and Nexstar agreed to divest six stations in Denver, Indianapolis, New Haven, Portsmouth, Slidell and Rogers within two years.
- Attorneys general from California, New York, Colorado, Illinois, Oregon, North Carolina, Connecticut and Virginia sued in the Eastern District of California and moved for a temporary restraining order to halt asset integration and require a hold‑separate.
- DirecTV filed a parallel antitrust suit arguing the combination will boost Nexstar’s retransmission bargaining power, driving up distributor fees, consumer prices and the risk of blackouts.
- FCC Chair Brendan Carr said the decision supports local journalism, while Commissioner Anna M. Gomez criticized the approval as a nontransparent, closed‑door process that will reduce independent voices.