Overview
- Tegna announced Tuesday that Patrick Paolini will become chief executive effective June 1 to run daily operations, revenue strategy, local news and digital growth for the company.
- A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction and a hold-separate order on April 17 that keeps Tegna operating independently of Nexstar while DirecTV and several state attorneys general press an antitrust suit.
- Under the court order Paolini will report to Tegna’s board and Nexstar says it cannot direct Tegna’s day-to-day decisions, limiting integration and corporate control during the litigation.
- Paolini brings more than 30 years of local broadcast and ad-sales experience at Fox Television Stations, a background the board said is aimed at shoring up advertising and digital revenue during the legal pause.
- The injunction has broader consequences for viewers, advertisers and staff because it freezes merger integration, leaves future ownership unresolved while Nexstar appeals, and creates short-term uncertainty for Tegna’s 64 local stations and hundreds of digital platforms.