March 19 (Reuters) - A group of eight states filed suit

late Wednesday in U.S. District Court in California to block

Nexstar's

proposed $3.54 billion acquisition of Tegna ( TGNA ) that would

make the combined entity the largest U.S. broadcast station

group.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the proposed

merger was illegal and would lead to higher pay-TV prices and

reduce jobs.

"When broadcast media is owned by a handful of companies, we

get fewer voices, less competition, and communities lose the

critical check on power that local journalism delivers," Bonta

said.

Last month, Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan

Carr said he supported the deal and would be moving forward to

approve it after President Donald Trump publicly backed the

merger.