04:10 AM EDT, 03/19/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Nexstar (NXST) and Tegna ( TGNA ) face legal action from a coalition of eight US states that are seeking to halt the proposed $3.54 billion merger in federal court, Reuters reported Thursday, citing California Attorney General Rob Bonta.

The coalition consists of New York, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, North Carolina, Oregon, and Virginia, and the transaction is deemed unlawful as it would increase consumer television costs while eliminating journalism positions through combined local operations, the outlet quoted Bonta as saying.

The combined entity would have stations in 80% of US homes, which would require the Federal Communications Commission to scrap a limitation on station ownership, Reuters reported.

Nexstar and Tegna ( TGNA ) did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' request for comment.

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