WASHINGTON, March 27 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge late

Friday ordered Nexstar to temporarily keep Tegna's

assets separate pending a review of whether the broadcast

station owner's $3.54 billion acquisition of its rival Tegna

violates federal antitrust laws.

The companies quickly closed the deal after the Justice

Department and Federal Communications Commision approved the

deal on March 19.

U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley issued the order in response

to a federal antitrust lawsuit filed by DirecTV, which argued it

would irreparably drive up consumer costs, reduce local

competition, shutter local newsrooms and increase both the

frequency and duration of blackouts of key local sports teams.