Antitrust enforcement action where Oregon AG filed a lawsuit to block the $6.2 billion merger of Nexstar and Tegna, alleging it violates Clayton Act Section 7 by substantially lessening competition in broadcasting, which could harm local news and raise consumer prices.
The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction to prevent the merger from proceeding.
In-house legal teams should review vendor agreements with advertisers, carriage agreements with cable/satellite providers, and local partnership contracts for change of control clauses, termination rights, exclusivity provisions, and antitrust representations. Specific attention is needed for clauses governing pricing, content quotas, and market exclusivity, as the merger could trigger renegotiation, add market concentration limits, or require adjustments to account for reduced competitive leverage and potential price increases.
Entity
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. and Tegna Inc.
Also known as: Nexstar and Tegna
Industry
Media & EntertainmentOfficial Press Release
https://www.doj.state.or.us/media-home/news-media-releases/attorney-general-rayfield-files-lawsuit-seeking-to-block-6-2-billion-nexstar-tegna-broadcasting-merger/
202 03 18 Complaint for Permanent Injunction Redacted
https://www.doj.state.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/202-03-18-Complaint-for-Permanent-Injunction-Redacted.pdf
Oregon Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://www.doj.state.or.us/consumer-protection/
"acquisition of Tegna Inc. (Tegna) by Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (Nexstar)"
"Section 7 of the Clayton Act"
"mergers that substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly"
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones joined a bipartisan coalition of 13 attorneys general alleging that Nexstar and Tegna are violating a court's hold-separate order by allowing Nexstar personnel to remain on Tegna's Board of Directors during the merger litigation. The coalition seeks clarification of the order to ensure the companies operate independently while the antitrust case proceeds.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, joined by attorneys general from seven other states, filed a lawsuit to block the $6.2 billion merger between Nexstar Media Group and Tegna Inc. The lawsuit alleges the merger violates Section 7 of the Clayton Act by reducing competition in local TV markets, leading to higher prices, less local news, and job losses.
Attorney General Dan Rayfield and a coalition of 21 attorneys general and Pennsylvania filed lawsuits against the U.S. Department of Transportation, FMCSA, and AAMVA to block demands for a database containing personal information of 17 million commercial drivers. The federal government threatened to withhold $10 million in funding unless the data was turned over, which the coalition argues violates privacy law.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield co-led a coalition of 10 states in a federal lawsuit against the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to block a rule that invalidates state laws requiring mortgage lenders to pay interest on escrow accounts. The lawsuit argues the OCC's rule oversteps federal authority, gives national banks a competitive advantage over state-chartered banks, and takes money away from homeowners.
A federal judge ruled that Nexstar Media Group violated a court order requiring it to keep TEGNA Inc. operating as an independent company while a multistate antitrust lawsuit challenging the merger proceeds. The court found that Nexstar installed its own executives on TEGNA's board, failed to disclose the appointments, and lacked candor with the court. The court ordered Nexstar to comply immediately, file status reports, respond to discovery, and turn over board and financial documents, with a special master to oversee compliance.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, joined by a coalition of 23 other states, the District of Columbia, and two governors, sued the Trump administration to block a new policy by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) that would allow federal officials to access private records of millions of TANF recipients. The coalition argues the policy illegally shares sensitive personal data, including Social Security numbers and immigration status, with other federal agencies and private organizations, violating the Administrative Procedure Act and the Spending Clause. The lawsuit seeks to declare the policy illegal and block it from taking effect.