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.
Oregon and a bipartisan coalition of states filed a notice in Character Technologies, Inc.’s bankruptcy proceedings raising concerns about the company’s safety and privacy practices and the sensitive information it holds, including children’s chatbot conversations. The filing calls for protections if the company’s business or assets are sold or transferred; the release does not report a penalty or court-ordered remedy.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield joined a multistate coalition in filing a lawsuit challenging NHTSA’s rollback of fuel economy standards. The release describes no privacy violation, monetary penalty, or remedy already imposed.
An Oregon judge rejected RealPage’s attempt to have the state’s rent-pricing lawsuit dismissed, allowing the case to move forward. Oregon alleges that RealPage pooled landlords’ private pricing and availability information to recommend rents and encouraged property managers to accept those recommendations automatically; no penalty or final remedy was imposed in this ruling.
$400.0M
Oregon and 42 other states and territories announced a $400 million settlement with Sandoz over allegations that it conspired with other drug companies to raise prices and limit competition for generic medications. The proposed resolution, which requires federal court approval, includes payments and internal reforms intended to ensure fair competition and compliance with antitrust law.