Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced on Mar. 20 that he, along with seven other state attorneys general, filed an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order to halt the merger between Tegna Inc. and Nexstar Media Group Inc. The move follows recent approval of the deal by the Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice.
The proposed merger would create the largest broadcast station group in the United States, consolidating control over television content and potentially affecting local news coverage, jobs, and consumer costs. Raoul said, “I join my fellow attorneys general in asking the court to stop this illegal merger between Nexstar and TEGNA. If allowed to proceed, it would create a broadcast behemoth with control over an unprecedented share of broadcast television content, including local news and sports.”
Raoul also said, “The effect would mean higher prices for Illinois consumers, less competition in local news and job cuts to newsrooms and on-air staff. Now more than ever, consumers should have access to the diverse ideas represented in independent newsrooms.” The lawsuit argues that combining Nexstar—the nation’s largest television-station conglomerate—with Tegna—the third-largest—would result in one company reaching about 80% of U.S. television households. In Illinois markets such as Chicago, Quad Cities, and St. Louis (which includes southwestern Illinois), both companies already own major network affiliates.
Concerns have been raised about newsroom staffing reductions at WGN-TV in Chicago ahead of the merger’s completion. According to Raoul’s office, these developments could further threaten local journalism across Illinois.
The Illinois Attorney General has advocated for vulnerable groups including workers, immigrants and seniors according to its official website. The office handles thousands of consumer complaints each year according to its official website, aims to protect consumers while promoting safer communities and advocating for environmental issues according to its official website, extends advocacy efforts statewide according to its official website, partners with law enforcement agencies according to its official website, and offers services such as complaint filing for consumer fraud or civil rights violations according to its official website.
Joining Raoul in challenging the merger are attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, New York, North Carolina, Oregon and Virginia.
