Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced on Apr. 30 that, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 11 attorneys general, he has filed an amended complaint against Nexstar Media Group Inc. and Tegna Inc. to challenge their proposed merger.
The coalition is concerned that the merger would create the largest broadcast station group in the United States, potentially reducing competition, cutting local jobs, raising cable bills, and affecting how news and media content are delivered nationwide. The addition of five more states to the lawsuit makes it a bipartisan effort.
“I applaud my colleagues in Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Vermont for joining our fight against this illegal merger between Nexstar and TEGNA,” Raoul said. “This bipartisan coalition is even stronger as we fight to keep lower prices for consumers in Illinois and across the nation without jeopardizing competition in local news or cutting jobs in newsrooms, because all consumers should have access to the diverse ideas represented in independent newsrooms.”
A preliminary injunction was granted by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California soon after the original lawsuit was filed by Raoul’s office and others. This order halts any further action on the merger while litigation continues.
If approved, this deal would combine two of America’s largest television-station conglomerates into one company covering about 80% of U.S. television households. In Illinois markets such as Quad Cities and St. Louis—where Nexstar already controls multiple stations—concerns have been raised about further newsroom staff cuts like those reportedly made at WGN-TV ahead of this potential consolidation.
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 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 issues according to its official website.
Joining Raoul are attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Virginia.
