Overview

• Nexstar announced a plan to buy Tegna, and Tegna’s board approved the transaction, setting up a potential combination of roughly 265 stations reaching about 80% of U.S. TV households.
• Closing is targeted for the second half of 2026, contingent on shareholder votes and federal review of media-ownership limits.
• A recent Eighth Circuit ruling vacating the FCC’s “top four” in‑market rule and an FCC deregulatory push under Chairman Brendan Carr frame the regulatory path for the deal.
• Local reporting highlights possible duopolies and newsroom consolidation, with experts warning of layoffs and programming changes in markets such as Cleveland (WJW and WKYC), Denver (9News and Fox31) and parts of California.
• Coverage cites differing deal values, with several outlets reporting a $6.2 billion price while others describe a $3.54 billion cash transaction at $22 per share, and Sinclair is reported as a competing suitor.