Competitive Info: Coalition Warns Broadcast Merger Would Harm Local News, Consumers.

More than two dozen advocacy organizations, labor unions and civil rights groups are urging the Federal Communications Commission to block a proposed multibillion-dollar merger between television station owners Nexstar and Tegna, arguing the deal would harm competition, consumers and local journalism, according to a report by TVTech.

In a letter submitted to the FCC, the coalition called on the agency to halt the transaction, contending it does not serve the public interest. The filing expands on an earlier petition submitted late last year by several media advocacy and labor groups that sought to stop the acquisition outright.

The latest letter includes a broader range of signatories, including national organizations focused on economic justice, racial equity, workers’ rights and media diversity. Groups representing educators, Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, Hispanic and Latino interests, African American civic participation, urban leagues, and professionals in writing and acting are among those backing the effort.

The proposed deal would combine Nexstar, the nation’s largest television station owner, with Tegna, the fourth largest. Nexstar currently owns or operates more than 200 stations across 116 local markets. If the merger were approved, the combined company would control or operate 265 full-power television stations in 44 states and the District of Columbia, reaching 132 of the country’s 210 designated market areas.

Opponents argue the merger would exceed federal ownership limits and significantly increase concentration in local broadcast markets. They say such consolidation could reduce competition, limit viewer choice and raise costs for cable and satellite subscribers through higher retransmission fees.

The coalition also warned that the deal could weaken local journalism. Larger broadcast groups often reduce newsroom staffing and standardize programming to cut costs, critics said, resulting in less investigative reporting and diminished coverage of local government and community issues. Advocacy groups raised concerns that these effects would disproportionately affect underserved and underrepresented communities that rely heavily on broadcast television.

The FCC is required to review broadcast mergers to determine whether they serve the public interest, taking into account competition, diversity of voices and consumer impact. Critics of the Nexstar-Tegna deal argue it fails to meet those standards and could encourage monopolistic practices in advertising and content distribution.

The letter comes as the FCC continues to review the proposal amid broader debates over media consolidation in an era of streaming and digital platforms. While online services have expanded, broadcast television remains a primary source of news and emergency information for many Americans.

The agency has not yet announced when it will rule on the merger.