A coalition of 13 US state attorneys general and satellite broadcaster DirecTV have accused Nexstar Media Group of breaching a court injunction by installing its own current and former executives on the board of Tegna, the rival TV station operator it is attempting to acquire. The complaint argues that Nexstar cannot simultaneously sit on and control Tegna's board while an April court order requires the two companies to remain independent pending the outcome of an antitrust trial, calling the contradiction obvious. The dispute is significant because the plaintiffs say further integration would strengthen Nexstar's leverage to raise prices, cut journalist jobs and dominate local broadcast news at a time when local coverage is seen as increasingly vital.

The plaintiffs have asked Judge Troy Nunley, who issued the original hold-separate order, to clarify that it bars Nexstar from overseeing Tegna in this manner, and are seeking expedited discovery plus monthly court updates on how Tegna is being run. They cite comments from Nexstar chief executive Perry Sook in May describing Tegna as a Nexstar subsidiary reporting to its board, and allege Nexstar has withheld information and refused to remove its executives from Tegna's board. Nexstar maintains it has "scrupulously complied" with the order, saying Tegna still operates independently and that executive board service is needed to meet financial reporting obligations; the company is separately appealing the injunction to the 9th Circuit. California Attorney General Rob Bonta warned the stakes were high, with further integration risking higher consumer prices and fewer independent local news outlets.