Five more states have joined an antitrust lawsuit that sought to block the Nexstar–Tegna broadcast giants merger, after a court order last week put the deal on hold while the litigation is ongoing.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said on April 30 that attorneys general from Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Vermont have joined the suit, bringing the total to 13 plaintiffs.
“This is not controversial stuff—this merger is illegal and will give Nexstar and Tegna the ability to control and raise prices, fire journalists, and dominate the media landscape,” Bonta said in a statement.
“We welcome our sister states into the fray and look forward to fighting alongside them,” he added, noting that the states’ participation turned the suit into a bipartisan effort….