Judge Orders Nexstar to Keep Tegna Assets Separate

A federal judge in the United States has ordered Nexstar Media Group, Inc. to temporarily keep the assets of TEGNA Inc. separate. The ruling, issued late Friday, comes as the court reviews whether the $3.54 billion acquisition of the rival broadcaster violates federal antitrust laws.

The companies had moved quickly to close the deal after receiving approval from the Justice Department and the Federal Communications Commission on March 19. However, U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley issued the hold-separate order in response to a federal antitrust lawsuit.