The US Justice Department unconditionally cleared the $3.5 billion deal for Nexstar Media Group Inc. to acquire rival Tegna Inc., which would create the largest operator of local TV stations in the country,

The Federal Communications Commission has granted approval for Nexstar Media Group Inc. to complete its $3.5 billion acquisition of TV station operator Tegna Inc., waiving an anti-consolidation rule that would’ve prevented the combination.

The FCC on Thursday said it has approved the $6.4 billion merger between Nexstar and Tegna. California and other states have sued to block the merger.

The Federal Communications Commission said on ​Thursday it has approved the sale ‌of some local broadcast TV stations from Tegna to Nexstar .

Eight attorneys general file antitrust suit to stop Nexstar’s $6.2B Tegna deal, urging DOJ and FCC to block the merger.

The deal will give Nexstar control of local newscasts in more than 70 percent of households across the country.

The FCC's media bureau approved Nexstar's $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna, just one day after attorneys generals from eight states called upon the DOJ and the FCC to halt the "illegal" merger. FCC chairman Brendan Carr and President Donald Trump had both previously expressed support for the deal,

Eight states, including New York, filed suit to stop Nexstar’s $6.2B Tegna deal, citing competition concerns despite support from some federal leaders.