(Bloomberg) — A group of state attorneys general are suing to block the $3.5 billion deal by Nexstar Media Group Inc. for rival Tegna Inc., which would create the largest operator of local broadcasters in the country. In the lawsuit...

March 19 (UPI) -- The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday approved the sale of Tegna and its television stations to Nexstar, which will now have a media footprint that reaches 60% of U.S. households.

Nexstar Media Group said it "has closed its acquisition" of Tegna in a $6.2 billion deal that would following approval of the transaction from the FCC and the Department of Justice. The deal would augment Nexstar, already the biggest TV station group in the U.S., with Tegna's footprint -- resulting in a company with nearly 260 full-power stations. Nexstar's announcement comes the same day eight state attorneys general and DirecTV filed federal lawsuits seeking to block the Tegna takeover.

Nexstar Media Group said it "has closed its acquisition" of Tegna in a $6.2 billion deal that would following approval of the transaction from the FCC and the Department of Justice. The deal would augment Nexstar, already the biggest TV station group in the U.S., with Tegna's footprint -- resulting in a company with nearly 260 full-power stations. Nexstar's announcement comes the same day eight state attorneys general and DirecTV filed federal lawsuits seeking to block the Tegna takeover.

DirecTV filed a federal antitrust alleging that the proposed $6.2 billion Nexstar Media deal to buy rival Tegna violates the federal antitrust laws — and would significantly harm consumers.