State Senator
Matt Lesser
Deputy Majority Leader
Your Independent Voice
- Representing
- Cromwell,
- Middletown,
- Newington,
- Rocky Hill,
- Wethersfield
HARTFORD – Today, State Senator Matt Lesser wrote a letter requesting Connecticut Attorney General William Tong to review the proposed purchase by Nexstar Media Group of its rival Tegna for possible violations of the Connecticut Antitrust Act.
Not only would the merger violate the FCC’s longstanding 39% ownership cap in many media markets, but Senator Lesser also cites concerns over allegations that Nexstar pressured ABC to drop comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s television show in response to pressure from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. This pressure came shortly after Kimmel spoke critically of the administration and mainstream Republicans on his show earlier this week.
You can read the letter in it’s entirety below.
September 19, 2025
Dear Attorney General Tong,
I write to request that you use your powers to review the proposed purchase by Nexstar Media Group of its rival Tegna for possible violations of the Connecticut Antitrust Act, as incorporated in 35-24 et seq. of the Connecticut General Statutes.
In Connecticut, Nexstar owns WTNH Channel 8 and WTCX Channel 59 and Tegna owns WTIC Fox 61 and WCCT Channel 20.
Nationally the proposed merger would create a company that would exceed the FCC’s longstanding 39% ownership cap in many media markets. In Connecticut it would dramatically reduce consumer choice and lead to monopolization of news coverage in the Hartford-New Haven media market.
This would be concerning and potentially illegal under any circumstances and should warrant your attention, but I am alarmed by Nexstar’s apparent willingness to abuse its existing market power even before the merger increases its clout.
Specifically, numerous media reports suggest that Nexstar pushed ABC to drop comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s television show in response to pressure from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and potentially from President Trump himself. ABC swiftly did so.
Carr had publicly threatened to use his official powers to punish ABC for giving a platform to Kimmel. Carr then publicly praised Nexstar, which is awaiting FCC approval of its proposed merger, for its role in helping to get Kimmel canceled.
The Connecticut Antitrust Act gives you significant powers to protect the public from anticompetitive behavior.
In 1985, the Second Circuit suggested that your office could enjoin an unlawful merger under the state antitrust law. In 1992, your office argued a planned merger would violate federal and state antitrust law, which resulted in concessions from the business that resulted in a stipulated agreement. As a state senator, I support your continued efforts to strengthen the law including with 2025 proposed HB 7072, but urge you to examine this specific issue closely under your existing powers.
In addition to the issues raised above under Connecticut law, the misuse of official power to pressure a television network to drop a comedian raises serious and troubling constitutional questions because it seems to violate the plain meaning of the First Amendment.
However, Nexstar is not a victim nor is it blameless and its eagerness to buckle to pressure from the Trump Administration raises serious questions about whether it will have a greater ability to harm the public in the event that this merger is approved. The merger could jeopardize access to timely and accurate news coverage in the Hartford-New Haven media market and could harm the public interest.
Accordingly, I ask that you move swiftly to use your powers to review this proposed transaction and pursue additional actions as appropriate.
Sincerely,
Matthew Lesser
