A coalition including DirecTV, labor groups, and several state cable associations filed an emergency petition Friday, urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to halt its approval of Nexstar Media Group’s $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna, launching a fast-moving legal challenge over one of the largest broadcast mergers in recent years.

The petition, filed March 20, argues that the FCC’s Media Bureau exceeded its authority by approving the deal and allowing it to close immediately, rather than referring the matter to the full commission. The groups contend the transaction would create a massive media footprint, with the combined company controlling 265 full-power television stations across 132 markets and reaching more than 80% of U.S. households.

At the center of the dispute is the federal cap on national television ownership, which limits a single company’s reach to 39% of U.S. households. Petitioners argue the FCC lacks legal authority to waive that limit, stating Congress established the threshold in statute and did not grant regulators discretion to override it.

The filing also challenges the approval of multiple local ownership waivers, arguing the agency allowed Nexstar to control more than one major station in numerous markets without conducting the case-by-case analysis typically required. According to the petition, the deal received broad exemptions in at least 21 markets without sufficient justification.

Beyond regulatory concerns, the coalition warns the merger could lead to higher costs for consumers and reduced competition in local news. The petition argues that the expanded company would have greater leverage to demand higher retransmission fees from pay-TV providers, potentially raising subscriber prices. It also raises concerns about possible job cuts and diminished viewpoint diversity in local media markets.

The challengers further contend that the FCC should have designated the transaction for a formal hearing, citing unresolved questions about the deal’s impact on competition, pricing, and public interest obligations.

Nexstar and Tegna had previously acknowledged in regulatory filings that the combined entity would significantly exceed existing ownership thresholds and sought waivers, arguing that current rules are in flux. The FCC’s Media Bureau approved the transaction Thursday, and the companies announced the merger had closed the same day, a move critics say was intended to limit legal challenges.

The petition asks the FCC to immediately stay its approval and block further integration while the full commission reviews the case. If the agency does not act, the coalition says it plans to seek emergency relief from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

The dispute is expected to move quickly, with opponents arguing the approval violates federal law and sets a precedent for future media consolidation.