Tegna Inc.
Tegna Inc. was an American broadcast television and digital media company formed from the broadcasting and digital businesses of Gannett.
Last updated October 18, 2026
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Overview
Tegna Inc., stylized as TEGNA, was an American broadcast television, digital media, and marketing-services company headquartered in Tysons, Virginia. The company was created on June 29, 2015, when Gannett separated its publishing operations from its broadcast and digital businesses. The post-separation company retained the historic Gannett corporate entity and stock-price history, while the newspaper assets were placed into a newly created company that continued to use the Gannett name and was later renamed USA Today Co. Tegna was named as a partial anagram of Gannett. The company’s principal business was local television broadcasting. It owned or operated stations affiliated with major American broadcast networks, including NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox, and developed a large station portfolio through acquisitions and station exchanges. At its peak, the company was described as owning or operating 68 television stations in 54 markets. Its scale made it the largest owner of NBC-affiliated stations and one of the largest owners of ABC affiliates in the United States. Tegna also operated two digital multicast networks, True Crime Network and Quest, distributing specialized programming over broadcast subchannels and related digital platforms. Tegna inherited several businesses and assets from old Gannett. These included G/O Digital, a digital marketing-services operation, and television stations acquired by Gannett from Belo Corporation and London Broadcasting Company before the corporate separation. It also temporarily owned or controlled digital and employment-marketplace assets. Tegna completed the public spin-off of Cars.com in 2017 and sold CareerBuilder to an investor group led by affiliates of Apollo Global Management and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. These transactions reflected a strategy of concentrating the company on broadcasting, local news, digital advertising, and related media services. The company expanded substantially between 2017 and 2019. It acquired stations including KFMB-TV in San Diego, WTOL-TV in Toledo, KWES-TV in Odessa, and a group of stations from Nexstar and Tribune Media that Nexstar was required to divest for regulatory reasons. Tegna also acquired the remaining interest in the Justice Network and Quest from Cooper Media and purchased the Dispatch Broadcast Group’s television and radio assets, including WBNS stations in Columbus and WTHR in Indianapolis. In 2019, it launched VAULT Studios, an in-house digital content studio initially focused on true-crime podcasts derived from local news resources. Its digital advertising subsidiary Premion became another significant component of the company’s media-services strategy. Tegna’s business was affected by repeated retransmission-consent disputes with major pay-television distributors. Disputes with DirecTV and related AT&T services in 2020 and 2023 temporarily removed many Tegna stations from those platforms. A separate Dish Network dispute in 2021 and 2022 also led to station blackouts. Tegna said the 2023 DirecTV dispute contributed to lower subscriber levels and revenue during 2023. In 2025, the company eliminated its Verify fact-checking team and approximately 20 journalism positions, according to published reports. Tegna attracted takeover interest for several years. Standard General and Apollo Global Management agreed in 2022 to take the company private for $24 per share, but FCC review referred the transaction to an administrative law judge, and the agreement was terminated in 2023. In August 2025, Tegna agreed to be acquired by Nexstar Media Group for $22 per share, or approximately $6.2 billion. Shareholders approved the transaction in November 2025. The U.S. Department of Justice and FCC approved the merger on March 19, 2026, and the transaction closed shortly afterward. Litigation by a group of states and DirecTV, followed by a temporary restraining order and a preliminary-injunction proceeding concerning integration, created continuing…
History
Tegna was established through the 2015 separation of Gannett’s publishing and broadcasting businesses. The corporate structure was unusual: the existing Gannett entity changed its name to Tegna and retained the broadcasting and digital operations, while the newspaper assets were transferred to a new company that adopted the Gannett name. The separation was completed on June 29, 2015. Tegna retained the old Gannett stock-price history but began trading under the TGNA ticker. Gracia Martore, who had led Gannett, became Tegna’s chief executive, while Robert Dickey continued to lead the publishing company. The new company inherited Gannett’s station portfolio and digital businesses. It retained G/O Digital and stations acquired from Belo and London Broadcasting Company before the separation. Tegna initially pursued portfolio simplification and digital expansion. It announced the spin-off of Cars.com in 2016, completed the transaction in 2017, and subsequently appointed Dave Lougee, previously president of Tegna Media, as president and chief executive. CareerBuilder was sold in 2017 to an investor group led by Apollo-affiliated funds and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. Tegna then expanded its broadcast footprint. It completed the acquisition of KFMB-TV and related San Diego assets in 2018, agreed to acquire WTOL-TV and KWES-TV from Gray-related divestitures, and in 2019 agreed to purchase eleven stations from Nexstar for $740 million. The latter transaction was connected to regulatory remedies arising from Nexstar’s acquisition of Tribune Media. Tegna also bought the remaining interest in the Justice Network and Quest from Cooper Media for $77 million. In the same period, it purchased the Dispatch Broadcast Group’s television and radio properties for $535 million, adding WBNS in Columbus, WTHR in Indianapolis, and related Ohio media assets. It created VAULT Studios in 2019 to produce digital content, initially including true-crime podcasts based on local reporting. The company’s operations included traditional local news, network-affiliated programming, digital multicast services, and advertising. Quest launched in 2018 with programming centered on science, engineering, military history, natural history, and human achievement. True Crime Network provided another specialized multicast service. Premion supported advanced television and connected-TV advertising, while Tegna’s station group supplied local content and audience reach. Retransmission negotiations became a recurring feature of Tegna’s business. In December 2020, a dispute with DirecTV and related AT&T services removed at least 60 stations in 51 markets. Dish Network removed at least 64 Tegna stations beginning in October 2021, and the dispute ended in February 2022. Another DirecTV dispute began in November 2023 and affected 66 stations before resolution in January 2024. Tegna later attributed lower subscribers and overall revenue in 2023 partly to the DirecTV interruption. Tegna also faced sustained takeover pressure. Activist investor Soo Kim and Standard General criticized the company’s performance and governance and launched proxy efforts in 2020 and 2021. Shareholders re-elected Tegna’s existing directors in 2020. In February 2022, Tegna agreed to a $5.4 billion take-private transaction led by Standard General and Apollo Global Management. The proposal raised concerns from members of Congress, the NewsGuild-CWA, and other parties regarding local-news employment, ownership concentration, consumer pricing, and the proposed operating structure. In February 2023, FCC staff referred the transaction to an administrative law judge. Tegna and the buyers terminated the agreement in May 2023. Tegna announced a new sale process in August 2025, agreeing to be acquired by Nexstar for approximately $6.2 billion. Shareholders approved the transaction in November 2025. The DOJ and FCC approved it on March 19, 2026, and closing followed shortly afterward. Antitrust suits filed by California and other states, together with a DirecTV action, led to a temporary restraining order and later a preliminary-injunction proceeding concerning integration. The post-closing legal status and extent of Tegna’s continuing independent operations therefore remained subject to court resolution.
- 2026
Nexstar acquisition closes
[1]Federal approval was granted and the Nexstar acquisition closed, although subsequent litigation challenged integration.
- 2025
Nexstar acquisition agreement announced
[1]Tegna agreed to be acquired by Nexstar Media Group for approximately $6.2 billion.
- 2023
Standard General transaction ends
[1]The proposed take-private deal was terminated after FCC proceedings delayed completion.
- 2022
Private-equity take-private agreement announced
[1]Tegna agreed to a proposed acquisition by Standard General and Apollo Global Management valued at approximately $5.4 billion.
- 2019
Tegna expands through station acquisitions
[1]Tegna acquired or agreed to acquire multiple stations from Nexstar, Tribune Media, and Dispatch Broadcast Group, materially expanding its local television portfolio.
- 2018
Quest launches
[1]Tegna and Cooper Media launched Quest as a digital multicast network.
- 2017
Cars.com is spun off
[1]Tegna completed the public spin-off of Cars.com, which began trading independently under the CARS ticker.
- 2015
Tegna is created through the Gannett separation
[1]Gannett completed the separation of its publishing operations from its broadcast and digital businesses, creating Tegna as the successor corporate entity for the latter activities.
Products and positioning
A large-scale U.S. local television and digital media operator focused on station ownership, local news, multicast networks, advertising technology, and audience monetization.
Broadcast television · 2015
Local television stations
Tegna’s core portfolio consisted of network-affiliated local television stations across U.S. markets. These stations produced local news, weather, sports, public-affairs, and community programming while also carrying network schedules and selling local and national advertising.
Digital multicast television network · 2015
True Crime Network
True Crime Network is a digital multicast network focused on true-crime and related factual programming. Tegna acquired the remaining ownership interest from Cooper Media in 2019.
Digital multicast television network · 2018
Quest
Quest is a multicast network launched with Cooper Media in 2018. Its programming themes include engineering, science, military history, natural history, and notable human achievements.
Advertising services
Premion
Premion was Tegna’s advanced television and connected-TV advertising business, providing targeted advertising inventory and campaign services across streaming and digital video environments.
Digital content studio · 2019
VAULT Studios
VAULT Studios was Tegna’s in-house digital content studio, established in 2019. Its initial projects included true-crime podcasts drawing on reporting and archival material from Tegna’s local stations.
Controversies
2021
Sven Sundgaard sues KARE 11 and Tegna alleging discrimination
Meteorologist Sven Sundgaard filed a lawsuit against KARE 11 and its parent company Tegna, claiming discrimination over his sexual orientation and religious beliefs; the lawsuit also alleges a hostile work environment, defamation and violation of the Minnesota Human Rights Act. KARE 11 denied the allegations.
2019
Former WTSP anchor sues station and owner Tegna
Former WTSP anchor Reginald Roundtree sued his former station and its owner, Tegna, alleging that they fired him in retaliation for raising an age-discrimination complaint. The lawsuit also alleged that the station fostered a hostile environment for older employees and sought to replace them with younger employees. These are allegations; the source does not report a court determination.
Brand decisions
2025
Agree to Nexstar acquisitionM&ABackground
Tegna sought a strategic buyer after the failed Standard General transaction and continued consolidation in U.S. local television.
Action taken
Tegna agreed to be acquired by Nexstar Media Group for $22 per share.
Aftermath
Shareholders approved the transaction in November 2025. Federal approval and closing occurred in March 2026, followed by litigation concerning integration.
announced transaction value. $6.2 billion (2025-2026)
- DirecTV — DirecTV filed an action opposing the merger, contributing to post-approval litigation over the transaction.
- Newsmax — Newsmax opposed the acquisition, arguing that it would increase local television concentration and reduce competition.
2022
Accept Standard General and Apollo take-private proposalM&ABackground
After years of activist pressure and takeover interest, Tegna evaluated a transaction that would remove it from public markets.
Action taken
Tegna agreed to a proposed $24-per-share acquisition led by Standard General and Apollo Global Management.
Aftermath
FCC review referred the transaction to an administrative law judge, and the agreement was terminated in May 2023.
announced transaction value. $5.4 billion (2022)
- NewsGuild-CWA — The union raised concerns about ownership, financing, local-news employment, and the proposed transaction structure.
2019
Create VAULT StudiosProduct launchBackground
Tegna sought to extend the value of its local reporting and develop owned digital programming.
Action taken
It established VAULT Studios as an in-house digital content studio, initially producing true-crime podcasts.
Aftermath
The initiative broadened Tegna’s content activities beyond linear television, although later operating details are not specified in the reference material.
2017
Spin off Cars.comM&ABackground
Tegna pursued a more focused portfolio centered on television, local media, and digital advertising.
Action taken
The company completed the public spin-off of Cars.com.
Aftermath
Cars.com became an independently traded company, while Tegna concentrated more heavily on broadcasting and media services.
2015
Separate broadcasting and publishing operationsStrategyBackground
Gannett sought to give its publishing and broadcasting businesses separate strategic and financial identities as media consumption moved increasingly toward digital platforms.
Action taken
The existing Gannett corporation changed its name to Tegna and separated its newspaper assets into a newly formed company that retained the Gannett name.
Aftermath
Tegna became an independent public company focused on broadcasting, digital media, and related services.
Recent events
Sven Sundgaard sues KARE 11 and Tegna alleging discrimination[3]
Reported:
Meteorologist Sven Sundgaard filed a lawsuit against KARE 11 and its parent company Tegna, claiming discrimination over his sexual orientation and religious beliefs; the lawsuit also alleges a hostile work environment, defamation and violation of the Minnesota Human Rights Act. KARE 11 denied the allegations.
TEGNA announces acquisition of Locked On podcast network[4]
Reported:
TEGNA announced that it was acquiring the Locked On podcast network, which comprises 160 podcasts covering professional and college sports. No terms were announced.
Tegna reports fourth-quarter earnings[5]
Reported:
Tegna reported fourth-quarter net income of $84 million, down from $161 million a year earlier, while revenue grew 8.1% to $694 million. The company predicted a record year in 2020 as political advertising spending returns.
Former WTSP anchor sues station and owner Tegna[2]
Reported:
Former WTSP anchor Reginald Roundtree is suing his former station and its owner, Tegna, alleging that they fired him in retaliation for raising an age-discrimination complaint. The lawsuit also alleges that the station fostered a hostile environment for older employees and sought to replace them with younger employees. These are allegations; the article does not report a court determination.
Sources6 sources
- 1Tegna Inc.en.wikipedia.org
- 2Former WTSP anchor sues station and owner Tegnaftvlive.com
- 3Sven Sundgaard sues KARE 11 and Tegna alleging discriminationb105country.com
- 4TEGNA宣布收购Locked On播客网络awfulannouncing.com
- 5Tegna公布第四季度业绩nexttv.com
- 6Meteorologist Sven Sundgaard sues KARE 11, claiming he was fired over his sexual orientation, religionbrainerddispatch.com
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