WASHINGTON, March 27 (Reuters) – A U.S. judge late Friday ‌ordered Nexstar to ‌temporarily keep Tegna’s assets separate pending ​a review of whether the broadcast station owner’s $3.54 billion acquisition of its rival ‌Tegna violates ⁠federal antitrust laws.

The companies quickly closed the deal ⁠after the Justice Department and Federal Communications Commision ​approved the ​deal ​on March 19.

U.S. ‌District Judge Troy Nunley issued the order in response to a federal antitrust lawsuit filed by DirecTV, which ‌argued it would ​irreparably drive ​up consumer ​costs, reduce local ‌competition, shutter local ​newsrooms and ​increase both the frequency and duration of blackouts ​of ‌key local sports teams.

(Reporting by ​David Shepardson; Editing by ​William Mallard)