Plaintiffs allege numerous broadcast companies colluded to fix prices and share nonpublic, competitively sensitive advertising-sales and pricing information, inflating television ad prices. The DOJ brought a related complaint and settled with six broadcasters—including Sinclair, Tribune and Nexstar—barring such information-sharing and requiring cooperation and antitrust compliance. The MDL (In re Local TV Advertising, MDL 2867) is before Judge Virginia M. Kendall (N.D. Ill.). On Jan. 23, 2019 Megan E. Jones (Hausfeld) was appointed lead counsel. In Nov. 2020 the court denied motions to dismiss and to strike class allegations; defendants have answered and discovery is ongoing.