DirecTV and Scripps Clash Over Retransmission Terms, Blackout Affects 54 Stations in 36 Markets

The dispute between Scripps and DirecTV has intensified, with 54 of Scripps’ local stations across 36 Nielsen-designated markets going dark as of 7 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Both parties attributed responsibility for the outage, which DirecTV highlighted as occurring just prior to upcoming state and local primaries in June, as well as the NBA and NHL finals on ABC and the U.S. Open on NBC.

DirecTV alleged that Scripps was seeking the highest carriage fees it has ever requested from a station group, which would further increase costs for consumers and businesses already facing affordability challenges. After DirecTV rejected these terms and pursued a more reasonable deal, Scripps proceeded to remove its stations from several major U.S. markets.

Scripps countered that it had been negotiating in good faith with DirecTV to reach an equitable agreement that serves both parties and, above all, consumers. It expressed disappointment that DirecTV chose to remove its local stations, describing the move as employing tactics reminiscent of pay‑TV operators that prioritize leverage over subscriber interests. Scripps noted that its stations have gone dark only twice since the company began broadcasting in the 1940s.

DirecTV pointed out that Scripps had previously removed 40 of its stations from Comcast Xfinity in 19 markets for more than a month, beginning in early April.

Rob Thun, chief content officer at DirecTV, said, “We recognize that customers are frustrated by the temporary loss of access to Scripps stations and the local news, network programming, and live sports they provide. Unfortunately, Scripps is seeking the highest rates we have ever offered for content that remains freely available over‑the‑air and through numerous station, network, and third‑party streaming services. We remain dedicated to shielding consumers from unnecessary cost increases for less popular programming while continuing efforts to restore the stations many rely on.”

Scripps added in its statement, “We remain committed to reaching a fair resolution that restores our local stations to DirecTV’s subscriber base. The stakes include viewers’ access to trusted local journalism, critical weather alerts, emergency information, and live sports programming that fosters community bonds—content that Scripps invests heavily in daily.”

The affected markets span Baltimore, Boise, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Lexington, Miami, Milwaukee, Nashville, Omaha, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Tampa‑St. Petersburg, West Palm Beach, and others.

Meanwhile, DirecTV recommended that sports fans access the content through the ESPN app, whereas Scripps suggested free over‑the‑air reception via an antenna, or alternative streaming options such as Tablo TV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, or other cable and streaming services.

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