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DirecTV lost access to 54 local broadcast stations across 36 U.S. markets on May 31, 2026, as a retransmission dispute with Scripps Local Media escalated into a nationwide blackout affecting millions of viewers during a critical sports season.
Quick Facts
- 54 local stations across 36 Nielsen Designated Market Areas went dark at 7 p.m. ET on May 31, 2026
- Scripps Local Media operates 17 ABC affiliates including KTNV-ABC in Las Vegas and stations in major markets
- Affected cities include Baltimore, Cincinnati, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, Miami, Milwaukee, Nashville, and Phoenix, among others
- The blackout disrupts coverage of the NBA Finals and NHL Stanley Cup Finals on ABC and the U.S. Open golf tournament on NBC
What Triggered the Blackout
The outage stems from a breakdown in retransmission negotiations between DirecTV and Scripps Local Media. According to DirecTV’s official statement, Scripps demanded “the highest rates DIRECTV has ever received from a station group,” which the satellite provider said would “continue to dramatically raise costs for consumers and businesses already struggling with affordability.” DirecTV declined those demands and sought a more reasonable agreement, leading Scripps to remove its stations from the service.
Rob Thun, Chief Content Officer at DirecTV, said in a statement: “Unfortunately, Scripps is demanding the highest rates we have ever seen for programming that remains available for free over-the-air and through many station, network, and third-party streaming apps. We remain committed to protecting customers from indiscriminate and unnecessary cost increases for less popular programming while still working to restore the stations that many viewers rely on.”
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This is not Scripps’ first carriage dispute. The company previously removed 40 of its stations from Comcast Xfinity customers in 19 of these same markets for over a month, starting April 1, 2026.
Impact on Sports and Local Coverage
The timing of the blackout is particularly disruptive for sports fans. The NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs were set to begin the following week, and the NHL Stanley Cup Finals featuring the Las Vegas Golden Knights against the Carolina Hurricanes were already underway on ABC. The U.S. Open golf tournament on NBC is also affected.
Beyond sports, DirecTV emphasized that the blackout impacts voters ahead of state and local primary elections in June and disrupts access to local news, weather alerts, and emergency information. Scripps operates 17 ABC affiliates across the affected markets, making it a major owner of local broadcast stations. The company noted that stations in cities including Baltimore, Boise, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Lexington, Miami, Milwaukee, Nashville, Omaha, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Tampa-St. Petersburg, and West Palm Beach are all affected.
Scripps’ Response and Next Steps
Scripps disputed DirecTV’s characterization of the dispute, stating it has been “engaging in good-faith negotiations with DirecTV to establish an equitable agreement that serves both companies and, most importantly, consumers.” The company accused DirecTV of employing “heavy-handed tactics” and using subscribers as “bargaining chips.” Scripps added that its local stations have gone dark only twice since the company began broadcasting in the 1940s.
In its statement, Scripps emphasized the importance of local journalism and community connection: “At stake is our viewers’ fundamental access to trusted local journalism, critical weather alerts, emergency information and live sports programming that strengthens community bonds — all essential public interest content in which Scripps invests substantially every day.”
DirecTV has directed affected customers to tvpromise.com for information on accessing content removed by Scripps through alternative platforms. The company continues to seek a resolution with Scripps while the blackout remains in effect.
Sources
- DirecTV Official Statement — Direct statement from DirecTV regarding the Scripps blackout, rate demands, and affected markets
- Deadline Hollywood — Reporting on the retransmission dispute, statements from both DirecTV and Scripps, and impact on sports programming
- Variety — Coverage of the retransmission battle and affected markets
- PR Newswire — Press release on Scripps’ removal of stations and DirecTV’s response
