Story perspectives

Scripps Pulls 54 Stations, DirecTV Blackout Hits Sports

6/2/2026

Summary

Scripps Pulls Stations

E.W. Scripps removed 54 stations from DirecTV, causing a blackout at 7 p.m. on May 31 that hit stations in Baltimore, Boise, Buffalo, Cincinnati and Detroit, and 17 ABC affiliates that air NHL and NBA Finals lost NBC’s U.S. Open.
Rob Thun (DirecTV chief) said Scripps is demanding highest carriage rates.
Scripps blamed DirecTV, cited a removal of 40 stations from Comcast Xfinity, and said viewers can watch via antenna or YouTube TV.

Summary

Scripps Partners Sports

Scripps Television serves as partner for five NHL teams—Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, Utah Mammoth, Nashville Predators—and NBA Detroit Pistons.
Scripps seeks higher retransmission fees from DirecTV and Comcast, a goal shown by its April-May dispute with Comcast that settled after the stations, taken dark only twice in company history, resumed broadcasting.
Analysts note Comcast moved most regional sports networks to higher tiers to recoup content costs.

Summary

Scripps Pulls

Scripps pulled its stations from every DirecTV platform, including satellite, streaming, and U-verse.
The programming remains freely available over-the-air and through many network and third-party streaming apps.
DirecTV warned that the fees Scripps seeks would raise costs for consumers and businesses.
The dispute covers 36 Nielsen DMAs—Detroit, Denver, Miami, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Tampa-St. Petersburg—while Chief content officer Rob Thun said the firm remains committed to protecting customers from cost increases.

Summary

Scripps Demands Carriage

E.W. Scripps urged viewers to call DIRECTV and demand carriage of its 52 affiliates.
DIRECTV offered a 5-Day Trial at $59.99+ per month to keep subscribers.
The dispute involves 52 ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC affiliates in 38 DIRECTV markets.
Both firms claim they defend fair retransmission fees or shield customers from cost hikes, prompting Scripps to warn a deal is required after the contract expired on May 31, 2026.

History

Historical Context

In 1992 Congress passed the Satellite Home Viewer Act, extending the Cable Act’s retransmission-consent rules to satellite providers and requiring them to negotiate fees with broadcasters. The rule led to high-value disputes, exemplified by CBS and NBC’s 1995 $2.5 billion verdict against Dish Network. Today E.W. Scripps is threatening to pull 52 affiliates from DirecTV unless higher fees are agreed, echoing those earlier battles.

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Scripps Pulls Stations

E.W. Scripps removed 54 stations from DirecTV, causing a blackout at 7 p.m. on May 31 that hit stations in Baltimore, Boise, Buffalo, Cincinnati and Detroit, and 17 ABC affiliates that air NHL and NBA Finals lost NBC’s U.S. Open.
Rob Thun (DirecTV chief) said Scripps is demanding highest carriage rates.
Scripps blamed DirecTV, cited a removal of 40 stations from Comcast Xfinity, and said viewers can watch via antenna or YouTube TV.

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