E.W. Scripps pulls 54 channels from DIRECTV amidst contract dispute
E.W. Scripps pulls 54 channels from DIRECTV amidst contract dispute
The channels have been dark for all DIRECTV customers since Sunday night.
UPDATE: On Sunday, May 31, the contract between E.W. Scripps and DIRECTV expired without either an extension or a new deal, so the channel owner opted to pull all of its offerings from the satellite and live TV streaming service. In total, 54 channels in 36 markets are now dark, impacting millions of households across the United States, including in Baltimore, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Kansas City, Miami, and more. In some of those markets, Scripps owns ABC affiliates, which means that residents in those regions could potentially miss the start of the NBA and NHL Finals this week, including in Las Vegas, where the Golden Knights are looking for their second Stanley Cup title.
Fortunately for Vegas fans, the game will still be available via the ESPN app as part of their DIRECTV subscriptions. However, also in question will be the upcoming U.S. Open golf airing on Scripps-owned NBC channels.
Scripps had a similar retransmission dispute with Comcast earlier this year, and pulled more than 40 channels from Xfinity cable services for over a month before a new deal was struck on May 5. In a statement sent to The Streamable, a DIRECTV representative said that the retransmission fees that Scripps is asking for are “now rank as the highest DIRECTV has ever seen.”
In addition to the frustration felt by customers who now have to go without some of their favorite channels or miss highly anticipated events, as is the case in any of these situations, any additional fees that DIRECTV absorbs will undoubtedly eventually be passed on to consumers, who are already dealing with recently announced price increases confirmed to The Streamable last week.
“We understand customers are frustrated by temporarily losing their usual access to Scripps stations and the local news, network programming, and live sports they provide,” DIRECTV chief content officer Rob Thun said. “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.”
Carriage and retransmission disputes can be as short as a few days, or can last for weeks, or even months, as evidenced by the recent Scripps-Comcast blackout. Stick with The Streamble as we not only continue to cover the developing situation, but also provide information on how you can find alternatives to ensure that you are able to watch all of the shows, news, sports, and summer programming you have been looking for.
| DIRECTV | Fubo | Hulu | Philo | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free 3-Day Trial | Free Trial | Save with Sling | Free Trial | |||||
| $20.99 | $9.99 | $28.99 | $25 | $19.99 | $29.99 | $45.99 | $45.99 | $64.99 | ||
| ABC | + $24 | + $59 | + $61 | - | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
| CBS | + $24 | + $59 | + $61 | - | - | - | - | - | ✓ | |
| Fox | + $19 | + $59 | + $61 | - | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
| NBC | + $19 | + $11 | + $61 | - | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
| The CW | + $39 | + $59 | + $60 | - | - | - | - | - | ✓ | |
Retransmission and carriage disputes are always stressful for viewers who value access to the programming found on the channels at risk. Another potential loss of channels now hovers on the horizon, as DIRECTV and E.W. Scripps have thus far been unable to reach a new carriage agreement for the 52 Scripps-owned channels distributed in DIRECTV channel plans. The current contract reportedly runs through the end of the month, expiring on May 31.
Key Details:
- Summer bummer: A disruption of E.W. Scripps-owned channels on DIRECTV is an increasing possibility.
- Local content: Scripps distributes 52 ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC affiliates on DIRECTV.
- Back and forth: Both sides are using the typical arguments to sway customers as the blackout nears.
On Thursday, Scripps stations in markets that may be affected by channels being pulled began informing customers that ongoing negotiations with DIRECTV weren’t going well, and compelling them to contact the distributor to urge it to maintain access to those channels.
Scripps operates 52 ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC affiliates in 38 markets that are distributed on DIRECTV, all of which could be pulled from the service if the two sides do not agree to a new carriage contract. Scripps says it is seeking a “fair deal” for the programming on those channels, a common line from station owners in carriage disputes.
DIRECTV, meanwhile, is battling back by informing subscribers that Scripps is seeking an exorbitant amount in carriage fees. In a statement provided to The Streamable by a DIRECTV spokesperson, the company says viewer patience while talks with Scripps are ongoing will be key.
“We’re working with Scripps Media to renew its local broadcast stations, yet Scripps is seeking a major rate increase to allow our customers to access the same programs that those stations or their national broadcast networks already make available for free over the air and often online,” the spokesperson said. “We want our customers to receive the best value for their money and appreciate their patience while we work with Scripps to finalize this renewal.”
Any decision to remove channels from a distributor is ultimately that of the channel owners. While it would benefit the customers if both sides in any dispute agreed on a short-term deal to keep the channels available, that would require the channel owners to concede their most powerful negotiating chip. Therefore, when contracts expire amidst contentious negotiations, the end result is almost always the channels being pulled from the platforms.
For now, E.W. Scripps channels remain available on DIRECTV. But if the two sides cannot agree to a new deal soon, DIRECTV customers around the country may lose access to at least one of their local broadcast channels. Keep checking with The Streamable for more information on the negotiations and what to do if a disruption ensues.
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DIRECTV is one of The Streamable’s top choices for the best live TV streaming service overall in 2026, especially for users who want the most channels or want to watch the most live sports. With an unbeatable lineup of local, news, sports, and entertainment channels, three main signature packages, an unlimited DVR, and 20 simultaneous streams at home, DIRECTV remains a premier choice for any cord-cutter.