Programming on Scripps Local Media’s Scripps Local Media broadcast channels in all 36 Nielsen-designated market areas has been suspended since 7 pm ET today, as the third-largest operator of ABC affiliates and DirecTV has reached a dispute over retransmission rates with both sides laying the blame at each other’s feet.
In a statement, the multichannel distributor said Scripps is “demanding the highest prices DIRECTV has ever received from a channel group, which will continue to dramatically increase costs for consumers and businesses already struggling with affordability. After DIRECTV rejected those demands and sought a more reasonable deal, Scripps chose to remove its channels from viewers in many major markets across the country.”
With dozens of television stations going black, DirecTV noted that the blackout will affect voters ahead of state and local primary elections in June and disrupt live sporting events such as the NBA and NHL Stanley Cup finals on ABC and the US Open golf tournament on NBC. Scripps operates 17 ABC affiliates, including KTNV-ABC in Las Vegas, where the hometown Golden Knights will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL championship. Next week we will see the highly anticipated game to decide the NBA title between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.
“Broadcasters like Scripps continue to amass exclusive control over local sports teams or other public content, then deny viewers access during times of greatest need,” continued a statement from DirecTV. “This enables stations to increase municipal pride and fan loyalty to demand higher guaranteed retransmission rates from distributors like DIRECTV to carry their free-to-air, over-the-air channels, despite growing public concerns about the rising cost of television and other daily broadcasts, and amid the growing availability of multiple broadcast alternatives.”
The outage affected 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, among others.
DirecTV also noted Scripps’ removal of 40 channels from Comcast Xfinity in 19 markets for more than a month, beginning April 1.
“We understand that customers are frustrated by the temporary loss of their regular access to Scripps channels and the local news, network programming, and live sports they provide,” said Rob Thun, DirecTV’s chief content officer, in a statement. “Unfortunately, Scripps is demanding the highest prices we’ve ever seen for free-to-air programming on multiple channels, networks, and third-party streaming apps. We’re committed to protecting customers from indiscriminate and unnecessary increases in unpopular programming while working to restore the channels many viewers rely on.”
In a statement sent to Deadline, Scripps disputed its interpretation by DirecTV, noting that “they have been engaged in honest negotiations with DirecTV to establish an equitable agreement that works for both companies, and most importantly, consumers. They hurt their subscribers by using them as contractual disputes. In contrast, Scripps channels have gone black only twice since we began broadcasting in the 1940s.
“Scripps remains committed to reaching a fair resolution that returns our local channels to DirecTV’s paying subscribers,” the statement concluded. “At stake is our viewers’ basic access to trusted local journalism, critical weather alerts, emergency information and live sports programming that strengthen community bonds – all important public interest content in which Scripps invests heavily every day.”
