DIRECTV and Scripps Reach Agreement for Local Broadcast Stations
DIRECTV and The E.W. Scripps Company have finalized a multi-year agreement, restoring 54 local broadcast stations to DIRECTV customers. The deal concludes a five-week blackout period.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – DIRECTV announced a new multi-year agreement with The E.W. Scripps Company, effective immediately. The deal reinstates 54 local broadcast stations owned by Scripps onto DIRECTV's satellite, streaming, and U-verse services.
The agreement ends a five-week blackout that affected millions of viewers across 36 metropolitan areas. Customers had been unable to access local news, weather, and major sporting events during the dispute.
Rob Thun, chief content officer at DIRECTV, stated that broadcasters have used blackouts and sought rate increases that significantly exceed inflation. He criticized the practice of asking customers to pay more for less content during times of economic pressure.
Thun also raised concerns about the increasing consolidation of station ownership and its impact on negotiating power. He asserted that viewers should not lose access to essential local programming due to carriage disputes and advocated for a modernized system that prioritizes viewer interests over consolidated market power.