Scripps Blacks Out 54 Stations on DirecTV, Threatening Las Vegas ABC Finals Coverage
Updated
Updated · Las Vegas Review-Journal · Jun 1
Scripps Blacks Out 54 Stations on DirecTV, Threatening Las Vegas ABC Finals Coverage
10 articles · Updated · Las Vegas Review-Journal · Jun 1
54 Scripps Local Media stations went dark on DirecTV around 4 p.m. Sunday, cutting Las Vegas viewers off from KTNV Channel 13 days before ABC airs the Stanley Cup Final.
The blackout stems from a contract fight over retransmission fees, with DirecTV saying Scripps sought unusually high rates and Scripps accusing the pay-TV provider of removing local news and sports.
Tuesday’s Vegas Golden Knights-Carolina Hurricanes opener at 5 p.m. and Wednesday’s NBA Finals opener at 5:30 p.m. are the most immediate risks because KTNV is one of Scripps’ 17 ABC affiliates.
KTNV urged viewers to switch to digital antennas, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and other local cable or streaming options, while its news remains available on ktnv.com and station apps.
Las Vegas viewers have seen similar carriage fights before: KLAS-TV was off DirecTV for more than two months in 2023 and nearly two months in 2019.
Could the soaring cost of live sports be the final nail in cable TV's coffin?
With constant blackouts and rising bills, is the traditional pay-TV model finally broken?