Key facts
- Scripps Local Media removed 54 broadcast stations from DIRECTV services.
- The blackout affects DIRECTV streaming, satellite, and U-verse customers.
- Customers in 36 Nielsen Designated Market Areas (DMAs) are impacted.
- Scripps is demanding record-high retransmission consent rates.
- The dispute centers on retransmission consent fees, which providers pay to broadcasters to carry local channels.
This dispute centers on retransmission consent fees, which are payments that cable and satellite providers like DIRECTV pay to broadcasters to carry their local channels. Broadcasters often seek higher rates during negotiations, and when an agreement cannot be reached, they may pull their signals, leading to blackouts for viewers. These disputes can impact millions of customers and highlight the ongoing tension between content creators and distributors over the value of local programming.