Major channel blocked for some Kansas City viewers in DirectTV-Scripps dispute
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Over 50 broadcast stations in 36 markets are in a DirecTV programming blackout.
- DirecTV says Scripps demands unprecedented retransmission rates; parties blame each other.
- Without KSHB, users are without essential news, weather, election and sports coverage.
Over 50 broadcast stations in 36 media markets nationwide, including KSHB (Channel 41) in Kansas City, are in a programming blackout because of a days-long pricing dispute between Scripps Local Media and programming distributor DirecTV.
Disagreement over price has left millions without access to upcoming coverage of local and state elections and essential weather and news reports. Other markets won’t be able to broadcast NBA and NHL finals. Without a resolution, Kansas City DirecTV subscribers may be unable to watch upcoming KC Current soccer matches via KSHB sister station, 38 The Spot.
The two companies are pointing fingers at each other as Scripps demands “the highest rates DIRECTV has ever received from a station group,” DirecTV said in a news release. Scripps, however, stated that they are in “good-faith negotiations” for a new contract.
Both companies blamed each other for the removal of programming Sunday night.
Increased retransmission prices would likely mean increased subscriber prices for those who use DirecTV. In a statement, DirecTV Chief Content Officer Rob Thuin said the company is trying to protect customers from “indiscriminate and unnecessary cost increases for less popular programming while still working to restore the stations that many viewers rely on.”
According to the Federal Communications Commission, retransmission consent requires television stations to give consent to a cable or other multichannel video programming distributor in order to carry their broadcast signals. The Communications Act requires that these negotiations happen in “good faith” via a two-part system involving agreed-upon standards by the parties.
In response to questions, NBC affiliate KSHB reiterated parent company Scripps’ statement to the public, reminding viewers that the broadcast can be viewed via antenna for free, Tablo TV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and other streaming and cable services.
DirecTV’s statement positions the dispute in a wider concern of keeping prices affordable and broadcast accessible for subscribers amid increased availability of streaming alternatives.
“Broadcasters like Scripps continue to accumulate exclusive control over local sports teams or other civic content, only to then deny viewers access at times of peak demand,” DirecTV said. “This enables stations to leverage municipal pride and fan loyalties to demand higher guaranteed retransmission rates from distributors like DIRECTV to carry their free, over-the-air stations…”
Scripps pushed back in its statement, saying pay-TV operators use consumers as “bargaining chips.” The company states that by contrast to DirecTV’s “heavy-handed” tactics, Scripps has only gone dark twice since beginning broadcasting in the 1940s. Ironically, DirecTV mentions a recent blackout of Scripps stations from Comcast Xfinity that started April 1 this year and lasted over a month.
Scripps claims that the company is committed to reaching a fair resolution to reinstate content that Scripps “invests substantially” in and “strengthens community bonds.”
Other affected markets include Buffalo, Denver, Las Vegas, Miami and Phoenix.
This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 5:01 PM.
