A dispute between DirecTV and the owners of KTNV-TV, Channel 13, has endangered some Las Vegans’ ability to watch the Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final.
Scripps Local Media’s 54 broadcast stations went dark on DirecTV around 4 p.m. Sunday as part of a standoff over the terms of a new contract. At the heart of the dispute are retransmission fees, the money local stations charge TV providers to carry their content.
The timing couldn’t be worse for local sports fans. Channel 13 is one of Scripps’ 17 ABC affiliates nationwide. The Stanley Cup Final between Vegas and the Carolina Hurricanes begins at 5 p.m. Tuesday with coverage on ABC. The NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks begin at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, also on ABC.
“Unfortunately, Scripps is demanding the highest rates we have ever seen for programming that remains available for free over-the-air and through many station, network and third-party streaming apps,” Rob Thun, chief content officer at DirecTV, said in a statement. “We remain committed to protecting customers from indiscriminate and unnecessary cost increases for less popular programming while still working to restore the stations that many viewers rely on.”
“DirecTV — a multi‑billion‑dollar corporation that controls programming distribution for millions of Americans — has removed KTNV Channel 13’s trusted, locally produced news, along with upcoming sports and entertainment programming from its channel lineup,” read a statement posted on the channel’s website. “We’re working hard to restore your programming, but in the meantime, here’s how you can keep watching Channel 13 and ABC.”
The station then went on to list digital antennas, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and “other streaming platforms, as well as cable services in our area.”
Channel 13’s locally produced content can be seen on its website, ktnv.com, and its streaming apps.
Similar disputes kept KLAS-TV, Channel 8, off DirecTV for more than two months in the summer of 2023 and for just under two months in the summer of 2019.
