DirecTV customers won’t be able to see several Florida news stations, including WTXL ABC 27 in the North Florida and South Georgia market, due to contract conflicts between E.W. Scripps and the television provider.
The Midway-based station is one of more than 50 Florida Scripps TV stations nationwide that was dropped by DirecTV starting 7 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Sunday. WTXL tweeted a push for viewers to contact DirecTV to restore service.
“DirecTV – a multi‑billion‑dollar corporation that controls programming distribution for millions of Americans – has removed WTXL ABC 27’s trusted, locally produced news, along with upcoming sports and entertainment programming from its channel lineup,” said the tweet.
The station went on to say it was “working hard to restore your programming” and encourage viewers to contact DirecTV DirecTV at 1-855-KEEP-US-1 (1-855-533-7871).
“Our priority is to make sure that you continue to have access to the sports, news, weather, and traffic updates that support your daily life, in addition to all the great programs we know you love,” the tweet said.
According to WTXL’s tweet, the station can still be viewed by antenna or streaming app.
What DirecTV is saying about the blackout
El Segundo, California-based DirecTV in a statement issued May 31, accused Cincinnati, Ohio-based Scripps of “demanding the highest rates DirecTV has ever received from a station group, which would continue to dramatically raise costs for consumers and businesses already struggling with affordability.”After DirecTV declined those demands and sought a more reasonable agreement, Scripps chose to remove its stations from viewers in several major markets nationwide.”
What Scripps is saying about the blackout
In a statement provided to USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA, Scripps said it “has been engaging in good-faith negotiations with DirecTV to establish an equitable agreement that serves both companies and, most importantly, consumers.”Regrettably, DirecTV has elected to remove Scripps local stations from their lineup, employing the same heavy-handed tactics that have become synonymous with pay-TV operators who hurt their own subscribers by using them as bargaining chips in contractual disputes.”
Contact Economic Development Reporter TaMaryn Waters at tlwaters@tallahassee.com and follow @TaMarynWaters on X.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: DirecTV drops WTXL ABC from its channel lineup due to contract war
Reporting by TaMaryn Waters, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
