E.W. Scripps Dispute Causes Xfinity Channel Loss
Comcast’s Xfinity dropped several E.W. Scripps-owned television stations from its Michigan lineup on the evening of March 31. The blackout followed the expiration of a carriage agreement between the two companies.
Which Michigan channels were pulled
Viewers in Detroit, Grand Rapids and Lansing lost access to local Scripps stations on Xfinity. The affected channels included:
- WXYZ Channel 7 — Detroit
- WMYD — Detroit
- WXMI (FOX 17) — Grand Rapids
- WSYM (FOX 47) — Lansing
Why the outage occurred
Xfinity notified customers March 31 that its contract with E.W. Scripps Co. had expired. The provider said negotiations failed and blamed Scripps for refusing reasonable terms.
Scripps issued a statement April 1 saying Comcast removed its local stations in 19 markets. The broadcaster said it has continued to make content available online and via apps.
Industry context
Some viewers and analysts cited the dispute as an example of broader carriage tensions. The situation can be summarized as an E.W. Scripps Dispute Causes Xfinity Channel Loss case that affected local news access.
How to keep watching
Scripps stations advised viewers to use free, over-the-air antennas for live local programming. The company also listed streaming options and other pay services.
- Station websites and streaming apps
- YouTube TV and DIRECTV
- TabloTV and other streaming platforms
- Traditional satellite or alternate cable services
What the companies said
Xfinity told customers the stalled talks could raise the price of TV service if Scripps’ demands prevailed. The company asked for patience while negotiations continued.
Scripps framed the dispute as a public-service issue. The broadcaster emphasized its role in local news, weather alerts and live sports coverage and urged signal restoration.
Corporate background
E.W. Scripps Co. is a Cincinnati-based local broadcaster. Xfinity is the consumer brand of Comcast Cable Communications, headquartered in Philadelphia.
Related regulatory note
Separately, the Federal Communications Commission approved Nexstar’s $3.5 billion acquisition of Tegna. That approval came despite objections from Democratic-led state officials.
Filmogaz.com will monitor further developments and report any restoration of the affected channels.
