Scripps Local Media suspends programming on 54 of its local broadcast stations in 36 Nielsen-designated market areas, beginning at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, after a retransmission dispute with DirecTV. The blackout affects DirecTV services including streaming, satellite, and U-verse, according to reporting and a company notice. Both sides say the impasse is driven by retransmission rate demands. DirecTV and Scripps each attribute responsibility for the blackout to the other, with DirecTV describing the standoff as occurring around major upcoming events. Coverage notes the timing falls just before multiple state and local primary elections in June, as well as upcoming NBA-related programming. Scripps also characterizes its position as seeking consent rates at the highest level. The dispute has led to the stations going dark, with the parties not reaching an agreement by the start of the suspension window.