Xfinity and E.W. Scripps Dispute Sparks Channel Interruptions in Michigan Michigan Xfinity customers faced abrupt disruptions in their television service on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, as a dispute between Xfinity and E.W. Scripps Co. escalated. The conflict, which stemmed from an expired contract between the two companies, led to the loss of access to several local news and sports channels. Affected viewers in Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Lansing were disconnected from key stations operated by E.W. Scripps, including WXYZ-TV Channel 7, FOX 17 WXMI, and WSYM-TV FOX 47. Xfinity informed customers via a March 31 email that the dispute began when E.W. Scripps refused to accept the company’s reasonable offers, demanding significant increases in service costs. The email acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the channel lineup changes, stating, “We know unexpected changes to your channel lineup can be frustrating.” It also assured customers that if a new agreement was reached, they would be notified. However, the email did not specify when negotiations might resume or whether the channels would be restored. E.W. Scripps, in a statement to the Detroit Free Press, blamed Comcast for the disruption, accusing the company of unilaterally removing its local stations from Xfinity service in 19 markets. The statement emphasized the critical role of Scripps stations in providing essential local news, weather updates, and sports coverage. “Comcast has removed Scripps local stations from its Xfinity service in 19 markets, cutting off viewers from essential local news, weather and fan-favorite sports that Scripps stations provide Xfinity customers daily,” the statement read. Scripps reiterated its commitment to serving communities and urged Comcast to restore its stations’ signals.#xfinity #wxyz_tv #ew_scripps #fox_17_wxmi #wsym_tv
WXYZ-TV Blacked Out for Comcast Xfinity Users Due to Carrier Dispute A blackout of WXYZ-TV and other Scripps-owned channels affected Comcast Xfinity users across 19 markets, including Detroit and Miami, as the carrier’s contract with Scripps expired on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. The outage began at 5:59 p.m. Eastern time, leaving viewers unable to access their favorite programming. A message on affected screens read, “This channel is unavailable,” with an explanation from Xfinity stating that the contract with Scripps had expired and that the carrier’s negotiations had stalled. The message added, “Scripps has refused our reasonable offers, and their demands would significantly increase the price you pay. Thank you for your patience as we work to keep your channels affordable.” The blackout disrupted programming for thousands of subscribers, including those in Metro Detroit who were expecting to watch primetime shows like “Will Trent” and “High Potential.” In Miami, the Florida Panthers-Ottawa Senators game was cut off mid-broadcast, leaving fans in suspense. The incident highlighted the broader impact of the dispute, which affected 19 Scripps markets, including stations such as WYMD-TV (Channel 20) in Detroit. The outage underscored the reliance of millions of viewers on cable providers for live sports and news coverage. Scripps, the owner of the affected channels, issued a statement emphasizing its commitment to public service. The company noted, “Scripps takes our public service responsibility to serve our communities seriously. Our stations provide on-the-ground reporting, real-time severe weather updates, and live sports coverage that keep people safe and connected to what matters most in their daily lives.#comcast_xfinity #scripps #wxyz_tv #wydm_tv #florida_panthers_ottawa_senators_game
