Nuggets, Avalanche Playoff Games Blacked Out Again on Xfinity

Fans face challenges watching championship-caliber teams due to contract dispute between Xfinity and Scripps media.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 6:39pm

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A cubist, geometric painting featuring fragmented, overlapping shapes in the team colors of the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche, conceptually representing the disruption and frustration of fans unable to watch their teams' playoff games.The blackout of Nuggets and Avalanche playoff games on Xfinity exposes the ongoing challenges Denver sports fans face in accessing their teams' biggest games.Denver Today

Denver sports fans could once again be unable to watch Nuggets and Avalanche playoff games on Xfinity due to an ongoing contract dispute between the cable provider and Scripps media, which owns the local ABC affiliate that will air some of the postseason games. This comes just 15 months after the Altitude channel was restored to Xfinity after nearly six years of blackouts, public feuding, and lawsuits.

Why it matters

The blackout threatens to prevent many Denver fans from watching their teams compete in the NBA and NHL playoffs, which is especially frustrating given the Nuggets and Avalanche are both championship contenders. This highlights the ongoing challenges of regional sports broadcasting rights and the impact on local fans.

The details

Xfinity dropped channels owned by E.W. Scripps earlier this month in a contract dispute. Denver's KMGH-TV (Denver7), an ABC affiliate, will be carrying some of the NBA Playoffs and Stanley Cup Playoffs. ESPN/ABC is slated to air roughly 18 NBA postseason games during the first two rounds, and likely one of the two conference finals series. ESPN/ABC will also air the NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Finals exclusively.

  • Xfinity dropped Scripps channels earlier this month.
  • The NBA Playoffs and Stanley Cup Playoffs are scheduled to begin in the coming weeks.

The players

Xfinity

A major cable television and internet provider that has dropped channels owned by E.W. Scripps in a contract dispute.

E.W. Scripps

A media company that owns the local ABC affiliate KMGH-TV (Denver7) in Denver, which will be carrying some of the NBA Playoffs and Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Kroenke Sports & Entertainment

The owner of the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche, whose Altitude channel was recently restored to Xfinity after nearly six years of blackouts.

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What they’re saying

“Holy Blackout, Batman! Unless a Dark Knight swings in to save the day at the 11th hour, Denver sports faithful appear to once again be on the wrong side of a Comcast/Xfinity dispute that threatens their ability to watch championship-level teams in action.”

— Sean Keeler, Author

What’s next

Fans will need to explore alternative options such as purchasing a digital antenna, activating the ESPN Unlimited app, or subscribing to streaming services like Hulu, YouTube, or Fubo to watch the Nuggets and Avalanche playoff games that are blacked out on Xfinity.

The takeaway

This blackout highlights the ongoing challenges for local sports fans in accessing coverage of their teams due to the complex landscape of regional sports broadcasting rights and disputes between media providers. It underscores the need for more consumer-friendly solutions to ensure fans can reliably watch their favorite teams, especially during the high-stakes playoff season.