Xfinity Customers in Baltimore Lose Access to WMAR Amid Comcast-Scripps Dispute

Broadcast stations including ABC affiliate WMAR-2 blacked out for Xfinity subscribers after contract negotiations failed.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:37pm

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A close-up photograph of a sleek, minimalist television remote control made of polished metal and glass, floating against a plain white background and dramatically lit to convey the abstract corporate tensions behind the Comcast-Scripps programming dispute.A premium television remote control symbolizes the high-stakes battle between cable provider Comcast and broadcaster Scripps over programming rights, leaving millions of viewers in the dark.Baltimore Today

Xfinity cable customers in Baltimore and millions of subscribers nationwide have lost access to 40 broadcasting stations, including ABC affiliate WMAR-2, after Comcast, which owns Xfinity, and broadcasting company E.W. Scripps failed to reach an agreement over access to programming. The contract between the two companies expired on March 31, and within hours, the stations were blacked out for Xfinity viewers.

Why it matters

This blackout highlights the ongoing tensions between cable/satellite providers and broadcast networks over programming rights and costs, which can leave viewers without access to local news, weather, and live sports coverage. It also underscores the challenges consumers face in an increasingly fragmented media landscape as they try to access the content they want.

The details

Comcast claims it has made 'reasonable offers' that Scripps has not accepted, while Scripps says it proposed an extension to keep its signals available during negotiations, which Comcast refused. WMAR, the nearly 80-year-old ABC station in Baltimore, can still be accessed through an antenna or streaming apps, but Xfinity subscribers are unable to view the channel.

  • The contract between Comcast and Scripps expired on March 31 at 5:59 p.m.
  • Within hours of the contract expiration, broadcast stations including WMAR-2 were blacked out for Xfinity customers.

The players

Comcast

The Philadelphia-based telecommunications conglomerate that owns the Xfinity cable and internet service.

E.W. Scripps

The Cincinnati-based broadcasting company that owns 40 television stations, including ABC affiliate WMAR-2 in Baltimore.

WMAR-2

The nearly 80-year-old ABC affiliate station in Baltimore that is now blacked out for Xfinity customers.

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What’s next

It is unclear when the television station will be available to Xfinity viewers again, as the two companies continue to negotiate the terms of a new contract.

The takeaway

This dispute between Comcast and Scripps highlights the ongoing challenges consumers face in accessing local news, weather, and live sports coverage as cable and satellite providers negotiate programming rights with broadcast networks. It underscores the need for more transparency and consumer-friendly solutions in the increasingly fragmented media landscape.