The E.W. Scripps Company
The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) is a Cincinnati-based diversified broadcast media enterprise operating 54-60+ local TV stations across 36-42 U.S. markets, national networks (ION, Scripps News, Bounce, Grit, Laff, ION Mystery), and a sports rights division serving advertisers, pay-TV distributors, sports leagues, and cord-cutting consumers via free over-the-air and FAST streaming distribution.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1878
- HeadquartersCincinnati, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The E.W. Scripps Company does
The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) is a 147-year-old diversified broadcast media enterprise headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, operating two primary divisions. The Local Media division comprises 54-60+ local television stations across 36-42+ U.S. markets in 35+ states (including Detroit, Denver, Phoenix, Baltimore, Tampa, Las Vegas, Cleveland, San Diego), producing local news, weather, sports, and community-focused programming. The Scripps Networks division operates national broadcast networks including ION Television (reaching 100+ million U.S. households), Scripps News (free 24/7 streaming news), and multicast networks Bounce, Grit, Laff, ION Mystery, and ION Plus. Scripps also operates Scripps Sports, a sports rights division holding broadcast deals with the WNBA, NWSL, PWHL, NHL teams (Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vegas Golden Knights, Nashville Predators), and NBA's Detroit Pistons, alongside the Scripps National Spelling Bee (held since 1925). The company is the largest holder of broadcast spectrum in the United States and a participant in the EdgeBeam joint venture for ATSC 3.0 datacasting.
Revenue is generated primarily through four streams: (1) retransmission consent fees from pay-TV distributors for carriage of local stations and national networks (industry-wide retransmission fees total approximately $15.22 billion annually); (2) local television advertising (Local Media core advertising grew 7% year-over-year in Q1 2026 with segment profit up 37.5% to $44 million); (3) national network advertising across ION and multicast networks (Scripps Networks revenue declined 9.5% in Q1 2026 due to macroeconomic pressure and Nielsen methodology changes); and (4) sports media rights fees from professional leagues (estimated $8-10M annually for Detroit Pistons alone), complemented by biennial political advertising spikes ($9M in Q4 2025 vs. $174M in the prior election quarter). Distribution spans over-the-air broadcast, cable/satellite retransmission, FAST streaming channels (Scripps Sports Network launched March 2026 on Roku, Samsung, LG, Amazon), and direct-to-consumer streaming for selected NHL markets. Go-to-market combines local field sales teams in each market with national network sales organizations targeting advertisers seeking adjacency to live sports, local news, and women's sports audiences.
The business model is in active transition: a February 2026 transformation plan targets $125-150 million in annualized EBITDA improvement by 2028 through AI/automation, cost rationalization, and revenue growth initiatives. Quarterly revenues are running near $516-560 million (Q1 2026: $516.87M, Q4 2025: $560M, Q3 2025: $526M), but the company is posting net losses and faces a heavy debt load restructured in July 2025 via a $750M senior notes issuance at 9.875%. Shares trade near multi-year lows (~$3.44, market cap ~$412M), reflecting pressure from cord-cutting on retransmission, declines in national advertising, and the rejected $622-700M unsolicited takeover offer from Sinclair in late 2025.
The E.W. Scripps Company firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The E.W. Scripps Company
- Legal name
- The E.W. Scripps Company
- Website
- https://scripps.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1878
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) is a Cincinnati-based diversified broadcast media enterprise operating 54-60+ local TV stations across 36-42 U.S. markets, national networks (ION, Scripps News, Bounce, Grit, Laff, ION Mystery), and a sports rights division serving advertisers, pay-TV distributors, sports leagues, and cord-cutting consumers via free over-the-air and FAST streaming distribution.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The E.W. Scripps Company industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Broadcast Television Media
- NAICS
- Television Broadcasting Stations (516120), Spectator Sports (71121), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161)
- SIC
- Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Cable & Other Pay Television Services (4841)
- akta.pro primary industry
- National Sports Broadcast Networks (MPABAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sports Rights Agencies & Brokers (Acquisition/Packaging) (MPABAJAH), Sports Programming Syndication & Highlights Distribution (MPABAMAG)
Keywords
Where The E.W. Scripps Company is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cincinnati
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices16 records
Markets served
The E.W. Scripps Company business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Retransmission Consent Fees: Fees paid by pay-TV distributors (cable, satellite, streaming) for the right to carry Scripps' local stations and national networks. Revenue has been impacted by cord-cutting but remains a core revenue stream, with industry-wide retransmission fees totaling approximately $15.22 billion annually.
- Local Television Advertising: Local advertising revenue from Scripps' 60+ local TV stations, driven by core (non-political) local advertising. Local media division generated 7% core advertising revenue growth in Q1 2026 with segment profit rising 37.5% year-over-year.
- National Network Advertising: National advertising revenue across ION, Scripps News, Bounce, Grit, Laff, and ION Mystery networks, including sports programming sponsorships. Scripps Networks division experienced 9.5% revenue decline in Q1 2026 due to macroeconomic pressures and Nielsen methodology changes.
- Sports Media Rights: Revenue from broadcasting professional and collegiate sports leagues including WNBA, NWSL, NHL teams, PWHL, and others. Rights fees include deals with Detroit Pistons ($8-10M estimated), Nashville Predators, and other franchises. Revenue generated through advertising, sponsorship, and distribution fees.
- Political Advertising: Revenue from political advertising around elections. Scripps expects record political advertising revenue in the upcoming midterm election cycle. Q4 2025 political revenue was $9 million compared to $174 million in the prior-year election quarter.
- Network Distribution Fees: Fees from cable, satellite, and streaming distributors for carriage of national networks including ION, Scripps News, and multicast networks.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels7 records
The E.W. Scripps Company product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The E.W. Scripps Company operates 60+ local broadcast television stations across 42+ U.S. markets and a portfolio of national networks including ION Television, Scripps News, Bounce, Grit, Laff, ION Mystery, and ION Plus. Revenue is generated through local and national advertising sales, retransmission consent fees paid by pay-TV distributors, and sports media rights fees from professional leagues. The company launched the Scripps Sports Network FAST channel in March 2026 and holds broadcast rights for WNBA, NWSL, NHL teams, PWHL, and other sports properties.
Product overview
The E.W. Scripps Company operates a diversified media portfolio consisting of two primary divisions: Local Media (54 broadcast television stations across 36 markets) and Scripps Networks (national broadcast networks). The Local Media division includes local TV stations producing news, weather, sports, and entertainment content. The Scripps Networks division encompasses national brands including ION Television (general entertainment reaching 100M households), Scripps News (24/7 national news), Bounce (African American audience network), Grit (Western classics), Laff (comedy), ION Mystery (thrillers), and ION Plus (general entertainment). Scripps Sports serves as the sports broadcasting division with rights to WNBA, NWSL, NHL teams, PWHL, and other leagues, including the Scripps Sports Network FAST channel launched March 2026. The company also hosts the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee competition. Revenue streams include local advertising, retransmission consent fees, national networks advertising, and sports broadcasting rights.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Scripps Networks: National media networks division including Scripps News, ION, Bounce, Grit, Laff, ION Mystery, and ION Plus
- Scripps Sports
- Scripps News
- ION Television
- Bounce
- Grit
- Laff
- ION Mystery
- ION Plus
- Scripps National Spelling Bee
- Scripps Howard Fund
- The Spot
Products and services
- Local Television Stations Portfolio of local broadcast television stations across major U.S. markets (including Detroit WXYZ/WMYD, Denver KMGH/KCDO, Phoenix KNXV/KASW, Baltimore WMAR, Cincinnati WCPO, Cleveland WEWS, San Diego KGTV, and others) producing and airing local news, weather, sports, and investigative journalism content for their communities.
- Scripps News National free 24/7 news streaming channel providing independent news coverage with on-the-ground reporting team dedicated to live breaking news, combining Newsy's digital resources with Scripps Washington Bureau investigative reporting. Available over-the-air and on connected TV.
- ION Television General entertainment network featuring 'Positively Entertaining' programming including crime dramas, action shows, and live sports (including WNBA Friday Night games and women's sports). Reaches 100+ million U.S. households via cable, satellite, and streaming platforms.
- Bounce TV African American broadcast network dedicated to inspiring, empowering and entertaining viewers with original dramas, sitcoms, movies, and specials representing the African American community.
- Grit Network featuring classic Western movies and series with timeless programming starring action heroes like Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, and James Stewart, showcasing classic all-American storytelling.
- Laff Nation's first over-the-air network devoted to comedy around the clock, offering 24/7 comedy lineup with fan-favorite sitcoms for memorable entertainment.
- ION Mystery Home to binge-worthy thrillers, docuseries and originals including Law & Order, CSI franchise, and The First 48, offering investigative content for mystery and thriller viewers.
- ION Plus General entertainment programming network featuring fan-favorite series such as MacGyver, Scorpion, Murdoch Mysteries, and Leverage, extending ION brand's reach to a broader audience.
- Scripps Sports Sports broadcasting division that leverages local TV stations and national broadcast networks to provide distribution platforms for live sports, reaching up to 100% of fan bases. Partners with WNBA, NWSL, NHL teams, PWHL, Major League Volleyball, college conferences, and other sports properties for broadcast rights.
- Scripps Sports Network Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) channel dedicated to live sports featuring women's professional sports leagues including PWHL, NWSL, WNBA encore telecasts, and Major League Volleyball. Launched March 2026 with State Farm as founding advertising partner.
- Scripps National Spelling Bee Iconic annual academic competition for students, awarding over $50,000 in prizes including the Scripps Cup trophy. Reaches 11 million students globally each year and is broadcast nationally on ION Television.
Quantifiable outcome
- Local media segment profit increased 37.5% year-over-year to $44 million in Q1 2026 with 7% core advertising revenue growth
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use The E.W. Scripps Company
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
The E.W. Scripps Company technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Feature4 records
The E.W. Scripps Company partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Gray MediaminorCompleted five-market local TV station swap; Scripps acquired KKTV (CBS) Colorado Springs, KKCO/KJCT-LP (NBC/ABC) Grand Junction, KMVT/KSVT-LD (CBS/Fox) Twin Falls, Idaho; Gray acquired WSYM (Fox) Lansing and KATC (ABC) Lafayette; even exchange with no cash consideration
- Detroit PistonscoreLocal media rights agreement making WMYD Detroit the official broadcast home beginning 2026-27 NBA season; team returns to free over-the-air TV for first time since 2005; estimated rights fee $8-10 million; partnership includes direct-to-consumer streaming application development
- ComscorecoreMeasurement partnership with Comscore for cross-platform local TV measurement products covering all 210 U.S. Designated Market Areas; Scripps among 15+ station groups including Sinclair, Cox Media Group, Allen Media Group, and Hubbard Broadcasting in new/renewed measurement agreements
- Professional Bull RidersminorMulti-year broadcast agreement for Premier Women's Rodeo on ION and Grit networks; beginning with 2026 PWR Championship from Fort Worth, Texas; expanding to 18+ hours across 16 broadcasts in 2027
- Nashville PredatorscoreMulti-year NHL media rights agreement beginning 2026-27 season; games broadcast free over-the-air on WNPX-TV (The Spot Nashville 28) with 30-minute pre/post-game shows; includes new direct-to-consumer streaming experience for five-state territory
- Circle City BroadcastingminorAcquired WRTV (ABC affiliate in Indianapolis) from Scripps for $83 million; pending regulatory approval; resulted in layoffs at WRTV
- State FarmcoreState Farm signed as the founding/rooting advertising partner for Scripps Sports Network, the free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel launching March 24, 2026. State Farm's foundational sponsorship supports Scripps' entry into the FAST streaming market with women's sports content.
- Ally FinancialcoreAlly Financial partnered with Scripps Sports and PWHL to deliver the league's first nationally televised game in the U.S. on ION, reaching 126+ million households. Ally served as presenting sponsor of the New York Sirens vs. Montreal Victoire match on March 28, 2026.
- Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL)corePartnership with PWHL to broadcast league's first-ever nationally televised game on ION; reached 126+ million households; PWHL approaching 2 million all-time fans with 20% YoY attendance increase
- Morris Network Inc.minorScripps agreed to acquire WTVQ (ABC affiliate in Lexington, Kentucky) for $15.8 million; pending federal regulatory approval expected Q3 2026; will create duopoly with existing WLEX (NBC) in Lexington market
- Sun BroadcastingminorCompleted sale of WFTX (Fox affiliate in Fort Myers-Naples, Florida) for $40 million; proceeds used for debt reduction
- Law&Crime / JellysmackminorSold Court TV network to Law&Crime (owned by Jellysmack since 2023); Scripps retains basic cable distribution under three-year deal; Law&Crime maintains Court TV brand for trial content and coverage
- Varsity SpiritminorExclusive multi-year agreement to air inaugural Pro Cheer League season on ION; five live events from January 16 to March 27, 2026; first time professional cheerleading showcased on national TV with paid athletes
- Denver Summit FCcoreMulti-year agreement for exclusive local broadcast rights to NWSL franchise's inaugural 2026 season; non-nationally exclusive matches aired on Denver7 and The Spot Denver 3
- Major League VolleyballminorExclusive broadcast deal for 2026 MLV championship and semifinal matches on ION; league in third season evolving from Pro Volleyball Federation; eight teams in 2026 expanding to 10 in 2027
- Athlos NYCminorMulti-year partnership for women's-only track and field event broadcast on ION; Brooks Running Shoes served as presenting sponsor of October 10 telecast
- WNBAcoreMulti-year media rights agreement for Friday night WNBA games on ION network; games drew over 1 million viewers even without Caitlin Clark; network positioned as home for women's basketball
- National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)coreMulti-year deal for weekly NWSL games on ION including league's first weekly studio shows; expanding women's soccer coverage nationally
- Vegas Golden KnightscoreLocal broadcast rights; team experienced post-RSN boom with significant viewership increases on Scripps after moving from regional sports network
- Florida PantherscoreLocal broadcast rights; Year 2 of partnership showed 51% TV viewership increase; team moved from Bally Sports to free over-the-air on Scripps
- Tampa Bay LightningcoreLocal broadcast rights; partnership gives Scripps Sports both Florida NHL teams (Panthers and Lightning)
- Big Sky ConferenceminorNCAA college sports broadcast rights; Scripps produces Big Sky football recap show; drew strong ratings in small markets
- INYO Broadcast HoldingsminorScripps exercised option to re-acquire 23 ION-affiliated stations from INYO Broadcast Holdings for approximately $54 million; pending regulatory approval
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
The E.W. Scripps Company competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sinclair Broadcast Group: Sinclair is the largest U.S. local TV broadcaster with ~190 stations, directly competing with Scripps in local markets. Notably, Sinclair also holds an 8.2% stake in Scripps and made a rejected takeover bid, and is a co-investor in the EdgeBeam ATSC 3.0 joint venture — making it the closest structural and strategic peer.
- Nexstar Media Group: Nexstar is the largest U.S. television broadcaster with ~200 stations following its acquisition of Tribune. It competes directly with Scripps in local advertising and retransmission consent, and is also an EdgeBeam JV partner. Both are public broadcasters pursuing sports rights and ATSC 3.0 initiatives.
- Gray Television: Gray is a top-3 U.S. local TV broadcaster with ~180 stations across 113 markets, and recently completed a five-market station swap with Scripps. Both companies focus on local news and are pursuing ATSC 3.0-enabled businesses through the EdgeBeam joint venture.
- Tegna: Tegna operates ~50 local TV stations in major U.S. markets and competes directly with Scripps in local news, advertising, and retransmission revenue. Tegna has been an active portfolio optimizer and pursued sports content similarly to Scripps Sports.
- Hearst Television: Hearst Television operates ~30 local TV stations, mostly in mid- and large-sized markets, competing with Scripps for local advertisers and sports rights (Hearst holds a stake in ESPN). Both are diversified local broadcasters pursuing streaming and digital initiatives.
Broad incumbents
- Fox Corporation: Fox operates the Fox broadcast network, FS1 sports networks, and Tubi streaming — overlapping with Scripps' ION network, sports broadcasting, and FAST ambitions. Fox is a much larger, scaled competitor in national sports rights and entertainment programming.
- Paramount Global: Paramount owns CBS, Nickelodeon, BET, Pluto TV (FAST), and Paramount+ — making it a broad incumbent competing with Scripps across national broadcasting, FAST streaming, and local affiliate relationships (CBS affiliates include some Scripps stations).
- Warner Bros. Discovery: WBD operates multiple cable networks, HBO, Max streaming, and the TNT Sports portfolio that competes for national sports rights. While not a direct local broadcaster, WBD's broader sports rights bidding impacts Scripps' ability to compete in national deals.
Others
- ION Media (historical / pre-acquisition): ION Media was acquired by Scripps in 2021 for ~$2B; the ION network is now core to Scripps' national strategy. Pre-acquisition, ION was a direct competitor as an independent broadcast network. Now wholly owned, but the comparison illustrates Scripps' transformation into a spectrum-rich national broadcaster.
Emerging players
- Bally Sports / Diamond Sports Group: Diamond Sports Group's bankruptcy and the collapse of regional sports networks created the disruption opportunity Scripps Sports is exploiting (Florida Panthers +51% viewership). While Diamond still operates some RSNs, its contraction is the structural backdrop for Scripps' OTA sports strategy.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The E.W. Scripps Company social profiles
Digital presenceThe E.W. Scripps Company financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The E.W. Scripps Company leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
The E.W. Scripps Company subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries13 records
The E.W. Scripps Company funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The E.W. Scripps Company M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A14 records
Investments8 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The E.W. Scripps Company
What does The E.W. Scripps Company do?
The E.W. Scripps Company operates 60+ local broadcast television stations across 42+ U.S. markets and a portfolio of national networks including ION Television, Scripps News, Bounce, Grit, Laff, ION Mystery, and ION Plus. Revenue is generated through local and national advertising sales, retransmission consent fees paid by pay-TV distributors, and sports media rights fees from professional leagues. The company launched the Scripps Sports Network FAST channel in March 2026 and holds broadcast rights for WNBA, NWSL, NHL teams, PWHL, and other sports properties.
Is The E.W. Scripps Company a public or private company?
The E.W. Scripps Company is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was The E.W. Scripps Company founded?
The E.W. Scripps Company was founded in 1878. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is The E.W. Scripps Company based?
The E.W. Scripps Company is headquartered in Cincinnati, United States, in the North America region.
How does The E.W. Scripps Company make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Retransmission Consent Fees are the primary driver. The others are local Television Advertising, national Network Advertising, sports Media Rights, political Advertising and network Distribution Fees.
Who are The E.W. Scripps Company's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sinclair Broadcast Group, Nexstar Media Group, Gray Television, Tegna and Hearst Television. Broad incumbents are Fox Corporation, Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery. ION Media (historical / pre-acquisition) is listed as an others. Bally Sports / Diamond Sports Group is listed as an emerging player.
Does The E.W. Scripps Company have an API?
No public API is recorded for The E.W. Scripps Company.
What industry is The E.W. Scripps Company in?
The E.W. Scripps Company's product category is Broadcast Television Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABAAAC, National Sports Broadcast Networks, with a secondary code of MPABAJAH, Sports Rights Agencies & Brokers (Acquisition/Packaging). Its NAICS code is 516120 and its SIC code is 4833.