E. W. Scripps Company
An American broadcasting and media company whose portfolio includes local television stations, multicast networks, and national news operations.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
The E. W. Scripps Company, commonly known as Scripps, is an American media and broadcasting company headquartered at the Scripps Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Its origins lie in the newspaper chain established by Edward Willis Scripps in 1878, when he launched the Cleveland Penny Press. With the participation of his sister, Ellen Browning Scripps, and other family members, the business developed a network of newspapers aimed at broad readership and relatively accessible pricing. Over time, the company became one of the United States’ long-standing media groups, combining newspapers, news syndication, radio, television, cable programming, and digital media. Scripps organized its growing newspaper interests into a formal chain during the 1890s. The organization was later associated with the Scripps-McRae League and, from 1922, Scripps-Howard Newspapers. In parallel, the company built influential news and content-distribution businesses. Newspaper Enterprise Association, founded in 1902, supplied reporting, features, illustrations, and comics to newspapers beyond the Scripps chain. Scripps also created United Press in 1907; its 1958 combination with Hearst’s International News Service produced United Press International, which Scripps ultimately sold in 1982. The company’s syndication activities later included United Feature Syndicate and United Media, whose distribution operations were transferred to Universal Uclick in 2011. Broadcasting became increasingly important after Scripps entered radio in 1935 and television in the postwar period. Its first television station, WEWS-TV in Cleveland, began operations in 1947, followed by stations including WMC-TV in Memphis and WCPO-TV in Cincinnati. The company subsequently assembled a broad group of local television stations, many affiliated with major U.S. broadcast networks. It also developed and invested in cable programming, including Food Network and HGTV, but separated those assets into the independently traded Scripps Networks Interactive in 2008. The modern company is primarily a television and news operator. It owns or operates local stations in markets across the United States and has held major affiliate relationships with ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and other networks. Through Scripps Networks, it also operates free-to-air multicast services, notably Ion Television and Scripps News. The company’s national news activities grew through the 2013 acquisition of Newsy, later rebranded Scripps News, while local stations continue to produce market-specific news and community programming. Scripps returned to a broadcast-focused identity after separating its newspaper operations through the 2015 merger with Journal Communications and the concurrent spin-off of the newspaper assets into Journal Media Group. Journal Media Group was subsequently acquired by Gannett in 2016. Scripps expanded its over-the-air network portfolio through the 2017 acquisition of Katz Broadcasting, adding networks such as Bounce and other digital multicast services. The company remains publicly traded under the ticker SSP and retains a distinctive dual-class ownership structure in which Scripps family interests have historically held substantial voting power. Its corporate identity continues to emphasize journalism, local broadcasting, national news, and the distribution of free, advertising-supported television content.
History
E. W. Scripps Company began on November 2, 1878, when Edward Willis Scripps published the first issue of the Cleveland Penny Press. The enterprise grew through a combination of new launches, acquisitions, and newspaper consolidations. Edward’s sister, Ellen Browning Scripps, was an important early participant in the family publishing enterprise. In 1894, Edward and his half-brother George organized their newspapers into an integrated chain, which was named the Scripps-McRae League in 1895 in recognition of Cincinnati Post executive Milton A. McRae. The chain expanded into several major U.S. cities during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Scripps developed substantial news-distribution capabilities alongside its newspapers. Newspaper Enterprise Association was established in 1902 as a service for Scripps papers and began selling material to outside publications by 1907. It later became a general syndication business distributing articles, illustrations, features, and comic strips. United Press was formed in 1907 from several smaller services and became one of the country’s major wire agencies. In 1919, United Feature Syndicate was created to distribute columns, features, and comics. United Press and Hearst’s International News Service merged in 1958 to create United Press International, which remained under Scripps management until its sale in 1982. The company was renamed Scripps-Howard Newspapers in 1922, and The E. W. Scripps Company was incorporated that same year. Its dual-class share structure allowed publicly traded shares to coexist with voting shares controlled by the Scripps family and related trusts. Edward Scripps died in 1926, but the family governance model continued to influence the company for decades. Scripps expanded its newspaper holdings before and after the Second World War, although it also closed, sold, or merged titles as the economics of metropolitan newspapers changed. Its historic newspaper era ended with the 2015 separation of the newspaper assets into Journal Media Group. Scripps entered radio broadcasting in 1935 through Continental Radio, acquiring stations including Cincinnati’s WCPO and Knoxville’s WNOX. It entered television in 1947 with WEWS-TV in Cleveland and subsequently added stations in markets including Memphis and Cincinnati. The broadcasting business grew through station purchases and network affiliations. Scripps also entered cable programming, helping develop or own interests in services such as Food Network and HGTV. Those cable assets were separated into Scripps Networks Interactive in 2008, leaving the parent company more concentrated on newspapers, local television, licensing, and syndication. During the 2010s, Scripps shifted decisively toward television and digital video. It acquired McGraw-Hill’s television stations in 2011, bought Newsy in 2013, and completed the Journal Communications transaction in 2015. The Journal deal combined broadcast operations under Scripps and separated the newspapers into Journal Media Group, later sold to Gannett. Scripps also developed locally produced programs such as Right This Minute, The List, and Let’s Ask America, and experimented with digital distribution through station YouTube channels. The acquisition of Katz Broadcasting in 2017 strengthened Scripps’ position in free, advertising-supported multicast television. Katz’s portfolio included Bounce and other specialized networks, complementing Ion Television. Newsy was later renamed Scripps News, giving the company a national news identity alongside its local stations. In the later 2020s, Scripps faced strategic pressure common to traditional broadcasters, including audience fragmentation, changing advertising economics, retransmission negotiations, and consolidation among station owners. The referenced material describes a 2025–2026 dispute involving Sinclair’s investment and attempted combination proposal; because those events are recent and subject to further development, they should be independently verified against regulatory filings and company announcements.
- 2023
Newsy renamed Scripps News
[1]The company rebranded Newsy as Scripps News as part of its national news strategy.
- 2017
Katz Broadcasting acquired
[1]Scripps acquired the remaining stake in Katz Broadcasting, expanding its multicast-network portfolio.
- 2015
Journal transaction completed
[1]Scripps completed its merger with Journal Communications and spun off the combined newspaper assets as Journal Media Group.
- 2013
Newsy acquired
[1]Scripps acquired the digital video news service Newsy.
- 2008
Cable assets separated
[1]Scripps separated its cable-network businesses into Scripps Networks Interactive.
- 1988
Initial public offering
[1]The company completed an IPO and began trading publicly, initially on Nasdaq.
- 1947
First television station opened
[1]WEWS-TV in Cleveland became Scripps’ first television station.
- 1935
Entry into radio broadcasting
Scripps formed Continental Radio and acquired stations including WCPO in Cincinnati and WNOX in Knoxville.
- 1907
United Press created
[1]Scripps consolidated several smaller news services to form United Press.
- 1902
Newspaper Enterprise Association founded
[1]Scripps established NEA as a news service that later expanded into broad newspaper syndication.
Products and positioning
A U.S. broadcast and news company focused on local journalism, national news, free-to-air television, and advertiser-supported content distribution.
National news network · 2023
Scripps News
Scripps News is the company’s national news operation, developed from the acquisition of Newsy and later given the Scripps News name. It distributes video news through television and digital channels and complements Scripps’ locally produced reporting. Its positioning is based on broad national coverage rather than a single local market.
Broadcast television network
Ion Television
Ion Television is a free-to-air multicast network in Scripps’ national network portfolio. It primarily provides an entertainment schedule distributed through broadcast stations and other television platforms, giving Scripps a large-scale advertising-supported network alongside its local affiliates.
Multicast television network · 2011
Bounce
Bounce is a multicast television network associated with Katz Broadcasting and acquired by Scripps in 2017. It is oriented toward entertainment programming and is distributed through digital broadcast subchannels and other television outlets.
Local television broadcasting · 1947
Local Scripps television stations
Scripps operates a geographically distributed portfolio of full-power and lower-power television stations, including affiliates of ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox as well as independent and specialty-network stations. These stations produce local news, weather, traffic, public-affairs, and community programming while also carrying network and syndicated content.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011Homegrown programming initiative
United States
Scripps stations introduced locally originated or jointly produced programs including Right This Minute and The List. The initiative sought to create content that could be shared across markets while retaining a local-news connection.
Outcome. The approach produced additional syndicated and locally distributed programming, although individual programs had different lifespans.
Brand decisions
2025
Respond to Sinclair acquisition proposalM&ABackground
The referenced material describes Sinclair as acquiring an 8% stake in Scripps and later making an unsolicited cash-and-stock proposal.
Action taken
Scripps adopted a shareholder-rights plan and its board rejected the reported proposal, stating that it would pursue its standalone plan.
Aftermath
Sinclair continued to communicate its interest in a combination in early 2026. The matter requires verification against current SEC filings and company releases.
- Sinclair Broadcast Group — Sinclair stated that it remained willing to engage on a proposed combination and characterized its proposal as attractive to Scripps shareholders.
2017
Acquire Katz BroadcastingM&ABackground
Scripps sought to expand its free-to-air multicast network business and obtain the remaining ownership interest in Katz Broadcasting.
Action taken
It announced the purchase of Katz and completed the transaction in October 2017.
Aftermath
The deal added Bounce and other multicast networks and strengthened Scripps’ national over-the-air television strategy.
Purchase price. $292 million (Announced 2017)
2014
Merge with Journal Communications and spin off newspapersM&ABackground
Both companies owned newspaper and broadcast assets, and the transaction was structured to combine broadcasting while separating the newspapers.
Action taken
Scripps merged with Journal Communications and placed the newspaper assets into Journal Media Group; the transaction closed in 2015.
Aftermath
Scripps became a predominantly broadcast-focused company, while Journal Media Group was later acquired by Gannett.
2007
Separate cable networks from the parent companyStrategyBackground
Scripps concluded that its cable programming assets had a different growth and operating profile from its newspaper and broadcast businesses.
Action taken
It announced a separation that created Scripps Networks Interactive, completed in 2008.
Aftermath
The transaction left the original Scripps company more focused on newspapers, television stations, and related media activities.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Scripps faces lawsuit over WTVQ property lease[3]
Reported:
Scripps was hit with a lawsuit by a local property owner over a commercial lease dispute involving WTVQ. The owner alleges that WTVQ paid nominal rent while leasing space on the property's cell phone towers to wireless carriers.
- Unconfirmed
Scripps partners with News Literacy Foundation[4]
Reported:
Scripps teamed up with News Literacy Foundation to highlight better information consumption and sharing.
Misfits Gaming Group and Scripps establish content distribution partnership[5]
Reported:
Misfits Gaming Group and Scripps established a partnership under which Scripps will distribute Misfits’ content via its television platforms and appoint someone to the esports firm's board.
Misfits Gaming Group completes $35 million investment round[5]
Reported:
Misfits Gaming Group completed a $35 million investment round, including a $10 million investment from The E.W. Scripps Company.
Scripps receives 2021 Service to America Award[6]
Reported:
The National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation awarded The E.W. Scripps Company a 2021 Service to America Award, recognizing its community service initiative, “The Rebound.”
Scripps launches Florida 24 Network[7]
Reported:
The E.W. Scripps Company launched Florida 24 Network, a statewide news network available over the top in every local TV market in Florida.
Scripps completes sale of 23 ION-affiliated TV stations[8]
Reported:
Scripps completed the sale of 23 ION-affiliated television stations to INYO Broadcast Holdings.
Scripps completes acquisition of ION Media[8]
Reported:
The E.W. Scripps Company and Black Diamond Capital Management closed Scripps' acquisition of ION Media Networks Inc. Scripps said it was combining ION with the Katz networks and Newsy to create a national television networks business.
Scripps appoints Jason Combs as CFO[9]
Reported:
The E.W. Scripps Company announced that it had appointed Jason Combs as its next chief financial officer, with the appointment to take effect when its acquisition of ION Media closes.
E.W. Scripps announces acquisition of ION Media[10]
Reported:
The E.W. Scripps Company announced it would buy ION Media for $2.65 billion. The acquisition was anticipated to be financed partly by a $600 million preferred-stock investment from Berkshire Hathaway.
Showing the 10 most recent.
Sources15 sources
- 1E. W. Scripps Companyen.wikipedia.org
- 2The E. W. Scripps Company official websitescripps.com
- 3Scripps因WTVQ物业租赁纠纷面临诉讼ftvlive.com
- 4Scripps 与 News Literacy Foundation 建立合作koaa.com
- 5Misfits Gaming Group与Scripps建立内容分发合作gamesindustry.biz
- 6Scripps获得2021年Service to America奖prnewswire.com
- 7Scripps推出Florida 24 Networkprnewswire.com
- 8Scripps完成出售23家ION附属电视台prnewswire.com
- 9Scripps 任命 Jason Combs 为首席财务官prnewswire.com
- 10E.W. Scripps宣布收购ION Mediafinanznachrichten.de
- 11Scripps 发起图书募款活动prnewswire.com
- 12SiriusXM宣布收购Stitchermobilesyrup.com
- 13E.W. Scripps公布第四季度业绩nexttv.com
- 14WCPO与新闻素养项目合作制作学生新闻报道wcpo.com
- 15WKBW获评杜邦-哥伦比亚奖得主prnewswire.com
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