Scripps News scales back; eliminates over-the-air network

Cites declining ad revenue, political polarization 

Cincinnati-based E.W. Scripps announced it is significantly scaling back Scripps News and is dropping its over-the-air channel. 

As a result, 200+ jobs are being eliminated with about 50 retained in Scripps’ Washington D.C. Bureau to report for their local stations. Scripps News’ streaming platform is being left intact but is being significantly paired down with those same 50 employees producing streaming and digital content. 

In a memo to employees, Scripps CEO Adam Symson said “Over the last two years, Scripps News’ live anchored coverage and documentary programming have grown its linear television audience, but the prospects for the necessary revenue growth haven’t materialized, despite our sales teams’ efforts. Scripps News’ current financial position is what has led me to the decision to scale back our approach to 24-hour news and over-the-air coverage.”

Most employees are based in Scripps News’ Atlanta, Denver, and Cincinnati bureaus. Scripps also has a Chicago bureau, but it isn’t known if it’ll close. Scripps News president Kate O’Brian has also left the company. 

In Chicago, Scripps News was available on Scripps-owned Ion affiliate WCPX Channel 38.6, but it isn’t known what would replace the channel when it exits on November 15. Founded in 2008 as Newsy, Scripps bought it in 2014 for $35 million and launched as a digital subchannel in 2021, found mostly on Scripps-owned Ion stations and the traditional network affiliates they own. In September 2022, Newsy was renamed Scripps News.

While Scripps is reaping rewards with an expanded sports presence – especially on Ion with the increasingly popular WNBA, the company’s stock has been lagging – when the news was announced, the stock price jumped 15 percent. The company also ended its testy relationship with The CW, as seven stations became former affiliates of the network on September 1.

In the memo Sysmon sent out came this eye-popping quote: “Amidst an already difficult linear television advertising marketplace, many brands and agencies have decided that advertising around national news is just too risky for them given the polarized nature of this country, no matter the accolades and credentials a news organization like Scripps receives for its objectivity.” Symson continued, “I vehemently disagree, but it is hurting Scripps News, along with every other national linear and digital news outlet.” 

While the nation’s political discourse may have played a role, it’s important to note that national news shows generally attract an older audience, making it harder to attract advertising than entertainment programs. Also, keep in mind that linear TV is a declining medium due to cord-cutting as more viewers get their news elsewhere. While local TV is somewhat stronger, the same issues persist in Chicago. It seems the same ten to twelve advertisers buy commercial time throughout the day in the automotive, legal, pharma, and home improvement categories with very little national spot advertising as opposed to years past as marketers have cut back on local ad budgets. Most will be on the sidelines come October as the presidential and down-ballot races heat up.

Another problem is the channel position of Scripps News on linear as it was multiplexed at either a dot-five or a dot-six position on most Scripps-owned Ion stations, making it hard to find – even for cord-cutters. The decision to withdraw from cable and satellite after inheriting channel positions from Retirement Living Television in 2017 reduced its reach as those who remain cable subscribers are frequent news viewers. 

Scripps News is the latest to find the no-frills route of national news is a rough road. In November 2022, CNBC canceled The News With Shepard Smith after a year-and-a-half run and NewsNation changed formats early in its run to structure itself similarly to every other cable news network.