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 […]
Rebrand comes only a year after re-launching news channel Continuing a trend of station groups expanding their news footprint, Scripps announced Thursday the rebranding of their 24/7 news channel Newsy to Scripps News effective January 1. The name change comes as the company is merging its national news resources into a single national news division and approximately one year after […]
Replaces Bounce as digital network heads to Ion’s WCPX It’s not just an expansion – it’s now a boom. Yet another new multicast network was announced with the launch of MeTVPlus from Weigel Broadcasting, scheduled to debut May 15. As first reported by Robert Feder Monday, MeTV Plus features off-network dramas and sitcoms that hasn’t aired on MeTV in years, […]
More multicast networks announced from Scripps, Tegna Days after Scripps shut down several digital subchannels (now called “multicast networks”) related to their acquisition of Ion, the Cincinnati-based company announced Tuesday two new channels: Defy and the amply named Doozy (yes, Doozy.) Both are cleared in 75 percent of the country for a July 1 launch. Defy is targeted to male […]
Chicago’s WCPX becomes a Scripps-owned station – but remains an Ion affiliate In a blockbuster move, Cincinnati-based Scripps Thursday announced the purchase of Ion, a network with more than 125 affiliates, including 62-owned stations. The deal includes Ion-owned Chicago’s WCPX – the former Christian station known as WCFC-TV from 1976 to 1998 when the ministry sold the station to Bud […]
Oprah Winfrey to speak to local grads The coronavirus pandemic has wiped out graduation ceremonies all over the Chicago area, but they get to celebrate virtually – with an assist from Chicago’s local stations. In a very rare show of collaboration, Chicago TV stations are simulcasting a virtual celebration titled Grad 2020: For Chicago by Chicago, honoring the Chicago area’s […]
Also: – Weigel buys stations in three markets – NFL ratings for first week are mixed – Fall syndication update – T Dog Media celebrates annual anniversary for the 11th time as we enter season 12 Ratings for The Orville are finally in and to no one’s surprise, the series generated ample sampling. According to Nielsen, the debut of Seth […]
The move meant to send a message to Sinclair According to a report in Bloomberg, 21st Century Fox is reportedly in talks with Ion networks about a partnership which would let them operate a large number of Fox affiliates in several markets. Moreover, the move could strip Fox affiliates in many Sinclair markets, including those […]
Secrets of the company success: reruns, reruns and more reruns – oh, and the occasional original show There is a network that often draw more viewers than The CW and Telemundo in any given week – and yet, it has the lowest profile of any major network. And Ion likes it that way. Ion Media is one of the beneficiaries […]