Latest news with #BrianLawlor
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lightning leave FanDuel, enter new media agreement with Scripps Sports
The Tampa Bay Lightning announced on Wednesday that the team has entered a multi-year media rights agreement with Scripps Sports. The new agreement will make The E.W. Scripps the official television home of the Lightning, giving them the rights to air all preseason, regular season and first round playoff games which are not allocated to national broadcasts. The partnership will make it easier for fans all across Tampa Bay to have access to Lightning games free of charge at the start of the 2025-26 season. 'We're excited to announce Scripps Sports as the new media partner of the Tampa Bay Lightning,' said Vinik Sports Group CEO Steve Griggs. 'A world-class fan experience starts with access — and fans have made it clear they want it to be easier to find and watch our games. This partnership delivers on that. 'We're looking forward to working with Brian Lawlor and the Scripps Sports team to expand our reach and bring the excitement of Lightning hockey to more homes across Tampa Bay. We're also incredibly grateful to Steve Tello and the FanDuel Sports team for their partnership and the many unforgettable moments we've shared.' Scripps, which owns ABC Action News also plans to launch a second full-power local station serving the Tampa-St. Petersburg area that will be the broadcast home of the Lightning. That station will be branded 'The Spot - Tampa Bay 66' and will launch locally on July 1, featuring news and entertainment programming. If you're outside the Tampa Bay area and want to tune in, programming info will be made available prior to the start of the 2025-26 season. If you want to stay updated, you can log in here: 'The Tampa Bay Lightning are one of the best teams in the NHL and Bolts fans deserve easy access to all their games via cable, satellite, free over-the-air and streaming,' said Brian Lawlor, President of Scripps Sports. 'The complement of broadcast television and streaming guarantees that fans can follow the games from their living room or wherever they are in their busy lives. We look forward to sharing many winning moments with one of the league's most loyal fan bases.' 'We are honored to power the streaming experience for the Lightning and expand our support for the NHL and now seven of its teams,' said ViewLift CEO Rick Allen. 'We will make it easy for Bolts fans to stream games through their existing Lightning mobile apps and new apps on far more devices, helping the Lightning bring on-ice action and behind-the-scenes information and experiences to fans of all ages, at home or on the move.' The Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers and Utah Mammoth have recently entered similar media agreements.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tampa Bay Lightning, Scripps Sports partner on multi-year agreement to air National Hockey League team's games
TAMPA BAY, Fla. and CINCINNATI , May 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Tampa Bay Lightning have entered into a multi-year media rights agreement with Scripps Sports, which will make it easier than ever for fans throughout the Tampa Bay area to watch Lightning hockey games for free beginning with the start of the 2025-26 NHL season this fall. This new agreement allows The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) to produce and distribute all preseason, regular season and first-round playoff Lightning games that are not allocated exclusively to national broadcasts. Scripps, which owns WFTS-ABC Action News serving the Tampa television market, plans to launch a second full-power local station serving the Tampa-St. Petersburg area, WXPX-TV, which will be the broadcast home of the Lightning. That station will be branded "The Spot – Tampa Bay 66" and will launch locally on July 1, featuring news and entertainment programming in addition to all locally produced Lightning games. Scripps is in discussions with cable and satellite distributors to ensure Lightning games on The Spot will be available on cable, satellite as well as over-the-air television. In addition to the local TV broadcasts, the Lightning and Scripps Sports will be introducing a new, direct-to-consumer experience where Bolts fans can livestream games within the Lightning app throughout the Bolts' broadcast territory, powered by ViewLift. More details on the streaming experience will be made available prior to the start of the 2025-26 season. "The Tampa Bay Lightning are one of the best teams in the NHL, and Bolts fans deserve easy access to all their games via cable, satellite, free over-the-air and streaming," said Brian Lawlor, president of Scripps Sports. "The complement of broadcast television and streaming guarantees that fans can follow the games from their living room or wherever they are in their busy lives. We look forward to sharing many winning moments with one of the league's most loyal fan bases." "We're excited to announce Scripps Sports as the new media partner of the Tampa Bay Lightning," said Vinik Sports Group CEO Steve Griggs. "A world-class fan experience starts with access — and fans have made it clear they want it to be easier to find and watch our games. This partnership delivers on that. We're looking forward to working with Brian Lawlor and the Scripps Sports team to expand our reach and bring the excitement of Lightning hockey to more homes across Tampa Bay. We're also incredibly grateful to Steve Tello and the FanDuel Sports team for their partnership and the many unforgettable moments we've shared." "We are honored to power the streaming experience for the Lightning and expand our support for the NHL and now seven of its teams," said ViewLift CEO Rick Allen. "We will make it easy for Bolts fans to stream games through their existing Lightning mobile apps and new apps on far more devices, helping the Lightning bring on-ice action and behind-the-scenes information and experiences to fans of all ages, at home or on the move." In the NHL, Scripps Sports also has similar media rights agreements with the Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers and Utah Mammoth. Media contacts: Scripps Sports: Jim Weiss, 770.722.2142, Brian Breseman, 813.301.6871, bbreseman@ Mahesh Kumar, About Scripps SportsScripps Sports serves professional and college sports leagues, conferences and teams with local market depth and national broadcast reach. Scripps Sports currently has partnerships with the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2024 Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, the 2023 Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights, the Utah Mammoth, the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA and the NCAA's Big Sky Conference. Scripps Sports is a division of The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP), a Fortune 1000 American media company. About the Lightning and Vinik Sports GroupVinik Sports Group (VSG) is an entity established by Jeff Vinik to manage the three-time Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning (2004, 2020, 2021) of the National Hockey League and hold the leasehold rights to AMALIE Arena, the 19,092-seat downtown Tampa home in which the team plays its games. The venue opened in 1996 and became AMALIE Arena in September 2014 when the family-owned, Tampa Bay-based AMALIE Oil Company partnered with Vinik and the Lightning. Since 2010, Vinik has led a complete brand and business transformation of the Lightning and the arena, featuring a mostly private renovation of the publicly owned facility. Doug Ostrover and Marc Lipschultz joined the expanded ownership group of Vinik Sports Group in 2024, alongside Arctos, which initially joined in 2021. In addition to owning the Lightning and managing AMALIE Arena, Vinik Sports Group, through TBSE, manages the Yuengling Center on the campus at the University of South Florida. About ViewLiftViewLift is a technology company providing digital solutions for content owners, with particular expertise in live and on-demand video distribution. With proprietary cloud-based technology, ViewLift powers digital platforms for sports, media, and entertainment brands worldwide. Its services include content management, multi-platform distribution, real-time analytics, viewer engagement tools, and flexible monetization models (AVOD, SVOD, TVOD, and hybrid models). ViewLift enables content owners to maximize audience engagement and revenue through a seamless, scalable streaming experience. ViewLift's sports clients include the National Hockey League, 14 US top professional sports teams; LIV Golf; five Regional Sports Networks; the Professional Fighters League; and the World Racing Group. The company's media clients include NBC; TEGNA; and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment's MOTV. For more information about ViewLift, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The E.W. Scripps Company Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Malaysian Reserve
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Malaysian Reserve
State Farm® WNBA Friday Night Spotlight on ION to tip off May 16 with the most regular-season games on TV
ATLANTA, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Scripps Sports today unveiled its broadcast plans for the 2025 WNBA season, where ION will set a new standard of weekly coverage for the league by broadcasting the most regular games of the season, 50 in total, as part of its State Farm® WNBA Friday Night Spotlight series. The State Farm® WNBA Friday Night Spotlight showcases thrilling doubleheaders from across the league on Friday nights of the regular season. ION is one of the most-watched networks on television and is available on pay TV, connected TV, free ad-supported streaming platforms and over-the-air in more than 128 million homes. 'We're proud to be the home for women's sports and lead the way in the number of regular season WNBA games on television due to our nationwide multiplatform audience reach,' said Brian Lawlor, president, Scripps Sports. 'From new franchises entering the mix to the establishment and continuation of rivalries, there is a lot of buzz around the WNBA right now, and we are thrilled to have the chance to capture that energy through our coverage.' Among the WNBA on ION plans and highlights this season: In the Studio The WNBA on ION Studio Show, the first weekly game broadcast studio show dedicated to the WNBA, will return in 2025 and will again feature: 30-minute pre-game shows including player interviews, highlights from the week's games, spotlights on upcoming matchups on ION and in-depth feature stories from around the league. Halftime shows that break down games and provide insights from the studio host and analysts. Wrap-up/preview shows in between games. Originating from Atlanta, the WNBA on ION Studio Show team features award-winning news and sports anchor Larry Smith as host, alongside analysts Autumn Johnson, the NCAA's lead personality covering women's basketball, and Meghan McKeown, basketball analyst for the Sun, NBC/Peacock, Big Ten Network, ESPN and FOX. Jay Hoover serves as studio show producer, with Nicole Denne as executive producer. On the Court The new WNBA season tips off on Friday, May 16, on ION and features a national doubleheader of debuts: The first game will see the regular season premiere of Paige Bueckers , selected No.1 overall by the Dallas Wings in the recent WNBA draft presented by State Farm®, as the Wings host the Minnesota Lynx. , selected No.1 overall by the Dallas Wings in the recent WNBA draft presented by State Farm®, as the Wings host the Minnesota Lynx. The nightcap features the first-ever game of the league's newest franchise, the Golden State Valkyries, as they take on the Los Angeles Sparks. Other WNBA on ION schedule highlights include: A'ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces hosting Kelsey Plum and the Los Angeles Sparks in Plum's return to Vegas for the first time since the blockbuster trade that sent her to L.A. ( May 30 ). and the Las Vegas Aces hosting and the Los Angeles Sparks in Plum's return to Vegas for the first time since the blockbuster trade that sent her to L.A. ( ). Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever facing off against Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings in a showdown of the most recent No.1 draft picks as the Fever visit Dallas ( June 27 ). and the Indiana Fever facing off against and the Dallas Wings in a showdown of the most recent No.1 draft picks as the Fever visit ( ). The WNBA going international as the Atlanta Dream and newest star Brittney Griner plays Skylar Diggins , Nneka Ogwumike and the Seattle Storm in Vancouver for the first regular season game ever played outside the United States (Aug.15). plays and the Seattle Storm in for the first regular season game ever played outside (Aug.15). Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark going head-to-head as Reese's Chicago Sky takes on Clark's Indiana Fever ( Sept. 5 ). Growth Last Season The return of the WNBA on ION follows a successful 2024 season where average viewership for the State Farm® WNBA Friday Night Spotlight increased by 133% over 2023 and attracted more than 23 million unique viewers across games and wrap shows. To access complete details about the WNBA on ION, and find ION channel information, visit Follow @IONWNBA on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for future updates. *Sources for data: Nielsen L+SD national panel one-minute qualifier for reach, average program performance 05/14/2024-09/13/2024; FAST – Roku, Samsung TV+, LG, Vizio, Xumo, Plex, Amazon Fire Channels, Pluto, CW and Tablo. Scripps media contact: Jim Weiss, (770) 722-2142, About ION A leading general entertainment network, ION's lineup features major cable and broadcast shows, original series, live sports and special event programming. ION is part of The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP), a diversified media company focused on creating a better-informed world. As one of the nation's largest local TV broadcasters, Scripps serves communities with quality, objective local journalism and operates a portfolio of more than 60 stations in more than 40 markets. About Scripps Sports Scripps Sports serves professional and college sports leagues, conferences and teams with local market depth and national broadcast reach. Scripps Sports currently has partnerships with the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2024 Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, the 2023 Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights, the new Utah Hockey Club, the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA and the NCAA's Big Sky Conference. Scripps Sports is a division of The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP), a Fortune 1000 American media company. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE SCRIPPS
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Elevance Health Women's Fort Myers Tip-Off comes to Scripps Sports, ION in multiyear agreement
First national women's college basketball rights deal for Scripps Sports ATLANTA, April 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ION will be the exclusive television home of the popular Elevance Health Women's Fort Myers Tip-Off, a premier early season college basketball tournament, for the next five years as part of a new multiyear agreement between Scripps Sports and award-winning agency Intersport, which manages the tournament. The Elevance Health Women's Fort Myers Tip-Off, launched in 2022, has quickly established itself as one of the premier early season tournaments in the country, regularly bringing championship-caliber programs to Southwest Florida. In just a few short years, national champions such as South Carolina, Tennessee, Maryland, Purdue and other powerhouse teams like Iowa State, DePaul, Michigan, Oklahoma and others have participated in the event. The agreement begins with this year's edition of the Thanksgiving weekend tournament, Nov. 28-29, held at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers. ION will air every matchup live both days with distribution on cable, satellite, major streaming platforms and over-the-air. The tournament marks the first national women's college basketball rights deal for Scripps Sports, adding to its growing portfolio of women's sports action, including the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). "As the popularity of women's sports among audiences and advertisers continues to explode, the Elevance Health Women's Fort Myers Tip-Off will immediately become another major sports property for ION," said Brian Lawlor, Scripps Sports president. "We're proud that women's sports have found a home on ION, and we look forward to bringing fans the action-packed world of women's college basketball this fall." "Scripps Sports and ION are now a top destination for women's sports, and we're thrilled to partner with them for the Elevance Health Women's Fort Myers Tip-Off," said Mark Starsiak, Senior Vice President of Intersport. "This tournament has proven to be an exciting one for college basketball fans everywhere, and the Scripps Sports team will elevate this event even further." The addition of the Elevance Health Women's Fort Myers Tip-Off to Scripps Sports comes as ION has seen significant momentum with its sports programming centered around the WNBA and the NWSL. The WNBA on ION reached more than 23.3 million total unique viewers last season, including 9.4 million viewers unique to ION, with seven WNBA telecasts exceeding 1 million viewers. Broadcasts of last year's inaugural season of the NWSL on ION reached more than 20.5 million total unique viewers, including 13.5 viewers unique to ION. Participating teams, game schedule and talent details for ION's coverage of the Elevance Health Women's Fort Myers Tip-Off will be announced at a later date. More information on the tournament is available at Source: Nielsen L+SD National Panel One-Minute Qualifier. (Data for NWSL+, Prime Video, Paramount+ and WNBA League Pass is not available. Media contacts: Intersport – Dan Mihalik, 219-688-9981, dmihalik@ Scripps – Jim Weiss, 770-722-2142, About IONA leading general entertainment network, ION's lineup features major cable and broadcast shows, original series, live sports and special event programming. ION is part of The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP), a diversified media company focused on creating a better-informed world. As one of the nation's largest local TV broadcasters, Scripps serves communities with quality, objective local journalism and operates a portfolio of more than 60 stations in more than 40 markets. About Scripps SportsScripps Sports serves professional and college sports leagues, conferences and teams with local market depth and national broadcast reach. Scripps Sports currently has partnerships with the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2024 Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, the 2023 Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights, the new Utah Hockey Club, the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA and the NCAA's Big Sky Conference. Scripps Sports is a division of The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP), a Fortune 1000 American media company. About the Fort Myers Tip-OffAn annual celebration of men's and women's college basketball, the Fort Myers Tip-Off welcomes the top programs from around the country for incredible competition to see which teams and their fans will #OwnTheFort during Thanksgiving Week. Contested at Suncoast Credit Union Arena, the home of Florida SouthWestern State College, the Fort Myers Tip-Off has quickly become a staple of the Southwest Florida sports calendar. To receive the latest email alerts regarding tournament news, ticket information and more, visit our website at or and follow Intersport Basketball on Twitter (X) and Instagram at @IntersportHoops. About IntersportIntersport is an award-winning agency that fills the empty space between marketing campaigns and consumers—helping brands make more meaningful connections. Its industry-leading team offers expert insights in content marketing, experiential marketing, hospitality, partnership consulting and platform development. The Chicago-based agency also owns and operates events across the professional and collegiate sports landscape, including basketball, football, golf, pickleball and volleyball. Intersport has been headquartered in Chicago since its inception in 1985 and has an additional office in Detroit. Learn more at and on social media (LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook). View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The E.W. Scripps Company Sign in to access your portfolio
