Latest news with #Scripps-owned
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WNBA Renews Broadcast Rights With Scripps' Ion Television
The WNBA and Ion Television, the Scripps-owned broadcast network, have renewed their media rights agreement. The initial three-year deal, which Ion reportedly paid $13 million for annually, began in 2023 and was the league's second traditional TV deal independent of the NBA's longstanding agreement with ESPN/ABC. The W also has a deal with CBS, which includes games on broadcast CBS and its cable sibling CBS Sports Network. Both the Ion and CBS Sports deals are set to expire at the end of the 2025 season. Advertisement More from Financial details as well as the length of the Ion extension were not disclosed. In April, ahead of Scripps' upfront event at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., Scripps Sports president Brian Lawlor expressed confidence that the WNBA would remain on Ion beyond this season. He referenced how the league's games on the network were not included in the new NBA media agreement forged last summer. 'The one thing you didn't see bundled in was Friday night,' Lawlor said in the interview. 'They really value what Ion brings with that national distribution, the new audience, the incredible visibility, so they protected Friday nights. I fully expect that—not just this season, but for many years down the road—we'll be long-term partners with them.' Advertisement The hysteria around Caitlin Clark last season helped Ion more than double its viewership versus 2023 as the network averaged 670,000 viewers per game, a 133% growth versus the prior season. Clark and the Indiana Fever were responsible for Ion's seven games with 1 million viewers or more. More important, more than 20 new advertisers bought commercial time on Ion last season thanks to its WNBA broadcasts. Growth continues for the network through the first four weeks of this season. Ion's total viewership is up 4% compared to the same timeframe last season, which included four Fever games. Viewership with one key demographic, women aged 18-49, is up 27% through the first four weeks of the season. Ion has the most games among the WNBA's legacy media partners this season with 50 as part of its WNBA Friday Night Spotlight, which includes the first weekly studio show exclusively dedicated to WNBA coverage. The success of the Friday 'franchise' inspired Ion to create a similar template for NWSL games on Saturdays. Certainly, the Ion renewal will get the attention of the players as they look to improve their labor standing with the league. After last year's WNBA Finals, the WNBPA exercised its opt-out clause in the CBA, which expires on Oct. 31. The players are pushing to revamp the current revenue-sharing system to be more favorable for them, one that gives them a bigger share of money coming in from the new NBA media deal and the independent Ion pact. Advertisement Best of Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Craig McKee Leaving Cincinnati to Work in Phoenix
WCPO anchor Craig McKee is trading one Scripps station for another. McKee is leaving Cincinnati ABC affiliate to work at Scripps owned KNXV in Phoenix, Arizona. In a long social post, McKee explained why he was moving back to his wife's home state, saying in part, 'When we left her home state of Arizona in 2002, she told me she would one day want to go back,' he wrote. 'I had planned to leave the industry at the end of this year to focus on making that a reality. During our transition and preparations for this next chapter, an Anchoring and Reporting opportunity became available at our Scripps-owned ABC affiliate KNXV in Phoenix, Arizona.' 'This position will allow me to continue focusing on family, including our granddaughter in Arizona, while also continuing the work I love in journalism,' he added. During his 10 years at WCPO 9, Craig has made a big impact with veterans in our community. His 'Homefront' segment has rightfully highlighted the stories and needs of our veterans, and his efforts have been pivotal in bringing attention to critical issues within the Hamilton County Veterans Service Commission. Thanks to Craig's reporting, valuable services have been restored, and he has dedicated countless hours connecting with veteran groups throughout the community. WCPO He'll be on the air through June.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Thank you Cincinnati': Longtime WCPO anchor announces departure from station
After 10 years with WCPO 9 News, Cincinnati anchor Craig McKee announced his departure from the television station. McKee has accepted a reporting position at Scripps-owned ABC affiliate KNXV in Phoenix, Arizona, returning to his wife's home state for the first time since 2002 to focus on family, he said in a Facebook post on May 29. "This position will allow me to continue focusing on family, including our granddaughter in Arizona, while also continuing the work I love in journalism," McKee wrote. The veteran anchor expressed his gratitude for the people of Cincinnati, stating that the city has given him more than he could have even imagined. "Thank you Cincinnati, for allowing me to be part of your story." McKee wrote. WCPO shared McKee's post on its own Facebook page, and said, "We love you, Craig. And we will miss you." Mckee is now the fourth Cincinnati anchor/reporter leaving their station to pursue other opportunities this month, following in the footsteps of WCPO meteorologist Brandon Spinner, FOX19 meteorologist Frank Marzullo and Local 12 anchor Annie Brown. This story will be updated. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Longtime WCPO anchor Craig McKee announces his departure from station
Hindustan Times
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Scripps National Spelling Bee finals tonight: Broadcast channel, time, finalists, and cash prizes revealed
The 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee finals kick off tonight, Thursday, at 8 p.m. ET. The finals will be broadcast on ION, a Scripps-owned channel. Viewers can also tune in via other Scripps national networks, including Bounce, Grit, ION Mystery, and Laff. The event will also stream for free on Scripps' ad-supported platforms: ION Plus, Scripps News, Bounce XL, Grit Xtra, Laff More, and at Also Read: How running is helping children build more confidence, one marathon at a time 7th place - $2,000 6th place - $2,500 5th place - $5,000 4th place - $10,000 3rd place - $15,000 2nd place - $25,000 1st place - $50,000 The winner also gets a $2,500 cash prize and reference library from Merriam-Webster. Age 13, 7th grade Sponsor: Arizona Educational Foundation (Phoenix, Arizona) School: BASIS Chandler Age 13, 7th grade Sponsor: Los Angeles County Office of Education (Los Angeles, California) School: Mirman School Age 14, 8th grade Sponsor: Tulare County Office of Education (Visalia, California) School: Oak Grove Elementary School Age 11, 5th grade Sponsor: Georgia Association of Educators (Tucker, Georgia) School: Austin Elementary School Age 13, 8th grade Sponsor: SNSB Region Three Bee (Edison, New Jersey) School: Woodrow Wilson Middle School Age 13, 8th grade Sponsor: SNSB Region Four Bee (Great Neck, New York) School: Great Neck North Middle School Age 14, 8th grade Sponsor: Carolina Panthers (Charlotte, North Carolina) School: Valor Preparatory Academy Age 13, 8th grade Sponsor: Pennon Education (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) School: Mountain View Middle School Age 13, 7th grade Sponsor: Dallas Sports Commission (Dallas, Texas) School: CM Rice Middle School
USA Today
29-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Scripps National Spelling Bee finals live updates: Time, TV, what to know
Scripps National Spelling Bee finals live updates: Time, TV, what to know Who will be crowned the champion of the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee? Follow along as nine finalists compete for the title. OXON HILL, Md. — Of all the schoolchildren who participate in their classroom spelling bees across the United States, nine remain in the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee as the finals begin tonight at 8 p.m. ET. Those finalists, ages 12-14, advanced over the first two days of the national competition. That is a cutdown from the 99 who made it to the quarterfinals Wednesday, with 57 advancing to the semifinals. The remaining spellers square off on ION with The Scripps Cup and a $50,000 cash prize on the line. Faizan Zaki, the 2024 runner-up, is among the group from which a champion will be crowned during the Bee's 100th anniversary celebration. Scripps National Spelling Bee finals live stream, TV The Bee's finals will air on Scripps-owned channel ION. The finals will also air on Scripps' other national networks: Bounce, Grit, ION Mystery and Laff, as well as its free, ad-supported streaming channels ION Plus, Scripps News, Bounce XL, Grit Xtra, Laff More and Scripps National Spelling Bee finals start time The finals begin at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Fans can head to and enter their zip code for instructions on how to watch the Bee in their specific area. Who will win the 2025 Spelling Bee? Zaki, a 13-year-old from Dallas, Texas, is a strong candidate based on track record. He's the lone returning finalist and is competing in his fourth Bee. He advanced to the quarterfinals with a perfect score of 35 in the Round 3 preliminaries test Tuesday afternoon (the minimum score needed to advance was 13).
