Scripps E W Co Ohio Stock Price, News & Analysis

E.W. Scripps (NASDAQ: SSP) has announced significant refinancing transactions to restructure its debt obligations. The company has secured agreements with lenders representing over 70% of its outstanding term loans due in 2026 and 2028. The refinancing package includes:

- Repayment or extension of up to $1.3 billion of existing term loans
- A new $450 million accounts receivable securitization facility
- A new $208 million revolving credit facility due July 2027

The transactions will result in no existing B-2 term loans remaining outstanding, with existing B-3 term loans being subordinated to new loans. The company expects to complete these transactions by April 2025, aiming to strengthen its balance sheet and support strategic initiatives.

Scripps Sports has announced its 2025 season coverage plans for the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) on ION, following a successful inaugural season that reached over 20 million unique viewers. The network has appointed Seb Salazar and Kylen Mills as new studio co-hosts for their weekly shows.

The 2025 season, starting March 15, will feature 50 matches across 25 weeks of Saturday night doubleheaders. ION's coverage is available in 123 million homes through pay TV, connected TV, and free ad-supported streaming platforms. The first season's highlights included reaching 13.5 million viewers unique to ION, with matches averaging 145,000 viewers and peaking at 234,000 for the Orlando-Kansas City match.

The broadcast team includes JP Dellacamera and Jill Loyden for the first match, with Maura Sheridan and Jordan Angeli covering the second match. The network delivered the largest female percentage audience (57% of P25-54, 55% of P2+) among all networks.

E.W. Scripps (NASDAQ: SSP) has rescheduled its fourth-quarter 2024 earnings release to March 11, 2024, after market close, with the earnings call now set for March 12 at 9 a.m. Eastern time. The delay from the original February dates is due to ongoing negotiations for refinancing transactions related to the company's term loan and revolving credit facility with existing lenders and potential new debt capital providers.

The company plans to provide updates on the refinancing transaction and negotiation results during the rescheduled conference call. Participants must pre-register through the company's investor relations website to access the live webcast or receive dial-in information.

The Scripps Howard Fund and Foundation distributed $9.8 million in charitable gifts during 2024, marking a 10% increase from 2023. The Fund's major allocations included: $2.5 million for community support through 77 fundraising campaigns, $1.6 million for journalism education including awards and internships, and $1.5 million for childhood literacy through the 'If You Give a Child a Book' campaign, which provided 255,000 books to 34,000 children.

The Foundation contributed $4.2 million to advance journalism education, including establishing the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center at the University of Southern Mississippi with a $3 million commitment over three years, and investing over $2 million in the Howard Centers for Investigative Journalism at the University of Maryland and Arizona State University.

Court TV is launching a new seven-part original series titled 'Trial & Error: Why Did O.J. Win?' premiering on Sunday, February 16, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The series examines the historic O.J. Simpson double murder trial through Court TV's extensive footage archive, exploring the defense's successes, prosecution's failures, and the legal strategies that led to the controversial verdict.

The series features interviews with key trial participants, including defense attorneys F. Lee Bailey and Alan Dershowitz, LAPD Detective Mark Fuhrman, prosecutor Bill Hodgman, and family members of victims Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. Episodes will air weekly from February 16 to March 30, covering topics from the Brentwood murders to jury room deliberations.

Hosted by attorney and Emmy-winning journalist Michael Ayala, with Ted Rowlands as executive producer, both of whom covered the original trial as reporters.

The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) has appointed Tony Lamerato as vice president of local media sales, effective Feb. 17, 2025. In his new role, Lamerato will oversee revenue strategy and business development across Scripps' network of over 60 local television stations.

Lamerato, who joined Scripps in 2016, previously served as vice president of sports revenue and sponsorships, where he managed revenue strategies for Scripps Sports' partnerships, including the Big Sky Conference and NHL teams. His experience includes roles as senior director of revenue strategy for Scripps' Local Media division and director of sales for Detroit stations WXYZ and WMYD.

The appointment aims to strengthen Scripps' revenue-generating initiatives across local advertising markets, focusing on sports inventory monetization and supporting local sales teams in fostering community business growth.

The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) has announced it will release its fourth-quarter 2024 operating results after market close on February 27, 2025. A conference call with senior management will follow on February 28, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time.

The company has implemented a new protocol for earnings call participation. Investors can access the live webcast by registering at the company's investor relations website. For phone access, participants must obtain dial-in information through specific registration links, with separate processes for analysts who plan to ask questions and those who wish to listen only.

An audio replay will be available approximately four hours after the call on the company's investor relations website for extended access.

Court TV has announced a new seven-part series titled 'Trial & Error: Why Did O.J. Win?' premiering February 16, 2024. The series examines the infamous O.J. Simpson double murder trial 30 years after its opening statements, exploring the defense's successes and prosecution's failures that led to the controversial verdict.

The series features interviews with key trial participants, including defense attorneys F. Lee Bailey and Alan Dershowitz, LAPD Detective Mark Fuhrman, prosecutor Bill Hodgman, and family members of victims Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. Episodes will air Sunday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT, covering topics from the Brentwood murders to racial tensions and jury deliberations.

Hosted by attorney and Emmy-winning journalist Michael Ayala, with Ted Rowlands as executive producer, the series utilizes Court TV's extensive archive footage. The show will run alongside Court TV's coverage of current high-profile cases, including the trials of Lori Vallow, Karen Read, and Bryan Kohberger.

National News Literacy Week, scheduled for Feb. 3-7, 2025, aims to address the critical need for teaching students credible information evaluation skills. The sixth annual event is jointly presented by the News Literacy Project, The E.W. Scripps Company, and USA TODAY.

According to a recent News Literacy Project study, 81% of teens who encounter conspiracy theories online tend to believe them, and many struggle to differentiate between sponsored content, opinion journalism, and paid ads. The study also revealed that teens express strong interest in learning media literacy at school, which correlates with better online habits like fact-checking before sharing content.

The initiative brings together three major organizations: the News Literacy Project (a national nonpartisan education nonprofit), Scripps (a diversified media company and major local TV news organization), and USA TODAY (owned by Gannett). Scripps was a co-founder of the event, with Gannett joining as a presenting partner this year.