Scripps (NASDAQ: SSP) completes TV station swap with Gray Media in five markets
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
The E.W. Scripps Company has completed a local TV station swap with Gray Media that covers five mid-sized and small markets and expands Scripps’ presence in the Mountain West. Scripps acquired stations in Colorado Springs, Grand Junction and Twin Falls, while Gray acquired stations in Lansing and Lafayette. The swap was an even exchange of comparable assets, so no cash consideration changed hands. Scripps highlights that deeper portfolios in these markets are intended to support its focus on local news, emergency alerts, weather and sports coverage.
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Insights
Scripps trades stations with Gray to deepen select regional TV markets with no cash exchanged.
The E.W. Scripps Company closed a station swap with Gray Media, exchanging outlets across five mid-sized and small TV markets. Scripps gains CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox affiliates in Colorado Springs, Grand Junction and Twin Falls, while ceding Fox and ABC stations in Lansing and Lafayette.
The company emphasizes that greater station depth in Colorado Springs and Twin Falls, plus entry into Grand Junction, is meant to support sustainable local news and public service programming. The deal is structured as an even exchange of comparable assets, with no cash consideration between the parties.
Because the transaction is asset-for-asset, the direct balance-sheet impact in this excerpt centers on changing market mix rather than cash flow. Future company filings may detail how the new station mix affects revenue and costs in these regional markets.
8-K Event Classification
3 items: 2.01, 9.01, 99.1
3 items
Item 2.01
Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets
Financial
The company completed a significant acquisition or sale of business assets.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Item 99.1
Item 99.1
Key Figures
Markets in swap: 5 markets
Stations operated: about 60 stations
Markets served: 40 markets
3 metrics
Markets in swap
5 markets
Mid-sized and small local TV markets involved in the station exchange
Stations operated
about 60 stations
Local TV stations operated in 40 markets as described in company profile
Markets served
40 markets
U.S. markets where Scripps operates local TV stations
Key Terms
station swap, even exchange of comparable assets, broadcast spectrum, local TV broadcasters
4 terms
station swap financial
"Scripps completes station swap with Gray Media"
even exchange of comparable assets financial
"The swap involved the even exchange of comparable assets."
broadcast spectrum technical
"Scripps is the nation’s largest holder of broadcast spectrum."
local TV broadcasters financial
"As one of the nation’s largest local TV broadcasters, Scripps serves communities"
FAQ
What transaction did The E.W. Scripps Company (SSP) report in this 8-K?
The company reported completion of a TV station swap with Gray Media. Scripps exchanged stations across five mid-sized and small markets, reshaping its local broadcast footprint in Colorado, Idaho, Michigan and Louisiana without any cash changing hands.
Which TV stations did Scripps acquire in the swap with Gray Media?
Scripps acquired KKTV (CBS) in Colorado Springs, KKCO (NBC) and KJCT-LP (ABC) in Grand Junction, and KMVT (CBS) plus KSVT-LD (Fox) in Twin Falls. These additions deepen its reach in Colorado Springs and Twin Falls and create a new presence in Grand Junction.
Which TV stations did Gray Media acquire from Scripps in this transaction?
Gray Media acquired WSYM (Fox) in Lansing, Michigan, and KATC (ABC) in Lafayette, Louisiana. These two stations were exchanged for the Colorado and Idaho stations Scripps received, forming part of an even trade of comparable broadcast assets between the companies.
Did The E.W. Scripps Company pay or receive cash in the Gray Media station swap?
No cash changed hands in the swap. The companies described it as an even exchange of comparable assets, meaning each side transferred TV station properties to the other without additional cash consideration, focusing the deal on strategic market positioning instead of funding.
How does the station swap affect Scripps’ market presence in the Mountain West?
The swap expands Scripps’ presence in the Mountain West by strengthening its portfolios in Colorado Springs and Twin Falls and adding a new foothold in Grand Junction. Management links this greater scale to supporting local news, emergency alerts, weather and sports coverage in those communities.
What broader business profile does Scripps highlight alongside the station swap?
Scripps describes itself as a diversified media company and one of the nation’s largest local TV broadcasters, operating about 60 stations in 40 markets. It also owns national networks like Scripps News and ION brands, and is the largest holder of U.S. broadcast spectrum.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) May 15, 2026
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (513 ) 977-3000
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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
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THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY
INDEX TO CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K
| Item No. | Page | |||||||
| 2.01 | Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets | 3 | ||||||
| 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits | 3 | ||||||
2
Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets
On May 15, 2026, The E.W. Scripps Company (“Scripps”) closed on the previously announced stations swap transaction with Gray Media, Inc. (“Gray”). Scripps acquired KKTV (CBS) in Colorado Springs, Colorado; KKCO (NBC) and low power station KJCT-LP (ABC) in Grand Junction, Colorado; and KMVT (CBS) and low power station KSVT-LD (Fox) in Twin Falls, Idaho. Gray acquired WSYM (Fox) in Lansing, Michigan, and KATC (ABC) in Lafayette, Louisiana.
The swap involved the even exchange of comparable assets. As a result, neither company paid cash consideration to the other.
Scripps issued a press release related to the close of the transaction which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
| Exhibit Number | Description of Item | |||||||
99.1 | Press release dated May 15, 2026 | |||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | |||||||
3
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY | ||||||||
| BY: | /s/ Daniel W. Perschke | |||||||
| Daniel W. Perschke | ||||||||
| Senior Vice President, Controller | ||||||||
| (Principal Accounting Officer) | ||||||||
Dated: May 15, 2026
4
Exhibit 99.1
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Scripps completes station swap with Gray Media
| May 15, 2026 | ||||||||
CINCINNATI - The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) has completed its local TV station swap with Gray Media across five mid-sized and small markets, expanding Scripps’ presence in the Mountain West.
Under the terms of the agreement, which was originally announced in July 2025:
•Gray Media has acquired Scripps’ WSYM (Fox) in Lansing, Michigan, and KATC (ABC) in Lafayette, Louisiana.
•Scripps has acquired Gray’s KKTV (CBS) in Colorado Springs, Colorado; KKCO (NBC) and KJCT-LP (ABC) in Grand Junction, Colorado; and KMVT (CBS) and KSVT-LD (Fox) in Twin Falls, Idaho.
The transaction expands Scripps’ presence in Colorado Springs and Twin Falls – markets where the company already operates trusted local stations – and establishes a new footprint in Grand Junction.
“Greater depth in these markets creates the economic durability to sustain our public service commitment: high-quality local news, emergency alerts, weather coverage and local sports that keep people informed, engaged and connected to their communities,” said Adam Symson, Scripps’ president and CEO. “We see scale and localism as complementary, and strategic transactions like this help ensure our stations remain strong, trusted voices for the communities that depend on us.”
The swap involves an even exchange of comparable assets with no cash consideration exchanged between the companies.
Investor contact: Jason Combs, The E.W. Scripps Company, (513) 977-3981, jason.combs@scripps.com
Media contact: Becca McCarter, The E.W. Scripps Company, (513) 410-2425, rebecca.mccarter@scripps.com
About Scripps
The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) is a diversified media company focused on creating connection. As one of the nation’s largest local TV broadcasters, Scripps serves communities with quality, objective local journalism and operates a portfolio of about 60 stations in 40 markets. Scripps reaches households across the U.S. with national news outlet Scripps News and popular entertainment brands ION, Bounce, Grit, ION Mystery, ION Plus and Laff. Scripps is the nation’s largest holder of broadcast spectrum. Scripps Sports serves professional and college sports leagues, conferences and teams with local market depth and national broadcast reach of up to 100% of TV households. Founded in 1878, Scripps is the steward of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, and its longtime motto is: “Give light and the people will find their own way.”
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