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The E.W. Scripps Co. said today that it is launching a new Scripps Sports division to further leverage its local market depth and national broadcast reach for partnerships with sports leagues, conferences and teams. Brian Lawlor, who has led the company’s Local Media division since 2009, will assume the role of president of the new division.
Scripps said: “Already with one of the nation’s largest local television portfolios, Scripps’ acquisition of Ion Media last year positions it with unparalleled national reach through over-the-air broadcast, pay TV and connected TV. At the same time, changes in the television landscape and in the sports marketplace open opportunities for new models to partner on live sports distribution.”
Adam Symson, Scripps’ president and CEO, added: “There is no better way to reach every generation of sports fan than through live broadcast television. Scripps is working with the leagues and teams that recognize the role our assets can play in increasing reach and visibility for audience engagement.
“In addition, Symson said, “Brian Lawlor is a highly regarded broadcast executive who has transformed our local media business — building the division from 10 TV stations in 2009 to 61 today. For the last year, he has already been leading the Scripps sports plan, bringing the same commitment to entrepreneurship and creativity for the company.”
Ion, in addition to its 61 TV stations, boasts the fifth-largest national broadcast viewership and reaches 100% of U.S. television households through broadcast, cable/satellite and connected TV platforms. It can run localized, regionalized and