by Alyssa Di Rienzo

Scripps Television Network 

Brief History

Edward W. Scripps founded the E.W. Scripps Company on November 2, 1878.  Scripps borrowed 10,000 dollars from his brother to start what he believed would be an “information revolution” in America.  The company began as a newspaper in Cleveland aimed at the large audience of urban workers.   Scripps then expanded his vision into other cities across America, creating a newspaper empire.  Edward H. Scripps partnered with Roy H. Howard in the late 1920s.  Soon after Howard became a chairman of the company. Howard’s son, Jack R. Howard had tremendous influence on the development of the Broadcasting segment of the Scripps Company.   He helped to launch the company’s first two TV stations:  WEWS in Cleveland and WCPO in Cincinnati.   The company continued to venture into other markets with their TV stations, allowing Scripps to grow into what it is today.  Later, in the early 1980’s, the company decided to purchase numerous cable TV stations.

Current Affairs 

Introductions

In late 2011 the company introduced smartphone and tablet apps.¹   The apps focus on severe weather warnings and breaking news.  E.W. Scripps announced that it plans to stream live television to mobile devices.¹ Scripps is the first company to offer the live streaming feature.  The company explained that the apps will allow users to get news and additional information in 9 different TV markets.  TV markets that will be included are WXYZ Detroit, KNXV Phoenix, WFTS Tampa, WEWS Cleveland, KSHB Kansas City, WMAR Baltimore, WCPO Cincinnati, WPTV West Palm Beach and KJRH Tulsa.¹

Acquisitions and Expansions

On December 30^th 2011 Scripps completed it acquisition of McGraw-Hill Broadcasting.  McGraw-Hill agreed to sell Scripps the 9-station group for $212 million dollars.  The McGraw Hill Broadcasting Company consists of ABC affiliates in Denver (KMGH), San Diego, (KGTV), Bakersfield (KERO), Indianapolis (WRTV) and Azteca America affiliates in Denver, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, San Diego and Bakersfield.  Harold McGraw III, chairman and CEO of McGraw-Hill spoke highly of the sale.  He said, “Scripps is a respected media company that will provide an excellent new home for our broadcasting stations and allow them to deepen their ties and value in the markets they serve.”²

In late February the E.W. Scripps group announced that the company plans to expand its television reporting operations into the Washington DC market.¹²   The Company claims that they are “enhancing [their] TV investigation team to provide stories with national impact.” ¹²

With the expansion, will come a new investigation team.  The team will launch a more intense review and analysis on governmental actions.¹²   The team will also work closely with the E.W. Scripps Newspaper in that area.¹²

In mid April, the E.W. Scripps Company also announced plans to partake in a joint venture with a mobile TV company called Dyle.  Dyle is a mobile company operated by the Mobile Content Venture, which includes 12 other broadcast groups, one of which being the E.W. Scripps Group.  Dyle is working to expand into new markets.  By the end of 2012, Dyle Mobile will offer its services to more than 90 stations in 35 different markets.   Scripps is excited about this venture.⁶

Scripps TV stations announced that is it giving more responsibility to 3 of their general managers, in March 22^nd 2012.¹¹ Ed Fernandez, Sam Rosenwasser and Steve Wasserman will now be responsible for supervising secondary network affiliates along with various other additional stations.¹¹   This reorganization is part of a larger plan to allow Scripps to gain more market share.

Earnings 

In Quarter 4, Scripps reported a 16% decrease in revenue.⁹ In Q4 the company reported revenue of 84.7 million dollars.⁹   E.W. Scripps made the decision to increase advertising spending by 11.4%.⁹    The CEO of the company, Rich Boehne, seems unconcerned about the decline in revenue.  He was reported saying, “We substantially repositioned Scripps in 2011, clearing the way for improved performance in 2012, enlarging our television footprint, and enabling an aggressive rollout of new digital products and services.” ⁹

On March 7^th the Scripps Group filed its 10K, exceeding expectations on revenue and earnings per share.  Revenue numbers came in at 197.4 million. The company also forecasted next quarter’s resume for 202.8 million. ¹⁰

Scripps Television Group plans to replace syndicated programming such as Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy with original programming in late 2012.  The SVP of TV, Brian G. Lawlor, claims that the project has been in the works for over 2 years.⁸ Scripps reveals that they will begin working on their own game show to rival these classics. The programming is set to air on 7 major stations in the US.  This announcement was made on March 2^nd 2012. ⁸

Scripps continues to add television stations to the company.  Over the past several months Scripps has nearly double its number of stations.  To this point, the E.W. Scripps Company owns and operates at total of 19 stations. ³ The Scripps Television Group hopes to continue this pattern of growth in the future as well.

Awards

On April 16^th, the E.W. Scripps Group was awarded the prestigious Distinguished Service Award presented by the National Association of Broadcasters.³   Normally, the award is reserved for outstanding individuals, but the NAB decided to award it to a company, for just the second time in history.  The Distinguished Service Award is similar to a lifetime achievement award in broadcasting.  The NAB granted Scripps this award in recognition of over 130 years of excellence in the industry.  At the ceremony NAB president Gordan Smith announced, “A media pioneer since the 1800s, the Scripps Company is held in the industry’s highest esteem. In recognition of the company’s commitment to excellence, innovation and outstanding service to local communities, we are proud to present Scripps with the Distinguished Service Award whose recipients are among broadcasting’s most respected leaders.”³  CEO Rich Boehne graciously accepted the award.

Boehne Accepts the Distinguished Service Award © NAB 2012

Click here to watch a video describing further describing the award. 13

Scripps Television Stations also received additional recognition.  Scripps TV stations in 6 separate markets won 13 regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for achievement in electronic journalism.⁴   Winning stations included:

–               KMGH Denver

–               WFTS Tampa

–               KSHB Kansas City

–               WEWS Cleveland

–               WPTV West Palm Beach

–               WMAR Baltimore

Lobbying

Recently, the Scripps Group has been lobbying against a government proposal to increase transparency of political spending.⁷   The are working to shut down the Federal Communications Commission’s plan that would require broadcasters to post political ad spending data on the internet.  The Scripps Group has received criticism for opposing this initiative.

A representative from the E.W. Scripps Company along with a group of top broadcast executives from companies such as Cox Media, Hearst Television and many others, met with FCC chairman Julius Genachowski and an attorney on April 19^th to discuss their proposal for political ad spending.⁷

FCC chairman Julius Genachowski © AP Photo/Harry Hamburg, File

Sources

1: E.w. scripps co. first to offer live video programming to mobile devices. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cellphones911.com/ew-scripps-co-first-to-offer-live-video-programming-to-mobile-devices/

2: Ariens, C. (2011, Oct 03). Mcgraw-hill sells tv stations to scripps for $212 million. Retrieved from http://www.mediabistro.com/tvspy/mcgraw-hill-sells-tv-stations-to-scripps-for-212–

3: E.w. scripps honored with broadcasting award. (2012, April 16). Retrieved from http://www.turnto23.com/news/30901711/detail.html

4: Scripps wins more edward r. murrow awards than ever before. (2012, April 16). Retrieved from http://www.marketwatch.com/story/scripps-wins-more-edward-r-murrow-awards-than-ever-before-2012-04-16

5: Elliott, J. (2012, April 23). Big media lobbies against transparency. Retrieved from http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/042312_media_transparency/big-media-lobbies-against-transparency/

6: 17 more stations to participate in upcoming dyle(tm) mobile tv launch. (2012, April 16). Retrieved from http://www.marketwatch.com/story/17-more-stations-to-participate-in-upcoming-dyletm-mobile-tv-launch-2012-04-16

7: Eggerton, J. (2012, April 19). Broadcast groups pitch chairman on political file compromise. Retrieved from http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/483340-Broadcast_Groups_Pitch_Chairman_On_Political_File_Compromise.php

8: Colman, P. (2012, Feb 24). Scripps to swap syndie fare for own shows. Retrieved from http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/2012/02/24/57684/scripps-to-swap-syndie-fare-for-own-shows

9: Gauthier, A. (2012, Feb 24). Scripps reports 16% decrease in q4 revenue, looks to future following mcgraw-hill acquisition. Retrieved from http://www.mediabistro.com/tvspy/scripps-reports-16-decrease-in-q4-revenue-looks-to-future-following-mcgraw-hill-acquisition_b40233

10: (2012, March 07). Retrieved from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46704755/ns/business-motley_fool/

11: Scripps adds duties to 3 general managers. (2012, March 22). Retrieved from http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/2012/03/22/58254/scripps-adds-duties-to-3-general-managers

12: Scripps expands d.c. investigative reporting operation. (2012, March 16). Retrieved from http://broadcastengineering.com/news/scripps_expands_dc_investigate_reporting_03162012/