E.W. Scripps Launches Transformation Plan Targeting $125M-$150M EBITDA Growth
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 11 2026
0mins
Should l Buy SSP?
The E.W. Scripps Company has launched an enterprise-wide transformation plan designed to improve operating performance and unlock new value, targeting annualized enterprise EBITDA growth of $125M-$150M by 2028. The company will deliver this improved EBITDA run-rate through cost savings and revenue growth initiatives that will leverage technology including AI and automation and increase revenue yield on its existing businesses. Scripps President and CEO Adam Symson reaffirmed Scripps' commitment to its local and national news, sports and entertainment programming, which Americans depend on to connect them to their communities, to their favorite teams, to their passions and to each other. The transformation will reorient the enterprise around the company's new vision: "We Create Connection." The company, which reports its fourth-quarter and year-end 2025 earnings after market close on Feb. 25, today also reaffirmed the guidance it issued with its earnings results on Nov. 6. Looking ahead, Scripps is expecting 2026 financial performance to be bolstered by a robust mid-term election spending year, the Winter Olympics on its 11 NBC stations and the televised World Cup competitions in North America as well as its Scripps Sports partnerships, its networks distribution on connected TV and the results of accretive divestiture & acquisition activity. Symson said the transformation plan is a proactive move to best-position the company to compete in the changing media industry.
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Analyst Views on SSP
Wall Street analysts forecast SSP stock price to rise
3 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 3.430
Low
3.00
Averages
7.00
High
10.00
Current: 3.430
Low
3.00
Averages
7.00
High
10.00
About SSP
The E.W. Scripps Company is a diverse media enterprise that serves audiences and businesses through a portfolio of more than 60 local television stations in more than 40 markets and national news and entertainment networks. Its Local Media segment includes more than 60 local television stations and their related digital operations. Its television station group includes approximately 25% of the nation’s television households and includes 18 ABC affiliates, 11 NBC affiliates, nine CBS affiliates and four FOX affiliates. It also has seven CW affiliates-four on full power stations and three on multicast; seven independent stations and 10 additional low power stations. Its Scripps Networks segment includes national news outlets Scripps News and Court TV, as well as entertainment brands ION, Bounce, Defy TV, Grit, ION Mystery and Laff. The networks reach nearly every United States television home through free over-the-air broadcast, cable/satellite, connected TV, and digital distribution.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
E.W. Scripps Appoints New VP of Sports and Client Partnerships
- New Leadership Appointment: E.W. Scripps has appointed Oliver Gray as vice president of network sports and client partnerships, effective immediately, aiming to drive growth through its expanding sports and entertainment platforms and enhance the company's competitive position in the market.
- Advertising Collaboration Opportunities: Gray will be responsible for connecting national advertisers with Scripps' platforms, particularly its rapidly growing sports portfolio, which is expected to drive revenue growth through deep client relationships and integrated brand partnerships.
- Extensive Industry Experience: With over 15 years in sports sponsorship and national media advertising sales, Gray previously led a sales team at Overtime to exceed revenue goals and secured new business from renowned brands like Coca-Cola and Delta Airlines.
- Strategic Impact: Gray's appointment is viewed as a significant strategic move for Scripps in the sports and digital advertising sectors, with expectations that his deep understanding of fan culture will help advertisers effectively leverage Scripps' premium sports and entertainment portfolio.
See More
E.W. Scripps Unveils Transformation Plan for Growth
- Transformation Plan Goals: E.W. Scripps Company aims to achieve annual enterprise EBITDA growth of $125 million to $150 million by 2028 through cost savings and revenue growth initiatives, reflecting the company's confidence in future profitability.
- Technology-Driven Growth: The plan will leverage greater use of artificial intelligence and automation to drive revenue growth while increasing yield across existing businesses, thereby enhancing the company's market position in the competitive media landscape.
- Commitment to Core Mission: CEO Adam Symson reaffirmed the commitment to local and national news, sports, and entertainment programming, emphasizing that the transformation will align with Scripps' new vision,
See More
E.W. Scripps Launches Transformation Plan for Growth
- Transformation Goals: E.W. Scripps aims to achieve annual enterprise EBITDA growth of $125 million to $150 million by 2028 through technology-driven cost savings and revenue growth measures, intending to enhance overall operational efficiency.
- Technology Utilization: The company plans to leverage artificial intelligence to optimize news gathering processes, alleviating administrative burdens on journalists, thereby allowing them to focus more on reporting and improving news quality and responsiveness.
- Financial Outlook: Scripps expects its financial performance in 2026 to be bolstered by significant events such as midterm elections and the Winter Olympics, further solidifying its advertising revenue in the local broadcast market.
- Industry Challenges: In the face of challenges within the traditional broadcasting sector, Scripps rejected a merger proposal from Sinclair, emphasizing sustainable growth through smaller transactions and internal restructuring, demonstrating a commitment to innovation in a competitive market.
See More
E.W. Scripps Launches Enterprise-Wide Transformation Plan
- Transformation Plan Goals: The E.W. Scripps Company has launched an enterprise-wide transformation plan aimed at achieving annualized enterprise EBITDA growth of $125 million to $150 million by 2028, demonstrating strong confidence in future growth through cost savings and revenue enhancement.
- Technology-Driven Growth: This initiative will leverage AI and automation technologies to increase revenue yield on existing businesses, aiming to enhance the company's competitive edge in the rapidly evolving media landscape.
- Leadership Team Assembly: The company gathered a team of 200 leaders in Cincinnati tasked with executing the transformation plan to drive revenue and EBITDA growth while expanding into new profitable markets, highlighting the company's commitment to effective execution.
- Future Outlook: Scripps anticipates that its financial performance in 2026 will be bolstered by significant events such as mid-term elections, the Winter Olympics, and World Cup competitions, further solidifying its position in the media industry and showcasing robust market adaptability.
See More
E.W. Scripps Sells Court TV Network to Law&Crime
- Transaction Background: E.W. Scripps has reached an agreement to sell its Court TV network to Law&Crime, aiming to optimize its asset portfolio and strengthen its financial position, reflecting strategic adjustments in the media industry.
- Brand Integration: Court TV will continue to operate as a standalone channel, complementing Law&Crime's existing library, with CEO Dan Abrams emphasizing that this partnership will uphold Court TV's important tradition of meeting viewer demand for legal content.
- Market Impact: Since its relaunch in 2019, Court TV has covered several high-profile cases, attracting a significant audience, and this transaction is expected to further enhance Law&Crime's market share in the legal content sector.
- Future Outlook: Scripps CEO Adam Symson stated that this transaction aligns with the company's nearly 150-year entrepreneurial spirit, aiming to drive business growth by identifying shifts in consumer behavior and enhancing the company's competitiveness for the future.
See More
E.W. Scripps Company Wins Prestigious Journalism Award
- Award-Winning Investigation: E.W. Scripps' WXYZ-TV has been honored with the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award for its in-depth investigation 'Shielded,' showcasing excellence in public service journalism.
- Systemic Issues Exposed: The investigation revealed systemic failures in Michigan's police departments, where officers with repeated misconduct were rehired by other agencies, highlighting significant public safety concerns.
- Legislative Impact: WXYZ's reporting catalyzed new legislation, leading to the suspension of law enforcement licenses for multiple officers and the criminal conviction of one, demonstrating the media's role in driving social change.
- Ongoing Recognition: This marks the third duPont-Columbia Award for the WXYZ team, reinforcing Scripps' leadership in delivering quality, objective local journalism and its commitment to serving communities effectively.
See More
E.W. Scripps Appoints New VP of Sports and Client Partnerships
- New Leadership Appointment: E.W. Scripps has appointed Oliver Gray as vice president of network sports and client partnerships, effective immediately, aiming to drive growth through its expanding sports and entertainment platforms and enhance the company's competitive position in the market.
- Advertising Collaboration Opportunities: Gray will be responsible for connecting national advertisers with Scripps' platforms, particularly its rapidly growing sports portfolio, which is expected to drive revenue growth through deep client relationships and integrated brand partnerships.
- Extensive Industry Experience: With over 15 years in sports sponsorship and national media advertising sales, Gray previously led a sales team at Overtime to exceed revenue goals and secured new business from renowned brands like Coca-Cola and Delta Airlines.
- Strategic Impact: Gray's appointment is viewed as a significant strategic move for Scripps in the sports and digital advertising sectors, with expectations that his deep understanding of fan culture will help advertisers effectively leverage Scripps' premium sports and entertainment portfolio.
See More
E.W. Scripps Unveils Transformation Plan for Growth
- Transformation Plan Goals: E.W. Scripps Company aims to achieve annual enterprise EBITDA growth of $125 million to $150 million by 2028 through cost savings and revenue growth initiatives, reflecting the company's confidence in future profitability.
- Technology-Driven Growth: The plan will leverage greater use of artificial intelligence and automation to drive revenue growth while increasing yield across existing businesses, thereby enhancing the company's market position in the competitive media landscape.
- Commitment to Core Mission: CEO Adam Symson reaffirmed the commitment to local and national news, sports, and entertainment programming, emphasizing that the transformation will align with Scripps' new vision,
See More
E.W. Scripps Launches Transformation Plan for Growth
- Transformation Goals: E.W. Scripps aims to achieve annual enterprise EBITDA growth of $125 million to $150 million by 2028 through technology-driven cost savings and revenue growth measures, intending to enhance overall operational efficiency.
- Technology Utilization: The company plans to leverage artificial intelligence to optimize news gathering processes, alleviating administrative burdens on journalists, thereby allowing them to focus more on reporting and improving news quality and responsiveness.
- Financial Outlook: Scripps expects its financial performance in 2026 to be bolstered by significant events such as midterm elections and the Winter Olympics, further solidifying its advertising revenue in the local broadcast market.
- Industry Challenges: In the face of challenges within the traditional broadcasting sector, Scripps rejected a merger proposal from Sinclair, emphasizing sustainable growth through smaller transactions and internal restructuring, demonstrating a commitment to innovation in a competitive market.
See More
E.W. Scripps Launches Enterprise-Wide Transformation Plan
- Transformation Plan Goals: The E.W. Scripps Company has launched an enterprise-wide transformation plan aimed at achieving annualized enterprise EBITDA growth of $125 million to $150 million by 2028, demonstrating strong confidence in future growth through cost savings and revenue enhancement.
- Technology-Driven Growth: This initiative will leverage AI and automation technologies to increase revenue yield on existing businesses, aiming to enhance the company's competitive edge in the rapidly evolving media landscape.
- Leadership Team Assembly: The company gathered a team of 200 leaders in Cincinnati tasked with executing the transformation plan to drive revenue and EBITDA growth while expanding into new profitable markets, highlighting the company's commitment to effective execution.
- Future Outlook: Scripps anticipates that its financial performance in 2026 will be bolstered by significant events such as mid-term elections, the Winter Olympics, and World Cup competitions, further solidifying its position in the media industry and showcasing robust market adaptability.
See More
E.W. Scripps Sells Court TV Network to Law&Crime
- Transaction Background: E.W. Scripps has reached an agreement to sell its Court TV network to Law&Crime, aiming to optimize its asset portfolio and strengthen its financial position, reflecting strategic adjustments in the media industry.
- Brand Integration: Court TV will continue to operate as a standalone channel, complementing Law&Crime's existing library, with CEO Dan Abrams emphasizing that this partnership will uphold Court TV's important tradition of meeting viewer demand for legal content.
- Market Impact: Since its relaunch in 2019, Court TV has covered several high-profile cases, attracting a significant audience, and this transaction is expected to further enhance Law&Crime's market share in the legal content sector.
- Future Outlook: Scripps CEO Adam Symson stated that this transaction aligns with the company's nearly 150-year entrepreneurial spirit, aiming to drive business growth by identifying shifts in consumer behavior and enhancing the company's competitiveness for the future.
See More
E.W. Scripps Company Wins Prestigious Journalism Award
- Award-Winning Investigation: E.W. Scripps' WXYZ-TV has been honored with the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award for its in-depth investigation 'Shielded,' showcasing excellence in public service journalism.
- Systemic Issues Exposed: The investigation revealed systemic failures in Michigan's police departments, where officers with repeated misconduct were rehired by other agencies, highlighting significant public safety concerns.
- Legislative Impact: WXYZ's reporting catalyzed new legislation, leading to the suspension of law enforcement licenses for multiple officers and the criminal conviction of one, demonstrating the media's role in driving social change.
- Ongoing Recognition: This marks the third duPont-Columbia Award for the WXYZ team, reinforcing Scripps' leadership in delivering quality, objective local journalism and its commitment to serving communities effectively.
See More
