Dividend Power Score
A single, comprehensive score designed to measure the true strength of a company’s dividend.
This score combines three essential pillars of dividend quality:
Consistency – Measures how reliable the dividend has been over time, focusing on payment history, stability, and the absence of cuts or suspensions.
Payability – Assesses the company’s financial ability to sustain its dividend, taking into account cash flow, earnings coverage, balance sheet strength, and overall financial health.
Growth – Evaluates the long-term growth of both the dividend and the company’s share price, highlighting businesses that consistently increase payouts while creating shareholder value.
Higher scores identify companies that have historically delivered dependable income alongside sustained dividend growth and long-term capital appreciation.
Company Overview
The E.W. Scripps Company is a U.S.-based media enterprise operating primarily in the broadcast television, national networks, and digital media industries. The company’s core activities center on owning and operating local television stations, distributing national television networks, and managing digital news brands. Its revenue is primarily driven by advertising (local, national, and political), retransmission consent fees from cable and satellite distributors, and network affiliation fees.
Founded in 1878 as a newspaper publisher by Edward W. Scripps, the company evolved over more than a century from print journalism into broadcast and digital media. Over time, Scripps divested its newspaper assets and repositioned itself as a television-focused media company, significantly expanding its broadcast footprint through acquisitions. Its strategic positioning emphasizes local journalism scale, national multicast networks, and a growing emphasis on free, ad-supported television (FAST) and connected TV audiences.
Business Operations
The company operates through two primary business segments: Local Media and Scripps Networks. The Local Media segment consists of more than 60 television stations across major and mid-sized U.S. markets, affiliated with major networks such as ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox. Revenue in this segment is generated through local and national advertising sales, retransmission consent agreements, and political advertising, which can be cyclical but material during election years.
The Scripps Networks segment includes national television networks such as ION, Court TV, Bounce, Grit, Laff, and Scripps News. These networks are distributed via cable, satellite, and over-the-air broadcast, as well as on connected TV platforms. The company also operates digital brands and streaming services that extend its content reach, leveraging owned programming libraries and news-gathering capabilities across platforms.
Strategic Position & Investments
Scripps’ strategy focuses on scale in local broadcasting, expansion of national networks, and growth in free ad-supported streaming. A major strategic milestone was the acquisition of ION Media in 2021, which significantly expanded the company’s national network reach and over-the-air distribution footprint. This acquisition positioned Scripps as one of the largest owners of broadcast spectrum in the United States.
The company continues to invest in connected TV distribution, FAST channels, and news-focused digital platforms, particularly through Scripps News. Strategic priorities also include debt reduction following recent acquisitions, optimization of station portfolios, and leveraging political advertising cycles. Data inconclusive based on available public sources regarding any large-scale international expansion beyond content distribution agreements.
Geographic Footprint
The E.W. Scripps Company’s operations are concentrated in the United States, where it maintains a broad geographic presence across major metropolitan markets, mid-sized cities, and regional communities. Its headquarters are located in Cincinnati, Ohio, with significant operational hubs tied to station groups and network operations across the country.
While the company does not operate owned broadcast stations outside the U.S., its national networks and digital content reach audiences across North America through cable, satellite, and streaming platforms. International exposure is largely indirect, stemming from content distribution and platform availability rather than physical operations or foreign subsidiaries.
Leadership & Governance
The company maintains a centralized leadership structure focused on operational efficiency, journalistic integrity, and long-term shareholder value. Governance reflects its legacy as a public-interest media organization balanced with commercial broadcasting priorities. Strategic vision emphasizes local journalism, national scale, and adaptation to changing media consumption habits.
Key executives include:
- Adam Symson – President and Chief Executive Officer
- Jason Combs – Chief Financial Officer
- Brian Norris – Chief Operating Officer
- Nicholas Zingale – Executive Vice President and General Counsel
- Erin Fehlau – Senior Vice President, Investor Relations